MONDAY VERDICT: Cornish Pirates 25 Bedford Blues 24
Dick Straughan's take on Sunday's narrow defeat for the Blues at Cornish Pirates
A missed penalty by Myles Dorrian four minutes from time proved costly for Bedford Blues as they slipped to a one point defeat in an absorbing match against the Pirates.
Intense late pressure from the Blues had the Pirates firmly on the back foot as the visitors attempted to snatch back a game they seemingly had control of at the interval, only for Dorrian`s place kick just sixteen metres from the target to sail wide to the disbelief of the large Cornish crowd.
It was cruel on a Blues side who had raced to a ten point lead at the break courtesy of two converted tries late in the half but once again underlined the importance of small errors in this season's Championship.
Bedford had slightly the better of the opening exchanges and took a 12th minute lead as Dorrian struck with a thirty metre penalty as the Pirates were penalised at the break down.
The lead however lasted just four minutes as the Pirates fought back and took the lead with the opening try of the afternoon. Flanker Blair Cowan was on hand to round off a good break by Mark Ireland. Rob Cook converted for a 7-3 lead.
Dorrian struck a post with a 45 metre wind-assisted effort shortly afterwards but it took until the 35th minute before the Blues finally took advantage of some sloppy Pirates defensive work.
Liam Roberts was the first to cross the home line as he skipped around several flailing tackles to score at the posts. Three minutes later wing Ian Davey scorched down the left wing to take Duncan Taylor's well judged pass with the line at his mercy. Dorrian converted both tries and the Blues were cruising at 17-7.
However the Pirates were quickly back in the match after the interval as Cook's 41st minute penalty was quickly followed by a second try of the afternoon for the home side.
This time skipper Gavin Cattle sniped around the base of a close range ruck and the Blues defence were powerless to stop the score. Cook converted and the game was level at 17-all.
Lock Ben Gulliver added a third from a quickly taken lineout only for Blues prop Sam Walsh to round off a relentless pick and drive routine with his side's third try of the match. Dorrian converted as the Blues edged to a 24-22 lead.
Cook stole the lead back for the Pirates with fifteen minutes to play with his second penalty but the finale was all Bedford as they threw everything at landing the killer punch.
The chance when it came fell to Dorrian. But he fluffed his lines as Bedford lost for the third game in a row.
Blues: Fielden, Taylor, Dodge, Roberts, Davey (Knight 69), Dorrian, Vass (Walshe 59), Walsh (Boulton 64), Richmond, Seal (Brown 50), Harlock, Rae, Lewitt, Daynes, Tupai. Not used: Locke, Goodman, Davies.
T&C MoM: Ian Davey - His raw pace tore holes in the Pirates defence as Bedford ended the first half on top.
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Weather for Bedford
Monday 06 February 2012
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Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
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