Saturday saw the Cornish Pirates take to the road to face Bedford Blues, for what was an important third versus sixth contest at Goldington Road in Round 22 of Elior Champ Rugby.

Having emerged narrow one-point winners back at the Mennaye Field last December, led by former ‘Pirate’ Alex Day the Blues were clearly hoping to achieve a league double against their Cornish opponents, and in front of an inevitable bumper Easter Saturday crowd they achieved just that.

The Cornish Pirates made three changes in their starting line up from the one that ran out against Worcester Warriors last time out. Firstly, fully fit again flanker John Stevens was making his 150^thappearance for the team, whilst in Josh King’s injured absence Milo Hallam returned to the starting line-up and packed down alongside Matt Cannon in the second row. The one other change saw Harry Yates named to partner Chester Ribbons in the centre.

Following a respectful minute’s applause prior to kick-off in memory of stalwart Blues’ supporter Jonno Garland, on a windy afternoon the Pirates kicked the game off playing down the home team’s infamous Goldington Road ground slope.

The Pirates, despite looking very much up for this contest early on, were unable to make applied pressure tell. A run down the right from hooker Sol Moody caught the eye, as though had the ball carrying from his opposite number, Tommy Herman.

Bedford’s 21-year-old Fijian winger Amena Caqusau, who has represented Northampton Saints and Emerging Scotland, was twice gifted interceptions that came to nothing. However, after the Blues eventually took play to the Pirates ‘22’, it was flanker Fyn Brown who burrowed over for a try to the right of the posts. Fly-half Will Maisey slotted the conversion.

Now finding their feet, the Blues continued to impress, and it was a sublime sleight of hand pass that was taken in a flash by centre Lucas Titherington who, making his 50^th appearance for the Blues, celebrated by scoring the game’s second try. Maisey once again added the extras besides shortly after kicking a penalty goal chance that was on offer.

Needing to respond, following two penalties that were awarded the Pirates, from the second it was Moody who stretched to score a try from a catch and drive. From wide out left Robson’s conversion attempt missed.

Hope for a further prompt score entered the mind, only for the thought to be dashed after Bedford centre Michael Le Bourgeois nudged the ball left to enable try-scoring machine winger Dean Adamson to gather and suitably make the touchdown. Once again Maisey kicked the conversion, thus making it 24-5 at the break.

For the Pirates, with limited chances wing Arthur Relton was a willing runner, lock Milo Hallam ran strongly with ball in hand, and prop Alfie Petch again put in a good shift. But, in search of their bonus point providing fourth try, it was Bedford prop Joey Conway who not for the first time in the match displayed his powerful ball carrying ability, and it was a converted try scored by his fellow prop Oisin Heffernan that extended his team’s lead.

After a breakout by the Pirates, with replacement scrum half Will Becconsall to the fore, the Cornish side’s second try was scored following a quick penalty tap and dive to the line by skipper Alex Everett. Replacement fly half Louie Sinclair landed a fine conversion, but it was the home side who had the last say when Adamson’s dancing feet created a try-scoring opportunity taken by Maisey. Unfortunately, he was on this occasion luckless with his conversion attempt, though having passed the 1000 points mark for his club during the afternoon he was surely pleased enough.

Commenting at the end of Saturday’s encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“We had plenty of possession but couldn’t make best use of it because of lack of execution. Also, in making a couple of errors in that first half, it perhaps clouded our decision making.

“Having said that, credit to Bedford, who were on top physically, especially in examples such as holding us up in the tackle. They did well there, plus with post contact pressure it gave us messy ball.

“Overloading in the rucks we were getting turned over, so it’s something we’ll have to look at ahead of next week because Chinnor will be licking their lips otherwise, and we just need to be better in that final third.

“As for the line-out, it was very windy and a bit of a lottery. I felt we were perhaps harshly done by with a couple of not straights, but again it’s something else we need to look at and ultimately execute better.”

Looking at remaining games, and prospects of making the play-offs, Gavin added:

“Let’s face it, we have left ourselves a mountain to climb now, starting with Chinnor next weekend at home and then Ealing away, Coventry home and finally Hartpury away, so I think each game is a Cup Final for us now and it will be interesting how we respond.”

Bedford Blues:   15 George Worth 14 Amena Caqusau 13 Lucas Titherington 12 Michael Le Bourgeois 11 Dean Adamson 10 Will Maisey 9 Alex Day (captain); 1 Joey Conway 2 Tommy Herman 3 Oisin Heffernan 4 Archie Benson 5 Rory Ward 6 Fred Tuilagi 7 Fyn Brown 8 Tui Uru.

Replacements:   16 James Fish 17 Jamie Jack 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha 19 Alex Woolford 20 Nicholas Finch 21 James Lennon 22 Toby Thame 23 Ryan Hutler.

Yellow cards:   Heffernan & Worth.

Cornish Pirates:   15 Angus Mawson 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Harry Yates 11 Matty Ward 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 James French 2 Sol Moody 3 Alfie Petch 4 Milo Hallam 5 Matt Cannon 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 John Stevens 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Matt Pritchard 17 Billy Young 18 Ollie Andrews 19 Rory Suttor 20 Luke Ratcliff 21 Will Becconsall 22 Louie Sinclair 23 Joe Elderkin.

Scorers:

Bedford Blues – tries: Brown, Titherington, Adamson, Heffernan, Maisey;         cons: Maisey (4); pen: Maisey

Cornish Pirates – tries: Moody, Everett; con: Sinclair.

Referee:   Henry Pearson.

Attendance:   3295