Cornish Pirates

With Guy Fawke's Day fast approaching, the Cornish Pirates made sure they started November with a bang, as this win away to Bedford was without doubt their best performance of the season.

Such an end result could only have been dreamt of pre-match, but it is one that proved that dreams can come true.

After the home side kicked the game off at an already floodlit Goldington Road ground, it was not long before good play from their full-back Brendan Burke, and scrum-half Nick Walshe set a position from where the Cornish Pirates gave away a penalty. The chance offered the Blues was a simple one, with it successfully slotted by centre Billy Twelvetrees.

Playing with confidence, the Cornish Pirates made light of the early set-back, and after wing Rhodri McAtee showed what a danger he can pose with ball in hand, it was not long before Bedford themselves infringed, them caught offside and gifting fly-half Rhys Jones the opportunity to level the scores, which he did.

Play from both sides was energetic and even, but such was the composure witnessed in the Pirates performance that they gradually gained a distinctive edge. By ruling the line-out and dominating the scrums, opportunities were provided for the backs to occasionally shine. Recalled centre Steve Winn looked sharp, as did scrum-half Nicky Griffiths, and after McAtee went close a second penalty was awarded the Pirates which Jones struck well to give the visitors the lead.

Playing the ball with control through the hands, it was not long before the Pirates threatened once more. Lock Heino Senekal and No. 8 Bertrand Bedes offered support to make the final hard yards, it a passage of play that ended with Bedford' s skipper Burke yellow-carded and Jones applying the punishment by kicking his third penalty in the match.

Unfortunately, having a man advantage did not last for long, as prop Scott Franklin soon followed Burke to the sin bin, to thus balance playing personnel at 14-a-side. Nearing the end of the first half, it a period when play had become just a little feisty, both Twelvetrees and Jones were off target with penalty attempts, before Twelvetrees was given one more difficult chance which he successfully kicked in the very last seconds. The Pirates were certainly worthy of their 9-6 half-time lead, and although neither team had managed to score a try, the first forty had not been lacking in either commitment or entertainment. Flanker Iva Motusaga, who had taken a knock in the first half, was replaced during the interval by Sam Betty.

"Flanker Iva Motusaga, who had taken a knock , was replaced during the interval by Sam Betty"

What would the second half bring? Well, nobody knew for sure, but it important for the Pirates, who would now play down Goldington Road's notorious slope, to simply strive and play with the same purpose and togetherness so far witnessed.

When match action resumed, Winn continued to look assured, as did full-back Adryan Winnan, who was restored as captain.

In the Blues team, centre Liam Roberts occasionally looked a threat, but the Pirates defensive effort had been extremely sound, as were other departments of their game. Front-rowers Alan Paver, Darren Dawidiuk and Franklin without doubt deserved the plaudits, as the Pirates started to dominate at scrum time in particular.

Despite the worsening wet weather, gaining a regular supply of quality possession enabled the Pirates to build momentum in a forceful manner, but with it important also that pressure mounted would derive benefit, which it did. A first try of the game was the reward, and it no surprise that Griffiths was the scorer, as nobody deserved it more. After he had spotted space to run clear to the posts, Jones added the conversion and the Pirates had opened up a 10 points gap.

Entering the last quarter, it was important that the resolve shown by the Pirates was maintained, but this was not a day to doubt them. They were a team of men who were playing for each other, in no mood to give anything away, and it appearing that victory was already theirs.

The home crowd, who would have had high hopes coming into this match, stayed silent even when a Jones penalty attempt fell just short of the posts. Their confidence was by now already shredded, as they knew that he bruised Blues could not get back into this game, and they were right. Desperation had crept into Bedford's play, it similar to witnessed from the Pirates on a number of occasions this season, but it was now the Cornish side's turn to make the opposition pay. After Jones had stepped confidently forward to kick his fourth penalty on the match, it a lengthy effort from over 40 metres out, Winn intercepted a misguided pass deep into injury-time and ran half the length of the field for a converted try at the posts.

"Winn intercepted a misguided pass and ran half the length of the field for a try"

To win 26-6 at Goldington Road was a momentous achievement, the 1st November perhaps marking the coming of age of a team who have always had the potential to perform.

Head coach Mark Hewitt, his colleagues and players could enjoy their journey home, him commenting: "Bedford is a hard place to visit and win a game, but the spirit and attitude shown by the boys was superb. We didn't panic or do anything silly, but we did keep our composure and take our opportunities." He added: "The line-out was good, and the scrum much improved, and by putting Bedford under pressure they were made to play off scraps. Our game management was also much better, with half-backs Rhys and Nicky impressing, and the team well led by Ado."

Bedford Blues:
B. Burke (capt), W. Harries, L. Roberts, W. Twelvetrees (O. Dodge 72), R. Owen
I. Vass, N. Walshe (W. Chudley 70), G. Gillanders, B. Daynes (R. McKay 60), P. Tupai (M. Howard 52)
M. Botha, J. Cannon, P. Boulton (J. Graham 55), G. Sammons (D. Richmond 26-40, 55), S. Walsh (M. Cecere 65).

Yellow card: Burke.

Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan (capt), B. Tuohy, P. Devlin, S. Winn, R. McAtee
R. Jones, N. Griffiths, B. Bedes, I. Motusaga (S. Betty h/t)
C,. Morgan (D. Seal 35-40), B. Gulliver, H. Senekal, S. Franklin (D. Seal 62), D. Dawidiuk, A. Paver (P. Cook 69).

Replacements (not used): M. Burak, E. Fairhurst, T. Luke, M. Ireland.

Yellow card: Franklin.

Scorers:-

Bedford Blues
Pens: Twelvetrees (2).

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Griffiths, Winn
Cons: Jones (2)
Ppens Jones (4).

Referee: Rowan Kitt (RFU).

Attendance: 2,514.