BIG kahunas were shown by Kieran Hallett to nail a tough conversion chance to give Cornish Pirates a win in the British & Irish Cup.

These were the words of director of rugby Ian Davies after the side's 35-34 victory over Bedford Blues at the Mennaye in what was an gripping display of rugby.

Substitute Bertie Hopkin went over for the hosts with one minute to go before Hallett sent his conversion from 5m off the left side line dead between he posts.

Having had a tough start to the season with three straight losses, the Pirates now have a trio of wins to their name and the momentum which comes with it.

It had been a tough game for either side to put away as they shared nine tries, five of which went to the visitors who leave with two bonus points.

Kieran Goss was the man who started the try scoring in the day after intercepting Steffan Jones' pass to sprint 70 metres to the Blues' end.

Up to his point the away team had been edging the encounter and soon got back to level terms with Jim Wrigglesworth bustling his way over, with referee Andy Rawson awarding it after a brief chat with his touch judge Claire Daniels.

But the Pirates edged back in front six minutes later as their pack, who aced their set pieces all afternoon including three stolen line-outs by 6ft 11in tall lock Will Carrick Smith.

They showed their ferocious strength to win the ball from a Blues scrum in the opposition half.

After a few phases, the Blues were penalised for coming in at the side of a ruck and Hallett kicked a simple penalty in a central location.

Patrick Tapley nipped the visitors back ahead after going over on the right wing thanks to a break by outside centre Michael Le Bourgois.

But a superbly taken penalty from 40 metres out by Hallett plus Cheesman's first try of the day brought about by a driving maul on the stroke of half time put Pirates 18-14 up at the break.

Another long distance penalty from Hallett extended the lead to seven, but 14 minus into the second half Viluami Hakalo burst over after the Blues' pack showed a fleeting moment of strength with a maul from 5m out.

Jones missed the conversion but made amends eight minutes later when he slotted a penalty between the sticks to take a one point lead.

Advantage looked to stagger back to he Pirates though when Harry Wells was shown a yellow for persistent fouling in the 66th minute.

Cheesman went over for his second try 60 seconds later after another good driving maul and it appeared it would be easy street for the home team from there.

However, the Blues backs showed immense kicking and chasing skill to grab two tries in three minutes while down to 14 men.

Left wing Dean Adamson got the first as he outpaced Hopkin after catching his own up and under before Jones did the same, this time leaving Luke Jones in his tracks.

Only the second of these tries was converted and his would prove crucial in the end.

The Pirates made it to the Blues 22, spreading the play from right to left before Hopkin got the ball on the overlap and a clear path over.

Hallett was left with the task of kicking the conversion at an awkward angle to win the game and he showed great composure to kick for the vital extra two points, much to the relief of most people sat in the stands.

A return trip to Doncaster Knights, who they beat 24-22 last Saturday in the Greene King IPA Championship, is next up for the Pirates.

PIRATES: 15 Holland (May, 48), 14 Goss, 13 Dancer, 12 James, 11 Jones, 10 Hallett, 9 Kessell; 1 Ford-Robinson (Andrew, 61), 2 Channon, 3 Gendall (Hopkin, 72), 4 Graulich (Carpenter, 72), 5 Carrick Smith (Atkinson, 69), 6 Morgan (c), 7 Cheesman, 8 Lowry (Parker, 14).

UNUSED REP: Snook.

TRIES: Goss (10), Cheesman (40, 67), Hopkin (79).

CONS: Hallett 3/4.

PENS: Hallett 3.

BEDFORD: 15 Wrigglesworth (Dodge, 65), 14 Tapley, 13 Le Bourgois, 12 Hakalo, 11 Adamson, 10 Jones, 9 Veenendaal (White, 72); 1 Williams (Moss, 43), 2 Saunders (Harris, 52), 3 Parillo-Ocampo (Currie, 52), 4 Wells, 5 Sherrif (Howard, 61), 6 Vandermolen (Buggea, 61), 7 Blanchett, 8 Fenton-Wells (c).

TRIES: Wrigglesworth (13), Tapley (24), Hakalo (54), Adamson (70), Jones (73).

CONS: Jones 3/5.

PEN: Jones.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Alex Cheesman.