With the Blues capitalising on confusion in the home defence their pack drove into the Pirates twenty-two in support of a 30metre break from James Pritchard. Scrambling cover slowed the ball down but as fly-half, Jon Elrick, dropped deep into the pocket behind the ruck the Camborne faithful collectively held their breath.

The pass from Dickson was good. Elrick had time, but against a stiff south-easterly breeze he sliced his kick into the grateful clutches of home fly-half, Gareth Steenson. The young Irishman duly belting the ball into Crane Park to herald the final whistle and four bitterly contested points for the Cornish Pirates.

As a contest this match should never have been so close. The Pirates began with a real purpose only failing to score a first minute try as Cowley was illegally halted inches short of the Bedford line, after a superb break from Elloway. Steenson converted the subsequent penalty and the Pirates came back for more.

First Fairhurst, and then Moore tested the wide defence of the visitors before lock, Joe Beardshaw, who dominated the line-out all day, was held up over the Bedford line by frantic defence work.

Steenson added a second penalty as Bedford strayed offside at a ruck before Paul Devlin came agonsingly close to a try after a blistering 25m break.

Suddenly Bedford rallied and their first meaningful attack on twenty-five minutes brought a penalty converted by Elrick after the Pirates had been penalised for wanton skulduggery on the floor.

Back came the Pirates. A fast break down the right flank from Ollie Thomas, supported by Fairhurst, forced Blues full-back Brendan Burke to knock on deliberately on his own try line. Mr Kitt banished the miscreant for a ten minute rest and the Pirates duly destroyed the Bedford scrum forcing them to collapse. Mr Kitt duly awarded a penalty try which Steenson effortlesly converted.

The breathing space lasted only three minutes as excellent work in the loose by Pienaar and Strauss allowed Bedford to drive up to and over the Pirates line, resulting in a try for Youngs. Elrick converted.

The Pirates charged straight back at the Blues with an audacious chip ahead from Buckley narrowly missed by the on-rushing McAtee, on as a blood replacement for Devlin. There was still time for Pritchard to miss a long range penalty for the Blues as the Pirates turned around 13-10 ahead.

The Pirates started the second half with the wind at their backs attacking the Clubhouse End. Once again they were purposeful and direct with Fairhurst much to the fore. Stout defence held them at bay until the Canadian International was deemed to have elbowed his opposite number and was banished to the bin.

With the Pirates down to 13 men Bedford seized their opportunity. A try for Roberts inevitably came after intense pressure on the Pirates line but crucially Elrick missed the conversion. Steenson then missed a 45 metre penalty attempt for the Pirates as the Blues maintained the upper hand - just.

Finally with Brenton cynically offside at a ruck, and lucky to stay on the field of play, Steenson restored the home lead with a second plus-forty metre effort. Five minutes later he repeated the feat after the Blues were penalised for holding onto the ball in the tackle.

Trailing 19-15 Bedford were clearly not going to lamely settle for a losing bonus point. A series of counter-attacks from deep inspired by Burke and Pritchard and spearheaded by the impressive Strauss tested the Pirates resolve to the full.

Spirited defence and individual errors kept the Blues at bay until Pritchard`s injury-time break set up the platform from which Elrick so nearly broke three thousand hearts.

It may not have been pretty but seven wins out of eight keeps Jim McKay`s men firmly in fourth place tonight.

 

Match Stats:-

 

Cornish Pirates

Thomas, Tuohy, Devlin (McAtee 32-40 - blood), Buckley, Moore (McAtee 78), Steenson, Fairhurst (sin-bin 48-58), Cowley (capt) (Evans 74), Motusaga (sin-bin 40-50), Cracknell, Cumming, Beardshaw (Hobson 66), Seal (Heard 52), Elloway, Paver.

Replacements not used - Dawidiuk, Cook, Bolt.

 

Tries - Penalty

Con  -  Steenson

Pens -  Steenson (4)

 

Yellow cards - Motusaga, Fairhurst

 

 

Bedford Blues

Burke (sin-bin 33-43), Owen, Roberts, Youngs, Pritchard, Elrick, Dickson (Page 60), Pienaar, Harding (Mundy 70), Strauss, Brenton (Phillips 59), Botha, Graham (Cole 36), Richmond (capt), Cecere.

Replacements not used - Sammons, McKay, Hinkins.

 

Tries - Youngs, Roberts

Con - Elrick

Pens - Elrick (2)

 

Yellow card - Burke

 

 

Referee - Rowan Kitt (RFU)                       

 

 

Attendance -  3043

 

 

 

 

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