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REPORT | Blues make history in Penzance
Bedford Blues made it three successive wins down on the Cornish coast for the first time in club history thanks to a last-gasp 28-24 victory over Cornish Pirates.
Joey Conway will take the plaudits after his last gasp try secured all five points, but this was all about a full team performance in which all 23 put in a shift to write themselves into the history books.
The result moves Mike Rayer’s side to 3rd in the Championship table after four rounds of action.
Speaking after the game, Forwards Coach Tom Cruse said: “Great to score last play of the game which is a nice feeling. I thought we worked hard throughout the game, adapted well when we had to change the team up.
“To come away with a big win is great for the team. I just thought we showed really good work ethic – we spoke all week about making a full team effort and it was exactly that, the bench came on and made an impact.
“The grit, the togetherness of the group showed so really happy.”
To a man, Blues were exceptional and were fully deserving of their five points. They may wonder why it took them so long to secure the points, quite a few entries into the 22m came and went without points, but if anything it only added to the drama.
Pirates posed huge carrying threat in Hugh Bokenham and Tomiwa Agbongbon but Blues matched their physicality to dominate proceedings, and have the advantage in all the key statistics across the field.
Conway started and finished the scoring from a Blues perspective in what was a sensational 70 minute performance having been brought on from the bench earlier than planned, initially cancelling out Arthur Relton’s second minute opener.
Blues led 14-12 at the break as Dean Adamson marked his return to the side with a customary try as he continues to close in on becoming Bedford’s greatest ever try scorer.
In the second half, Blues were again forward thinking in their approach but were, at times, guilty of letting opportunities pass them by in the red zone.
Lucas Titherington cut a crisp line to get points on the board but after Matt Cannon and Billy Young dotted down, Pirates led with time in the red.
With Blues asserting pressure late on, a huge call came with a penalty in-front of the sticks. Take the points or gamble it all?
Fortune favoured the brave as Blues tapped and went through Tommy Herman, building the phases to offer Conway the chance to secure a massive victory on the road, and first wearing the new away kit.
Conway added: “Unbelievable team performance. It took us 80 minutes and it required everyone but we got there in the end.”
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