By Phil W / DC
December 13 2006

A satisfying victory which in one swoop lifted the Pirates from sixth to second in the league, the crowd savouring the occasion ahead of next Sunday's eagerly awaited local derby against Exeter Chiefs.

Pirates Go Second

Cornish Pirates 34 - Bedford Blues 5

After three home games which had seem win comfortably at the Recreation Ground, Camborne, with a points ratio of 125 for and just 29 against, the Cornish Pirates knew that they were in for a far tougher contest against third-placed Bedford last Sunday.

There were also concerns about the atrocious weather conditions experienced in the build up to the match, and how it would affect things both on and off the field. In the event, come kick-off time, the rain had thankfully eased, true rugby supporters not put off as it was clear that the fixture had attracted the biggest crowd of the season.

It was, perhaps, no surprise that the Pirates team showed no changes to the one that won so convincingly at Sedgley Park the previous week, though Henry Barratt, recovered from a shoulder injury, was brought in on the bench.

Also present to watch their new club play were lock James Inglis, who has joined from NEC Harlequins, and giant Fijian prop Ravuama Samo who landed in the country only last Friday.

Ravuama Samo	James Inglis

Once the match got underway it was apparent that the slippery surface might make it difficult for the players, with play at first somewhat scrappy. There was certainly no lack of commitment, plus an intensity in the game which made it likely that this would be fiercely contested throughout, but it was the visitors who settled first.

Following a long range penalty miss by Pirates fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo, pressure was soon applied on the home team at the opposite end of the field, a mix up in the Pirates defence enabling Blues winger Mike Staten to scramble over for a try in the sixteenth minute. The conversion from fly-half Ross Broadfoot, ex of Leicester and recently regarded as one of England's bright young fly-half prospects, missed, but his side were soon in control once more.

With good line-out possession from locks Jon Phillips and Arthur Brenton, it looked likely that the Pirates would leak more points, but the threat was held. Indeed, after skipper Gavin Cattle quick tapped a penalty and broke clear it looked likely that the home team would get an opening score of their own, but it was not to be.

However, the Pirates now started to play with more control, flanker Stan McKeen securing quality ball from the front of the line-out, and centre Duncan Roke making a scything midfield run to set a platform for the forwards.

Stan McKeen securing quality ball

On the half-hour mark it looked as if No. 8 Matt Evans had scored on the left after the Pirates pack had confidently shunted Bedford's eight back over the line, but he was denied the personal points when referee Mr. Gareth Copsey awarded a penalty try to which Bernardo easily added the extras.

Having taken the lead, it was soon extended from the restart after Staten was yellow carded for shoulder charging Bernardo off the ball, the league's top points scorer exacting perfect revenge by slotting the resulting penalty, the last points of the half.

During the interval, James Inglis and Ravuama Samoa were introduced to the crowd and welcomed to Cornwall, and there was an under 11s mini-rugby match played by enthusiastic representative teams from both Camborne and Hayle.

If the Pirates had found their feet near the end of the first half, when play resumed they raised their performance to another level, looking truly potent.

McKeen was again the point of attack before Bernardo kicked a fine penalty goal from forty metres, this followed by some incisive play which led to two crowd-lifting scores.

The first came after Vinnicombe ran the ball back at the Blues, cutting a line before man of the match flanker Iva Motusaga off-loaded to the supporting Evans who was this time not to be denied a converted try near the posts.

Evans who was this time not to be denied a converted try (Pic Big Brian)

And the second? well, he rarely misses getting on the scoresheet, wing Rhodri McAtee stepping three defenders to run clear to the line after excellent approach work by Motusaga, and centre Duncan Bell.

Di Bernardo, with this time a more difficult conversion attempt slotted it nonetheless.

Bedford did come back and play with control for a brief period, but the Pirates pack, in punishing mood, soon showed their power once more at the clubhouse corner.

After four scrums, resulting in four penalties, come the fourth Mr. Copsey had had enough of Bedford's indiscretions, gifting the Pirates their second converted penalty try of the game.

It was a satisfying victory, one which in a swoop lifted the Pirates from sixth to second in the league, the crowd delighted to savour the occasion ahead of this coming Sunday's eagerly awaited local derby encounter against Exeter Chiefs.

Scorers:-
Cornish Pirates - pen tries: (2), Evans, McAtee; cons: Di Bernardo (4); pens: Di Bernardo (2).

Bedford Blues - Staten.

Cornish Pirates
A. Winnan, R. McAtee (H. Barratt 57), D. Roke, D. Bell (S. Winn 69), L. Vinnicombe, A. Di Bernardo (J. Moore76), G. Cattle ©, M. Evans, I. Motusaga (T. Cowley 69), S. McKeen, J. Beardshaw (S. Hobson 74), H. Senekal, S. Heard (G. Anderson 69), V. Ma'asi (O. Hambly 74), A. Paver.

Bedford Blues
B. Patston (C. Moir 63), M. Staten, O. Dodge, M. Allen (c), J. Pritchard, R. Broadfoot, D. Malone (K. Dickson 31), B. Pienaar (A. Kettle 64), S. Harding, N. Strauss, A. Brenton, J. Phillips (M. Comb 69), J. Graham (D. Cole 33), C. Johnson (C. Whitehead 57), M. Volland (B. Alexander 64)..

Yellow card - Staten.

Referee - Gareth Copsey (RFU)

Man of the Match - Iva Motusaga