Bedford Blues 17 Cornish Pirates 26

Competing in the eighth season of the Greene King IPA Championship, the Cornish Pirates got their 2016/17 campaign off to a perfect start.

They scored two tries in the match, whilst faultless fly-half Will Cargill notched up a personal tally of 16 points.

On a drab and wet afternoon, umbrella carrying home supporters watched their side apply the early pressure at a floodlit Goldington Road ground.

A score from a line-out looked likely, but the Pirates survived the threat.

After a considerable delay in play, which followed an injury suffered by Bedford’s Justin Blanchet, the Pirates soon had the chance to post their first points of the season.

Awarded a penalty, the signal was given for fly-half Will Cargill to step forward and have a kick at goal, which he fired successfully through the posts. 0-3.

The acquired lead did not last long, as after the Blues suddenly snaffled possession and fly-half Jake Sharp booted up field, wing Dean Adamson put on the burners to add support and score a try that Sharp then converted. 7-3.

The Pirates were in no mood to bow heads, and five minutes later they were back in the lead once more. Getting the ball into the hands of wing Matt Evans, the proven finisher tore down the touchline, avoided the desperate clutches of former ‘Pirate’ Will Carrick Smith, and was in for a try. Cargill added the conversion. 7-10.

Sharp landed a penalty on the half-hour mark to level matters(10-10), but the irrepressible Pirates continued to strive hard and showed further worth into injury time. Following a line-out, an Evans thrust was halted just a short distance out, but in support was No. 8 Tom Duncan who powered his way over the line. Cargill converted once more and for good measure also slotted a penalty, thus giving the scoreline a satisfying half-time look. 10-20.

The Pirates expected the Blues to burst out of the blocks at the start of the second period, but equally the Cornish side was up for such a challenge. Their scrum had been dominant, and the defensive effort superb – tackles soon to be made by full-back Toby May and Championship centre debutant Nicolas De Battista typifying the display. Indeed, the energy witnessed throughout the team, and in all areas, was admirable.

The first points in the second half came in the 65th minute, when another successful penalty from Cargill extended the Pirates lead. 10-23.

A try scored by Bedford’s replacement back-rower Jason Hill, which was converted by replacement fly-half Myles Dorrian, would narrow the deficit to six points (17-23), and give the Blues a chance of snatching victory. However, the Pirates need not have worried, as awarded a late penalty ‘Cargill the Cool’ eased his kick over from the right of the posts, and in the process opened up an important nine points gap.

There was little time for the Blues to bridge it, and they didn’t, as the Pirates held on to secure a win that provided a truly bright start to their season

It was remembered that Bedford had finished fourth in the league last season, and the Pirates ninth, so the satisfaction was obvious. Cargill’s faultless display off the tee had even denied the Blues a losing bonus point.

Commenting post-match, Cornish Pirates coach Alan Paver said:

“Bedford is a tough place to go to, so a performance like that away from home is fantastic.

“Not many people gave us a chance but the boys have worked hard and had a great pre-season, and sticking to our systems they just kept going.”

Alan added:

“There is a lot of energy, hunger and passion in the squad, and a lot of young guys, a good number of whom are Cornish.

“Obviously we mustn’t get carried away, as there are still areas to improve and work on, especially ahead of our home game against Ealing Trailfinders next Sunday. They will be a different animal from last year, more streetwise, and we will take their challenge seriously.”

Bedford Blues: 15 Elliot Clement-Hill, 14 George Perkins, 13 Michael Le Bourgeois (capt), 12 Tom Griffiths, 11 Dean Adamson, 10 Jake Sharp (Myles Dorrian 67), 9 Jordan Burns (Tom James 61); 1 Camilo Parilli-Ocampo (Hayden Thompson-Stringer 50), 2 Jacob Fields (George Edgson 61), 3 Christian Judge (Dave Spelman 50), 4 Mike Howard (Ed Taylor 67), 5 Will Carrick-Smith, 6 Justin Blanchet (Jason Hill 12), 7 Josh Buggea, 8 Ben Adams.

Cornish Pirates: 15 Toby May, 14 Kyle Moyle, 13 Alex Dancer, 12 Nicolas De Battista (Tom Hendrickson 56), 11 Matt Evans, 10 Will Cargill, 9 Alex Day (Stuart Townsend 56); 1 Marlen Walker, 2 Jack Innard (Tom Channon 61), 3 Tyler Gendall (Jack Andrew 61), 4 Chris Morgan (capt), 5 Brett Beukeboom, 6 Dan Lee (Jake Parker 80), 7 Alex Cheesman (Sam Simmonds 71), 8 Tom Duncan.

Replacement (not used): Laurence May.

Scorers:-

Bedford Blues – Adamson, Hill; cons: Sharp, Dorrian; pen: Sharp.

Cornish Pirates – Evans, Duncan; cons: Cargill (2); pens: Cargill (4).

Referee: Simon Harding (RFU)