News
REPORT | Sensational Blues win away at Pirates
Bedford Blues are making a habit of ruining long unbeaten home records and they can add another conquest to the list as they secured a thoroughly deserved 41-21 success at Cornish Pirates.
It was a performance full of grit, determination and character from 23 players who gave it everything they had – and more – to secure a first victory on the Cornish coast since October 2018.
It’s been 15 days since Blues let themselves down at Coventry on opening night – reducing the penalty count from 23 to eight, and the yellow cards from three to zero shows the spirit that exists within and they were superb throughout for a five-point success that was fully deserved.
Last season, it was Bedford ending Ealing’s long run without defeat on home soil, now they’ve totally taken control of the Pirates at The Mennaye to defeat a side who went unbeaten in the league in-front of their own supporters last season.
It all happened in the second half from a scoring perspective, but Bedford have always been able to score tries. We know that. Perhaps what was more encouraging was the sternness of the defence in the first half to set up the platform for victory.
Breakdown infringements, offsides and weak maul defence – three things that plagued the Coventry defeat – weren’t even a concern this time around as the boys really rolled up their sleeves and socks and counterpunched what Pirates threw at them.
It was 14-6 in favour of the home side at the break as they did manage to break through the resistance at times – hooker Will Crane went over as did Rusiate Tuima, who made probably three times as many carries as anyone else on the field but only gained metreage on that one occasion.
Blues were stubborn and willing to work for each other and you always felt that once they got going in attack, it could be their day.
In truth, there wasn’t too much time spent within the Pirates half in the opening 40, Blues settling for two Will Maisey penalties when getting into the 22m.
The foundations were laid, now it was time to build the house. And Blues went and built a mansion.
They were aggressive from the first moment after the restart and scored within three minutes; Ethan Grayson and George Hendy linking to set Alex Day away under the posts.
The conversion made it 14-13 before another Maisey penalty put Blues in-front.
To only concede seven points in a half against Pirates is no mean feat and the hosts scored their only points of the second half after 54 minutes to go ahead, this time Robin Wedlake finding a bit of space and darting through it.
Both sides were trading blows but it was Bedford who showed how assured they have become in the past two weeks and never looked back from there, controlling the game and scoring 25 unanswered points to get all five on offer.
Blues scored twice in two minutes on the hour as they struck decisive blows. Joey Conway’s score levelled proceedings before Bedford stole a lineout and crashed over through Jacob Fields – who was immense on his 99th club appearance.
The bonus point came on 70 minutes as Pirates threw the kitchen sink at things. Again Blues stayed methodical and picked their moment to strike. From a tap and go, they were off and Day grabbed his second.
Two more penalties from Maisey made it job done and a much more enjoyable coach journey home. This wasn’t just good, it was really good.
*Match photography provided by Brian Tempest*
Teams
BEDFORD BLUES
15. George Hendy, 14. Pat Tapley (62'), 13. Ethan Grayson (69'), 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C) (69'); 1. Joey Conway (69'), 2. Jacob Fields (63'), 3. Ed Prowse (63'), 4. Robin Williams, 5. Oli Curry, 6. Geordie Irvine (73'), 7. Jac Arthur, 8. Tui Uru (54')
Replacements
16. Jack Hughes (63'), 17. Monty Royston (69'), 18. Corrie Barrett (63'), 19. Emeka Atuanya (73'), 20. Charles Rylands (54'), 21. Jake Garside (69'), 22. Louis Grimoldby (69'), 23. Sean French (62')
CORNISH PIRATES
15. Carwyn Penny, 14. Callum Sirker (60'), 13. Rory Parata (69'), 12. Joe Elderkin, 11. Robin Wedlake, 10. Arwel Robson, 9. Alex Schwarz (60'); 1. Marlen Walker (40'), 2. Will Crane (53'), 3. Harvey Beaton (53'), 4. Cory Teague, 5. Will Britton (53'), 6. Peter Everett, 7. John Stevens (C) (60'), 8. Rusiate Tuima
Replacements:
16. Max Norey (53'), 17. Jack Andrew (40'), 18. Hayden King (53'), 19. James Fender (53'), 20. Will Gibson (60'), 21. Ruaridh Dawson (60'), 22. Tommy Wyatt (69'), 23. AJ Cant (60')
REFEREE
Alex Thomas
ATTENDANCE
1,491
