Cornish Pirates Vs Bedford Blues – Match Report

Pirates Show Competitive Streak in Defeat                                 

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 26 – Bedford Blues 38

Following their opening pre-season win at Redruth the previous weekend, the Cornish Pirates always knew a much sterner test awaited at home to Bedford Blues in their second friendly, and so it proved.

Prior to kick-off Pirates’ hooker Morgan Nelson first appeared from the tunnel to enable home supporters to recognise him having made his 50^th appearance at Redruth, and both teams then lined up for a minute’s applause to respectfully remember new consortium member Christopher ‘Buddha’ Hunt who had recently passed away.

At a Mennaye Field bathed in early evening sunshine, the Pirates then started the match well against their strong and experienced visitors, as fly-half Arwel Robson scampered over the line at the Newlyn posts for a try that he also converted.

A break by centre Chester Ribbons also showed promise, before Bedford countered and worked play swiftly into the Penzance half from where wing Ryan Hutler sped in for an unconverted try at the clubhouse corner.

At an early scrum the Pirates impressed, but the lineout would at times falter. Overall, however, the match was proving a very good workout for the two teams.

The Blues were physically big in the forwards, which enabled them to apply considerable pressure on the Pirates, and they would take a 12-7 lead before the break thanks to a try scored by sharpshooter wing Dean Adamson, who is clearly still a potent finisher, and then conversion slotted by fly-half Will Maisey.

After former ‘Pirate’ Alex Day led his side out for the second period, it was clear that Bedford were keen to reapply pressure and dominate proceedings. A couple of injury delays put things on hold but tries were scored by replacement Joey Conway and then Maisey after flanker Kayde Sylvester had gathered possession and lengthened his stride into the Newlyn half. And, finally, there was a try apiece for replacements Nick Finch and Tui Uru. Replacement Tom Price also kicked three conversions.

📷Hoisted high at a line-out, Josh King wins clean ball for the Pirates. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

To their credit, and with the home crowd keeping faith and urging them on, the Pirates enthused considerable character to impress and finish

strongly. There were maiden tries in Pirates colours for replacement prop Alessandro Heaney, replacement wing Matty Ward, and finally guest backrower Jordan Nicholls who touched down at the Penzance posts after supporting lock Matt Cannon’s burst into Bedford’s ‘22’.

The Pirates were far less experienced than their opponents, but to their credit under the glow of floodlights at the Mennaye Field they had showed an admirable competitive streak.

Speaking after the game, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle commented:

“We knew we would be a little bit up against it today and it was a bit of a learning curve against a physically strong, gifted and experienced Bedford side.

“Despite missing some firepower in the forwards, and being a little rusty in our decision making, I think we started quite well, and there were certain pleasing things we did and can take from what was our second pre-season hit out.

“It was a great experience for young players such as Barnaby Elderkin, who worked very hard, and our guest players Alfie North and Jordan Nicholls who was our last finisher.

“At this stage just over four weeks before our opening league fixture there are inevitably areas of our game to work on, such as the breakdown and lineout, but we were overall pleased with the way the boys never gave up and stuck at it. The right attitude is always going to be there and they deservedly scored three good tries nearing the end.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Ben Cambriani 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Harry Yates 11 Arthur Relton 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks (captain); 1 Billy Young 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Alfie Petch 4 Matt Cannon 5 Josh King 6 Barnaby Elderkin 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Tomiwa Agbongbon.

Replacements (used): Sol Moody, Alessandro Heaney, Ollie Andrews, Louie Sinclair, Joe Elderkin, Matty Ward, Will Becconsall, Alfie North (guest player), Jordan Nicholls (guest player).                                                                                                                                     Yellow card:   Cannon.

Bedford Blues:   15 Louis James 14 Ryan Hutler 13 George Worth 12 Lucas Titherington 11 Dean Adamson 10 Will Maisey 9 Alex Day (captain); 1 Jamie Jack 2 James Fish 3 Sonny Tonga’uiha 4 Rory Ward 5 Alex Woolford 6 Kayde Sylvester 7 Archie Hosking 8 Fred Tuilagi.

Replacements:  Tommy Herman, Joey Conway, Oisin Heffernan, Archie Appleby, Nicholas Finch, Tom Price, Billy Pasco, Joe Hill, James Lennon, Charlie Ulcoq, Tui Uru, Rafe Witheat.

Yellow cards:  Tuilagi & Worth. 

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: Robson, Heaney, Ward, Nicholls; cons: Robson, Sinclair (2).

Bedford Blues – tries: Hutler, Adamson, Conway, Maisey, Finch, Tui Uru;    cons: Maisey, Price (3).

Referee:   Joe James      Assistants:   Ryan Collier & Kevin Williams

Attendance:   1010     

Man of the Match:   Jack Forsythe  

Try of the Match:   Matty Ward     

📷Pirates' skipper Dan Hiscocks looks to pass. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest