Thank you to our friends at the Pirates, for providing us with Wolls Match report and Brian Tempest for the photo. Taking in full from the Cornish Pirates
Bedford Blues 26 Cornish Pirates 25
RFU Championship Play-Offs Round 2
Goldington Road Bedford
Friday 16th March
Phil Westren's Match Report
Having drawn their RFU Championship Pool 'B' opener at home to Leeds the previous weekend, the Cornish Pirates went oh so close to recording a keenly sought first win in Stage 2. Indeed, looking in fine fettle and leading 25-6 at half-time, there was every hope that they would return home victorious, but the defiant Blues had other ideas and made a terrific comeback that saw them snatch victory right at the very end.
There was an enthusiastic buzz about the floodlit Goldington Road ground when Ceiron Thomas got this game under way, although any travelling support from the far south west was inevitably sparse for such a Friday night fixture.
Playing down the slope the Pirates were clearly fired up keen to get off to a good start, and following a quick tap penalty from skipper and scrum-half Gavin Cattle, and with support given by flanker Phil Burgess they then went incredibly close to scoring the game's opening try, only for centre Andrew Suniula to unluckily spill the ball with the line at his mercy.
Holding territorial advantage, however, and with a number of penalties awarded their way, the Pirates went 3-0 up in the 10th after full-back Rob Cook was called forward to take a kick at goal.
From the restart hooker Dave Ward took off on a run that immediately took play back into Bedford's '22', and after support arrived and there a brief moment of settle flanker Phil Burgess and Suniula worked a 'scissors' that ended with the latter making no mistake to dot the ball down over the line for a try converted by Cook
This was a great start for the Pirates but the hosts soon pulled three points back with a penalty successfully slotted by their full-back and captain James Pritchard.
Bedford's enthusiastic supporters at last had something to smile about, but their facial images would soon change as Cook responded with his second successful penalty and then wing Matt Evans chased a kick ahead to outpace his fellow Canadian international Pritchard to suddenly score the Pirates second try. Cook converted well from out wide and with the scoreline reading 3-20 the Cornish team had made a mighty impression with less than half an hour gone.
Evans has shown himself to be gifted and committed player in his short time with the Pirates, and also possessing pace he soon sparked the burners once more to chase a chip down field that tested the defensive qualities of home winger Ollie Dodge.
Approaching half-time the Blues strived to raise the morale of their deflated supporters, with former Northampton Saints flanker Darren Fox making yardage and there a hint of sharpness shown by centre Henry Staff. Following a scrum, when the ball reached the hands of dangerous young wing Josh Bassett, the noise about at last rose to expected levels. Hopes were high that he could add to his tally as the Championship's top try-scorer, but as it worked out the Blues settled for three points from a penalty kicked by Pritchard.
With the scoreline reading 6-20, pre-match the Pirates would have accepted that as a half-time score, but they were in a mood to do better, and with the help of a wayward pass from Pritchard they scored their third try through makeshift wing Tom Kessell, who is normally a scrum-half but has been another whose efforts have been admired. Cook's conversion rebounded off the right post, but arriving at the break holding a 25-6 points lead almost belied belief.
The Pirates had shown immense character in such a positive first half showing, but they still had a test to pass in the second forty, as the Blues would come out bruised and determined, and so it proved.
A Pirate error all but from the start gifted Bedford the opportunity to make required yardage, and following a catch and drive it was not long before flanker Alex Rae was adjudged the scorer of a converted try which made it 13-25.
The home side introduced replacements as they looked to up the tempo still further., and after good work from scrum-half Luke Baldwin and Fox, a penalty from Pritchard pulled three more points back.
With over half an hour to go, and with 4th Official Richard Kelly having by now taken control of the whistle in place of a hobbling Mr. Tutty, the remainder of the game promised to be inevitably tense, and with Pritchard adding his fourth penalty to make it 19-25 it was surely time for the Pirates to get their act back together.
A terrific carry by No. 8 Ben Maidment was hopefully a sign that fortunes were about to change, despite Cook then missing with a lengthy penalty attempt at goal.
The Pirates kicking game had served them well in the first half, and when fly-half Ceiron Thomas worked the touchline from a penalty award it was important for them to keep possession and play with discipline and control.
There was a feeling that the Pirates were back on track, and the home crowd also sensed it. One more score for the Cornish side would surely seal a fine victory, and one so desperately sought, but either way they would likely end the game with just 14 men after replacement prop Carl Rimmer was yellow-carded.
Bedford looked to have taken all but immediate advantage playing with an extra man, with Bassett appearing to have scored, only for play to be pulled back when an assistant referee was spotted with his flag up.
The Pirates were forced to dig in deep as they displayed desperate and heroic defence, and they then went down to 13 men when Alan Paver was also sent to the sin bin, which led to uncontested scrums.
The prospect of a penalty try being awarded has passed through minds, but this was now less likely, with the only question being was there enough time left for Bedford to make numerical advantage count.
Well, in what was an amazing finish, Bedford made their comeback complete, snatching victory right at the very end after a try scored by replacement Brendan Burke was followed with a match-winning conversion struck by Pritchard.
The joyous reaction from Bedford's supporters said it all, them ultimately relieved and also ecstatic that their team had made it three wins from three against their respected opponents this season.
As for the Pirates, they were understandably desperately disappointed, but in present circumstances had performed far better than many had expected. That first 'W' in the play-offs has to date eluded them, which is a record they determinedly look to put right when they take on Rotherham Titans at the Mennaye Field next Sunday.
Bedford Blues:
J. Pritchard (capt), O. Dodge, H. Staff (B. Burke 52), I. Vass, J. Bassett
J. Sharp (J. Lennard 62), L. Baldwin (D. Veenendaal 56), J. Fisher (S. Harding 48), D. Fox, A. Rae
P. Tupai, S. Tomes (D. Barrell 48), B. Cooper (R. Reeves 48), N. Cochrane, S. Walsh.
Replacement (not used): C. Locke.
Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, T. Kessell, G. Pointer, A. Suniula, M. Evans
C. Thomas, G. Cattle (capt), B. Maidment (R. Brits 73), P. Burgess, C. Morgan I
Nimmo, M. Smith (M. Myerscough 62), A.Paver, D. Ward, R. Storer (C. Rimmer 52).
Replacements (not used): R. Elloway, K. Marriott, A. Penberthy, R. McAtee.
Yellow cards: Rimmer, Paver.
Scorers:-
Bedford Blues
Tries: Rae, Burke
Conversions: Pritchard (2)
Penalties: Pritchard (4).
Cornish Pirates
Tries:Suniula, Evans, Kessell
Conversions:: Cook (2)
Penalties: Cook (2).
Referee: Michael Tutty (RFU)/Richard Kelly (4th Official)
Attendance: 3,377
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