Pirates Suffer a Bedford Backlash

By Phil Westren

Bedford Blues 38 Cornish Pirates 14

The Cornish Pirates were naturally aware pre-match that a team possessing the stature and quality of the Blues would provide tough opposition. The home side may have surprisingly lost their opening three games in this season’s Champ campaign, but on their home patch and feeling somewhat bruised, a Bedford backlash was always a possibility, and in Round 4 of the competition it proved to be the case.

The Cornish Pirates, who were understandably buoyed by their superb 35-33 win at home to Ealing Trailfinders the previous weekend, saw one personnel change in their starting XV from the selection that ran out against Ealing Trailfinders, with Josh King named to partner Matt Cannon in the second row.

For this teatime kick-off, and with the Pirates in the first forty playing down Goldington Road’s renowned slope, it was bright but breezy and there lengthening shadows across the fine green pitch.

📷Pirates' centre Harry Ascherl is shackled. Photo credit: Brian Tempest

An opening score for the Blues came about after the ball first reached the hands of second-row forward Alex Woolford. An advance wide left was maintained, and despite a Bedford pass to wing Dean Adamson looking to have been forward, a try was awarded. Fly-half Will Maisey nailed the conversion.

From the restart, Pirates’ efforts were quickly rewarded when, following a line-out and a skewed driving maul, referee Mr. Parr ran to the posts to signal a penalty try. For an apparent misdemeanour a yellow card was also shown to Bedford centre Lucas Titherington

Approaching the half hour mark, some adventurously expressive and entertaining approach play by the home team saw experienced centre Michael Le Bourgeois, who is a player-coach, score a fully deserved and converted try to the right of the posts.

The Cornish Pirates did apply good pressure approaching halftime, with hooker Morgan Nelson and No. 8 Hugh Bokenham to the fore. Unfortunately, however, the ball was held up as the Pirates drove to the line and Bokenham was soon after injured. After receiving treatment, he was pleasingly passed fit to carry on, but when the halftime whistle blew with the scoreline reading 14-7, the rejuvenated Blues trotted back to the changing rooms with a definite spring in their step.

Playing with apparent wind advantage in the second forty, in the very first minute it was Blues full-back Louis James who was gifted an opportunity to ghost into space, Then, after a step and run he timed his pass perfectly to their GB Sevens speedster, wing Marcus Kershaw, who scored a converted try on the right.

The home side were quickly on the attack again from the restart, with Adamson setting alarm bells ringing and skipper Alex Day also directing matters. The Pirates did regain possession briefly to ease the danger, but when a penalty was awarded Bedford, they extended their lead thanks to Maisey’s successful strike off the tee.

Dominating events, and playing with the advantage of the wind, the Blues next conjured up a gem of a score when replacement hooker Craig Wright and prop Joey Conway both ran well to set up a converted score for Titherington. Less than 15 minutes of the second half passed, but with a 31-7 scoreline it already felt that any chance of a Pirates’ victory had evaporated.

📷Pirates' replacement Tomi Agbongbon tests Bedford's defence. Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Fresh legs for the Pirates were introduced off the bench, but the Blues were like men possessed when prop Oisin Heffernan’s run and pass suddenly ended with a second converted score for Titherington. To their credit, there was much to admire in their play.

With fly-half Arwel Robson a central figure, the Pirates’ running and support game did suddenly impress, and as the game all but ended in the full glow of floodlights at Goldington Road, an excellent converted try scored by elusive and pacey wing Arthur Relton was worthy to watch as he zig-zagged his way to the line.

Overall, it was naturally a disappointing day for the Pirates, whilst after the Bedford team’s poor start to the season, this result was perhaps a change of fortune moment and turning point, which would be of no surprise.

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

“For a second away trip running on the road we looked a little bit flat, and we may have to look at our routine.

“Unfortunately, for various reasons we just didn’t get a foothold in the game, so we need to reflect on ourselves a bit. Defensively we looked second best and add to that they made their own luck and had a few rubs of the green.

“We lacked continuity and kicking to Bedford you are inviting pressure. There are some easy fixes but ultimately it was a disappointing performance, so we need to take our medicine, pick ourselves up, and prepare for what will be a tough game next up at home to Chinnor.”

Bedford Blues: 15 Louis James 14 Marcus Kershaw 13 Lucas Titherington 12 Michael Le Bourgeois 11 Dean Adamson 10 Will Maisey 9 Alex Day (captain); 1 Joey Conway 2 James Fish 3 Oisin Heffernan 4 Rory Ward 5 Alex Woolford 6 Archie Benson 7 Nicholas Finch 8 Fred Tuilagi.

Replacements: 16 Craig Wright 17 Monty Royston 18 Will Davies-King 19 Tui Uru 20 Charlie Ulcoq 21 Jonny Weimann 22 Ben Dufficy 23 George Worth.

Yellow card: Titherington.

Cornish Pirates: 15 Henry Palmer 14 Arthur Relton 13 Nick Lilley 12 Harry Ascherl 11 Josh Radcliffe 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Alessandro Heaney 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Alfie Petch 4 Matt Cannon 5 Josh King 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Hugh Bokenham.

Replacements: 16 Matt Pritchard 17 Jamie Clark 18 Osman Dimen 19 Tomi Agbongbon 20 Luke Ratcliff 21 Will Becconsall 22 Angus Mawson 23 Finn Love.

Scorers:

Bedford Blues – tries: Adamson, Le Bourgeois, Kershaw, Titherington (2); cons: Maisey (5); pen: Maisey.

Cornish Pirates – tries: Penalty Try, Relton; con: Robson.

Referee: Jamie Parr.

Assistants: Hamish Grant & James Pidding.

(For supporter interest and benefit, Elior Champ matches are screened on Clubber TV – view the link https://www.clubbertv.co.uk/)

📷Wing Arthur Relton scores for the Pirates. Photo credit: Brian Tempest