Cornish Pirates Vs Bedford Blues – Match Report

Pirates Suffer the Narrowest of Defeats

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 26   Bedford Blues 27

Following their 40-24 loss away to Worcester Warriors the previous weekend, which broke a run of six games unbeaten, the Cornish Pirates almost cruelly fell to the narrowest of defeats against Bedford Blues, who have now become a bit of a bogey side.

A fifth versus third contest in the ’Champ’, the Pirates knew their task was anything but easy under Friday night lights at the Mennaye Field, as the visiting Blues had previously emerged victorious from their last four matches contested at the Mennaye Field, including a 38-26 pre-season friendly win back in August.

The Cornish Pirates made several changes in their starting line-up from the one that ran out at Worcester. In the injured absence of Iwan Price-Thomas, Louie Sinclair moved from fly-half to full-back, and the named wing pairing for the encounter were Harry Yates and a fit again Arthur Relton. At fly-half, Arwel Robson, who was an early replacement against the Warriors, continued in the role, whilst in the forwards another who was called off the bench at Worcester, Matt Cannon, was named in the back row.

📷Pirates' lock Alfie Bell rises high to secure clean lineout ball. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

On a calm early winter’s evening, after the fireworks let off to celebrate the switching on of nearby Newlyn’s Christmas lights had ceased, the focus turned to the expected sparkling rugby action about to start.

After former ‘Pirate’ Alex Day first led his Bedford side out on the ‘Mennaye’, when action got underway the Pirates quickly earned a penalty award and opted for a catch and drive opportunity at the old Western National corner. Unfortunately, it came to no avail, as after the Blues were awarded a scrum, they were quick to show what they were capable of. Day brought his powerful runners into play, including Fijian No 8 Tui Uru, who also had Fred Tuilagi, a member of the Tuilagi family dynasty, alongside him in the back row.

Although an early penalty award saw fly-half Will Maisey miss his kick attempt from 40 metres out, the visitors first points of the evening soon followed. Regaining possession, the ball was quickly spread right to enable wing George Worth to dart over the line at the clubhouse corner for an unconverted try.

The Pirates, keen to show that they were up for this contest, were positive in response, and after a drive for the line on the right suddenly crabbed left, it was man of the match hooker Morgan Nelson who scored a try to which fly-half Robson added the extras.

From the restart the Blues attacked down the left, and after the Pirates were put under tremendous pressure it was now the turn of Bedford’s hooker, Tommy Herman, to score another unconverted try.

📷For the Pirates, replacement flanker Luke Ratcliff strives to make yardage. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

As previously intimated, this was a game that had all the ingredients to be closely contested, and thus far it was certainly going to script.

An enthusiastic home crowd roared with anticipation when Pirates’ centre Chester Ribbons and wing Harry Yates tore into Blues’ territory, and although the chance was thwarted it was returning right wing Arthur Relton who, shortly after, put on the burners and scorched his way to the line for the team’s second converted score.

The Pirates, now leading 14-10, appeared in the ascendancy, but the scoreboard operator would not be troubled again before the break.

For the start of the second forty the Blues looked sharp and fast out of the blocks, and it was a view soon confirmed when their homegrown try-scoring machine winger Dean Adamson, the greatest try-scorer in Bedford’s history, popped up to score a converted try to the right of the Newlyn posts.

The lead for the visitors did not though last long, as after Robson first posted the ball into the clubhouse corner, the forwards then took up the challenge and soon scored their third converted try of the night through lock ‘Buster’ Rice.

Hopes were that the Pirates could press on, with Matt Cannon carrying strongly and Hiscocks as usual directing matters, but Bedford had other thoughts. Introducing replacements, including the bulk of young Sonny Tonga’uiha, the son of former Tongan international Soane, when the ball was in a flash slipped left to Adamson he scored his second converted try of the night.

The Pirates were guilty of giving a few too many penalties away, but there was no lack of spirit, and they commendably got back into the game when the determined Yates not only scored his fifth consecutive try for the Pirates, and in as many games, but it also delivered for the team a four try bonus point.

With the scoreboard reading 26-24, and Robson luckless with his conversion attempt, the game was set to end as a real nailbiter. Could the Pirates hold onto their narrow lead? Well, the answer was ‘No’, because an easy penalty kick opportunity was gifted the Blues, which Maisey slotted to make it five wins on the trot at the Mennaye Field for the Bedford side. Overall, it was a very good advert for Champ rugby, and a pleasing one for their Director of Rugby, former Welsh international Mike Rayer, who has coached the side these past 21 years.

As for Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle, he commented:

“It was helluva of a game and both teams had opportunities as the scoreline would suggest. We were under pressure at times in the first half, when in defence we spread quite widely and they were picking us off, but physically I thought we were there today, especially our power at times in the set piece, although we aren’t converting our pressure at the minute.

“As expected, it was a tightly fought game, though we will be looking at those key moments that we didn’t quite manage, and which eventually enabled them to get that one extra point to achieve the narrowest of wins.

“There were a couple of occasions when we lacked communication on the chase and they’re the moments when you need to get a grip on the game and put your opponents under pressure.

“Bedford are a very good side, and they have got a few results on us now, but at present we have just got to keep going. The cohesion has got to turn because we are working hard and on the right things.

“Our scrum performance was dominant overall, and the lads as a team are determined and are going hard, as they did today. Naturally, having gone so close they will be very disappointed but the good thing about rugby is that you can dust yourself down and go again next week.”

📷Pirates' full-back Louie Sinclair in passing action. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Cornish Pirates:   15 Louie Sinclair 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Harry Yates 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks (captain); 1 Billy Young 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Alfie Petch 4 Charlie Rice 5 Alfie Bell 6 Matt Cannon 7 Josh King 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Matt Pritchard 17 Alessandro Heaney 18 James French 19 Rory Suttor 20 Luke Ratcliff 22 Ben Cambriani (all used); 21 Will Rigelsford 23 Matty Ward (not used).

Yellow card:   8 Tomi Agbongbon.

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

Replacements:   16 James Fish 17 Joey Conway 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha 19 Kayde Sylvester 20 Nicholas Finch 21 James Lennon 22 Tom Price 23 Ryan Hutler.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries:  Nelson, Relton, Rice, Yates; cons: Robson (3).

Bedford Blues – tries: Adamson (2), Worth, Herman; cons: Maisey (2).pen: Maisey.                             

Referee:   Harry Walbaum

Assistants:  James Milliner-Woodcock & Kevin Williams 

Tribute ‘Player of the Match’:   Morgan Nelson

Thatchers ‘Try of the Match’:  Harry Yates

Attendance:   1601

📷For the Pirates it's 'caterpillar' time at the Mennaye Field. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest