Pirates soundly beaten at rejuvenated Bedford Blues

CORNISH Pirates’ struggles away from home continued on Saturday evening as they ran into a Bedford Blues backlash at Goldington Road.

The Pirates headed to Bedfordshire off the back of a superb 35-33 victory over title favourites Ealing Trailfinders the week before and made just one change to the starting XV as Josh King came in at lock for Milo Hallam.

The hosts – often at the right at the end of the table – had surprisingly lost their opening three games but, despite having to play against the reknowned slope, took the lead 14 minutes in when second row Alex Woolford advanced down the left and fed wing Dean Adamson to score. Away protests for a forward pass fell on deaf ears as fly-half Will Maisey added the extras.

Pirates’ efforts were rewarded five minutes later when, following a line-out and a skewed driving maul, referee Jamie Parr ran to the posts to signal a penalty try. Home centre Lucas Titherington was also yellow-carded for his troubles.

Approaching the half-hour mark, entertaining approach play by the home team saw experienced centre Michael Le Bourgeois cross to the right of the posts.

The Pirates did apply good pressure approaching half-time with hooker Morgan Nelson and Hugh Bokenham to the fore, but were held up over the line. The always-impressive Bokenham soon required treatment that threatened his afternoon, but he was able to carry on.

But their task was made much harder early in the second half as within a minute home full-back Louis James ghosted into space before timing his pass perfectly to GB Sevens winger Marcus Kershaw to score down the right.

Maisey added a penalty off the tee for 24-7 on 52 minutes, and with the wind in their favour, the Blues continued to dominate.

They conjured up a gem of a try on 54 minutes when replacement hooker Craig Wright and prop Joey Conway set up Titherington to do the rest.

Fresh legs for the Pirates were introduced off the bench as they sought to get themselves back in the contest, but the Blues were flying and prop Oisin Heffernan’s run and pass ended with a second converted score for Titherington on the hour.

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.

The Pirates, who have two wins and as many defeats from their four outings so far, host Chinnor at the Mennaye Field on Saturday at an earlier start time of 1pm.

CORNISH PIRATES: Henry Palmer; Arthur Relton, Nick Lilley, Harry Ascherl, Josh Radcliffe; Arwel Robson, Dan Hiscocks; Alessandro Heaney, Morgan Nelson, Alfie Petch; Matt Cannon, Josh King; Alex Everett (capt), Jack Forsythe, Hugh Bokenham. Replacements: Matt Pritchard, Jamie Clark, Osman Dimen, Tomi Agbongbon, Luke Ratcliff, Will Becconsall, Angus Mawson, Finn Love.

Tries: Penalty try, Relton; Convs: Robson; Pens: N/A.