As always thank you to Woll’s for the match report, taking in full from www.cornish-pirates.com. Picture by Simon Bryant.Cornish Pirates 24 Bedford Blues 34
RFU Championship Round 6
Mennaye Field Penzance
Sunday 9th October
Woll's Match Report
A bright start from the Pirates gave little indication as to the eventual outcome of this contest, as the Blues bounced back impressively from their recent defeats.
Two sucker punches from the visitors in the second quarter did the damage, as a tight, keenly contested game up to that point, suddenly burst into life.
Quick thinking by the eventual Blue’s fans man of the match, Liebenberg; punished the hosts for their earlier squandered chances on the half hour. Before Basset added to the misery; outpacing McAtee in the race for the ball into the Scoreboard Corner.
Things though had that ‘feeling’ about from the moment Thomas had to limp off in the seventh minute, requiring the Welsh Whippet’s introduction. The disruption to the game plan needed no highlighting, as the fly half’s presence had already caused chaos in the Blues defence right from the kick off.
This alone of course shouldn’t have spelt disaster, but with the lineout misfiring for the first half hour, and the early pressure having no more to show for it than a solitary Cook penalty; those alarm bells were rightly on standby. Particularly against a side like Bedford who were obviously smarting coming into this match.
Lennard had of course levelled things before the first quarter had ticked by; although by this time play had become disjointed somewhat. Whether this allowed Bedford to regroup somewhat is probably irrelevant, as until Liebenberg caught the Pirates napping, they hadn’t really found their feet either.
A fourteen point cushion for the Blues beckoned going into the break. Or did it?? As Ward mingled in with the Blues defence at the restart to once again upset their receipt of the ball; thus winning his side the chance to strike back quickly.
However, after Cook slotted his second penalty to some relief, this gap was restored in mirrored fashion, as Tupai did similar. Lennard restored the status quo. 6-20 HT
With the swirling wind now behind the home side in the second period; hopes of a revival were quickly raised by McAtee.
The Welshman’s first foray came to nothing. But his next carry put Ward into space, sucking the Blues into an early indiscretion and handing Cook the three pointer.
Pirate tails were up, none more so than Cowan, who repeated this small success for Robert to close the gap further to only eight points. Game on?
We hoped but then recoiled, as the recently introduced Barrell lived up to his name to barrel over off the back of a 5m scrum.. But hoped once again as Cowan did similar with still a quarter to go, to surprisingly open up the Cornishmen’s try account for the day.
But in truth the writing was on the wall, despite Rimmer’s stampeding 30m run that took no prisoners as Bassett will testify. Moments later, a final flowing Bedford move secured their four try bonus point through Taylor; and with it a timely lesson in how to be clinical Davies’s late consolation try at least put some respectability to the score line. But without even a bonus point to show for their efforts; a rarity for sure; there will be scant comfort in the immediate aftermath of this first defeat of the Pirates Championship campaign.
Cornish Pirates
15 R. Cook 14 W. Davies 13 G. Pointer 12 T. Cooper (21 S. Hill ht) 11 D. Doherty 10 C. Thomas (22 R. McAtee 7mins) 9 G. Cattle(capt) 8 B. Cowan
7 C. Walker-Blair (17 R. Elloway 50mins) 6 C. Morgan 5 I. Nimmo 4 M. Smith (18 L. McGlone 47mins) 3 R. Brits (1 Rimmer 65mins) 2 D. Ward (19 D. Ewers 62mins) 1 C. Rimmer (16 R. Storer 62 mins)
Replacements: un-used T. Kessell
Tries: Cowan, Davies
Cons: Cook
Pens: Cook 4
Bedford Blues
15 B. Burke 14 H. Schmidt 13 D. Taylor 12 T. Bedford 11 J. Bassett (22 M. Kohler 65mins) 10 J. Lennard (21 J. Sharp 75mins) 9 S. Liebenberg (20 L. Baldwin 65mins) 1 N. Steenkamp (17 S. Walsh 70mins) 2 C. Locke (16 N. Cochrane 53mins) 3 D. Seal 4 S. Pailor (18 M. Howard 62mins) 5 S. Tomes 6 A. Rae(capt) 7 S. Harding 8 P. Tupai (19 D. Barrell 53mins)
Replacements: all used
Tries: Liebenberg, Bassett, Barrell, Taylor
Cons: Lennard 4
Pens: Lennard 2
Match Officials
Referee: Terry Hall
AR1: Thomas Davies
AR2: Steve Leyshon
Man of the Match: Ian Nimmo
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