Cornish Pirates vs Bedford Blues: Match Report

Photo:Lock forward Charlie Rice was the Pirates man of the match.  – Credit: Brian Tempest

Conway Double Sinks Pirates

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 24   Bedford Blues 28

At the very end of the game, as the Pirates defended desperately to hold out for victory, it was not to be. A second try in the match for replacement prop forward Joey Conway sealed a win for the Blues, their third consecutive victory in as many seasons against the Pirates at the Mennaye Field.

Team selection for the game saw centre Charlie McCaig, lock Charlie Rice, and flanker Tomiwa Agbongbon make their first league starts for the Pirates. Fit again scrum half Cam Jones returned to the starting line-up, whilst on the bench replacement hooker Sol Moody was keen to make his Championship debut, as was Redruth forward Jack King, if called upon, who had arrived at the Mennaye Field during the week on loan.

All but immediately after Cornish Pirates’ fly-half Bruce Houston kicked the game off, on a wonderfully sunny October afternoon wing Arthur Relton scored the game’s opening try left of the Newlyn posts. It was a

spectacular opening effort having made a clinically timed interception.

Houston was luckless with the conversion.

Soon a playmaker for the Bedford side was their skipper, scrum half, and a former ‘Pirate’ in the shape of Alex Day. A member of the famous Tuilagi family, number 8 Fred, also carried strongly.

Twice from line-outs the Pirates did well to repel the Blues at the scoreboard corner, but after centre Charlie McCaig was yellow-carded, seemingly for making a deliberate knock-on, it was former Ireland under 20s prop Conway who scored the first of his two tries. Stepping up to add the extra two points, fly-half Will Maisey was successful with his conversion attempt.

A terrific 50-22 kick from Day kept pressure upon the Pirates, who thankfully held firm as play was then generally scrappy for a period.

The home side was forced to defend for a spell, and did especially well to initially frustrate the Blues thanks to some dogged tackling. Then, following good play from skipper Bokenham, play would eventually be taken deep inside Bedford’s half. As a try looked likely to be scored at the old Western National corner, one would materialise on the half hour mark for hooker Morgan Nelson. Houston this time added the extras.

Unfortunately, it was a case of back in the lead one moment and giving it away the next, as a mistake at the back gave the Blues territory which enabled their prolific try-scoring wing Dean Adamson to canter in at the Penzance posts. Maisey then converted for the halftime score to read 12-14.

By his standards, Maisey surprisingly missed penalty chances all but either side of the break, whilst it all felt a little more promising for the Pirates when lock Matt Cannon’s scrum cap identified him as the scorer of a converted try to put the home team back in front. The try was Cannon’s first in Pirates’ colours.

Yet again, however, the acquired lead was shortlived, as a converted try by centre Lucas Titherington saw the gifted and determined visitors regain the lead.

The Pirates had made changes that freshened up their game, and following a good period of play replacement prop Billy Young was another to score his first five-pointer for the club, which also provided a bonus point.

Although the conversion attempt from replacement fly-half Iwan Jenkins went wide, one felt that there was now a hope that the team could score again and proceed to wrap up a victory, but it was not to be. Giving penalties away and forced to defend desperately would eventually lead to Conway’s second, and all-important, last minute try. It appeared that the ball was perhaps knocked on, but it wasn’t spotted at the time, and with the try converted there was understandable frustration at the final whistle.

A third defeat in a row against the Blues at home, and the team’s third defeat on the trot this season, was also naturally disappointing. However, credit was due the Pirates to have at least secured two bonus points from the match, which provided some consolation. Also, there was a realistic awareness from many supporters who feel that this new look side needs time to develop, for the rub of the green to then perhaps go their way.

Photo: Matt Cannon looks a happy man having scored his first try in Pirates’ colours. – Credit: Brian Tempest

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

“It’s not nice to lose a match in the last play of the game and it is the second time it has happened this season. Anyway, comparing our performance away to London Scottish, we were far more and spirited and enthusiastic and I am proud of the effort we put in.

“Overall, though, it’s just where we are as a group. Our goal line maul defence was good but our maul defence more or less in the middle third of the pitch put us under a lot of pressure, plus we gave too many penalties away in the area as well.

“As I said pre-match in hospitality, this is a new group and the pack can learn some harsh lessons, which the Championship can give, but I do think we deserved a bit more from the game and probably edged it. 

“Having gone so close to winning I am naturally gutted. There were  good performances to note from the likes of Charlie Rice, Morgan Nelson, and Billy Keast, and I also thought that Will Gibson put in hell of a shift. In the backs, replacement Iwan Price-Thomas appeared assured at 15, and our halfbacks are also looking interchangeable, so things are gradually developing.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin (23 Iwan Price-Thomas, 60) 14 Matt McNab 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Arthur Relton 10 Bruce Houston (22 Iwan Jenkins, 60) 9 Cam Jones (21 Dan Hiscocks, 52) 1 Billy Keast (17 Billy Young, 60) 2 Morgan Nelson (16 Sol Moody, 79) 3 Jay Tyack (18 James French, 52) 4 Matt Cannon (19 Harry Hocking, 67) 5 Charlie Rice 6 Tomiwa Agbongbon 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Replacement (not used):   19 Jack King.

Yellow card:   13 Charlie McCaig (15).

Bedford Blues:   15 Louis James 14 Alfie Garside (21 Matt Worley, 70) 13 Lucas Titherington (23 George Makepeace-Cubitt, 68) 12 Michael Le Bourgeois 11 Dean Adamson 10 Will Maisey 9 Alex Day (captain; 21 James Lennon, 70); 1 Jamie Jack (17 Joey Conway, 09) 2 James Fish (16 Tommy Herman, 63) 3 Oisin Heffernan (18 Beltus Nonleh, 63) 4 Ed Prowse 5 Rory Ward (19 George Smith, 59) 6 Fyn Brown 7 Jac Arthur 8 Fred Tuilagi (20 Joe Howard, 49).

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: 11 Arthur Relton (01) 2 Morgan Nelson (30) 4 Matt Cannon (52) 17 Billy Young (68) cons: 10 Bruce Houston (31, 53).

Bedford Blues – tries: 17 Joey Conway (16, 80) 11 Dean Adamson (34), 13 Lucas Titherington (55);  cons: 10 Will Maisey (17, 35, 56, 80).

Referee:   Andy Wigley

Assistants:  James Cornell & Kevin Williams

Attendance:   1639

‘Tribute’ Man of the Match:   Charlie Rice

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match:   Arthur Relton

Photo:Wing Arthur Relton intercepted and scored in the very first minute.  – Credit: Brian Tempest