This was a game that promised much but failed to live up to its pre-match billing. It was not that it lacked for for commitment or endeavour, for there was plenty of that on display from both teams, but too often error-strewn it was ultimately a disappointment on what was a fine day for playing rugby at good old Goldington Road.

Selected at fly-half for this game, Rob Cook kicked the game off by duly posting the ball to the ground's notorious slope on the right. Then, from the breakdown, play was worked to the left from where scrum-half James Doherty fed a pass which ended with Cook going mightily close to scoring.

Managing to keep the Pirates at bay, the Blues proceeded to take play to the opposite end of the field, with a kick from fly-half Brad Davies and a chase by wing Ian Davey applying pressure that forced the Pirates to concede a penalty comfortably slotted by Bedford's skipper for the day, full-back James Pritchard.

On a personal note for the Canadian international, it also took the club's prolific scorer past the 150 points mark for the season.

From the restart the Pirates had a chance to hit back immediately when the Blues were a penalty came their way, but Cook's well struck effort went just inches wide of the left hand post.

Keeping pressure on their opponents, No. 8 Laurie McGlone and Doherty looked to put wing Rhodri McAtee into space off a scrum, and Cook then found touch close to the scoreboard corner. No immediate advantage came after Bedford's line-out thrown was overthrown, but when it happened a second time Pirates hooker Rob Elloway crashed over the line for a try converted by Cook.

Two minutes later the Pirates were penalised at a scrum some thirty metres out from their line, enabling Pritchard to successfully pull three points back.

This game always had the potential to be a high-scoring affair, a view strengthened from witnessing the opening exchanges. The Pirates, in particular, looked confident, running with purpose and kicking well out of hand when called for. Their line-out was also functioning well, especially to skipper Ben Gulliver, but at scrum time the Pirates were frustrated to again be penalised by referee Mr. Lewis.

A blind-side break by Bedford's former Bath and England scrum-half Nick Walshe was supported by flanker Ben Lewitt, as the Pirates defence was now given a stern test, and there was due relief when an adjudged forward pass was whistled for when Bedford looked all but certain to score on the right.

The vocal support of the home crowd suddenly raised decibel levels, sensing that their side were in the ascendancy, but the Pirates held out.

Play now became stop-go and scrappy for a spell, but as the shadows lengthened across the field Cook actually extended th Pirates lead with a super penalty strike from all of 48 metres out.

It was now the turn of the Blues to respond, which appeared likely as effort levels appeared raised throughout their side. The scoring of a try again looked likely, but this time they were denied as centre Steve Winn made an all-important tackle on Lewitt. As it worked out, McGlone was then yellow-carded, a penalty offered, and three points accepted – and taken through the boot of Pritchard.

As the seconds ticked towards 40 minutes on the clock, Bedford were caught off-side on the right, enabling Cook to again open up a four points gap which made the scoreline 9-13 at the break.

A Bedford view is that the slope on their ground, is always worth a few points, and when they started the second half they looked keen to take immediate advantage. From a catch and drive on the right the ball was moved back along the line through centre Myles Dorrian and hooker Chris Locke.

A try appeared to have been scored at the scoreboard corner, but there was confusion whilst the referee had a long discussion with his assistant on the top touchline. And the outcome? Well, adding to the “what happened” questions thrown about, centre Paul Devlin was the second Pirate to be shown yellow and Bedford's impressive No. 8 Chris Goodman, formerly of Bath, was identified as the scorer of a try magnificently converted by Pritchard.

The Blues were back in the lead, but only briefly, as wing Aisea Havili chased and forcibly scragged opposite number Davey, who failed to release the ball when tackled, enabling Cook to kick the resulting penalty some 27 metres out from the posts.

Back on level terms, the eventual outcome was still anyone's guess. However, when it was Pritchard's turn to kick another penalty on 56 minutes, few about would have thought it to be the last score of the afternoon. Indeed, it looked shortly after as if Pritchard was about add a try to his tally as he strode away on the left, but the ball was moved back inside where distraught flanker Sacha Harding knocked the ball on at the line.

Positions of promise for Bedford also evaporated with a number of poorly executed kicks from hand, it a period when both sides introduced replacements.

Ryan Prosser was keen to get stuck into the action when coming off the bench on 67 minutes, and another earlier replacement, prop Scott Franklin, made a strong carry into Bedford's half. Tyrone Holmes looked to take the ball still closer to the line, but when the Blues regained possession it was Bedford who would finish the game holding territorial advantage.

The Pirates could not threaten again in the match, but they did answer the need to defend admirably in the dying minutes, and at least hold on for a bonus point.

Bedford Blues:
J. Pritchard (capt), L. Fielden, M. Dorrian, I. Vass, I. Davey, B. Davies (J. Sharpe 65), N. Walshe, C. Goodman, S. Harding, B. Lewitt, A. Rae, P. Tupai (J. Harlock 72), D. Seal (P. Boulton h/t), C. Locke (D. Richmond 52), S. Walsh, (M. Cecere 65).
Replacements (not used): B. Daynes, D. Taylor.

Cornish Pirates:
W. Davies, R. McAtee (N. Jackson 72), P. Devlin, S. Winn (M. Ireland 64), A. Havili, R. Cook, J. Doherty (G. Cattle 49), L. McGlone, S. Betty, C. Morgan, B. Gulliver (capt), S. Pammenter (T. Holmes 59), A. Paver (P. Andrew 59), R. Elloway (R. Prosser 67), R. Storer (S. Franklin 29).

Yellow cards: L. McGlone, P. Devlin.

Scorers:-
Bedford Blues – try: Goodman; con: Pritchard; pens: Pritchard (4).
Cornish Pirates – try: Elloway; con: Cook; pens: Cook (3).

Referee: Keith Lewis (RFU)

Attendance: 2,817