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MATCH PREVIEW V CORNISH PIRATES

Posted: 
13/04/2018 - 11:44

Bedford Blues are expecting one of their toughest games of the season when they welcome Cornish Pirates to Goldington Road on Saturday afternoon.

It'll be third v fourth in the Greene King IPA Championship with both teams enjoying a good run of form. Bedford have won their last five games in all competitions while the Pirates have five wins out of six with the only blot being a B&I Cup quarter-final loss to Ealing Trailfinders.

Encounters between the two sides are always closely contested affairs with the reversal in December going the way of the Cornishmen who won 24-17 with Dean Adamson, Rich Lane and Elliot Clement-Hill scoring for Bedford.

Looking ahead to the game, Blues Team Manager Rob Crowle said: "Last weekend we were given a true test of character by Hartpury as they fought back valiantly having gone 19-0 down. We never really found any energy after half time and had to dig in and find a way of getting the win. It was another massive defensive effort  from the lads and then when we needed it, a bit of individual brilliance won the day.

"While it was pleasing to come away with five points, we know that our management of the game wasn't to the standard we'd expect and we must improve when the in-form Pirates arrive at Goldington Road this weekend."

Bedford make a host of changes for the visit of the Cornish Pirates with Will Hooley, Michael Le Bourgeois and Dean Adamson coming into the backs. A broken thumb means that number eight Jarad Williams is ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, so he is replaced by Huw Worthington while Sean McCarthy, Tom Lindsay, Ben Cooper, Jordan Onojaife and Alex Rae all return to the pack.

Starting lineup:
15. Rich Lane
14. Howard Packman
13. Rory Hutchinson
12. Michael LeBourgeois (c)
11. Dean Adamson
10. Will Hooley
9. Jordan Burns

1. Sean McCarthy
2. Tom Lindsay
3. Ben Cooper
4. Jordan Onojaife
5. Will Carrick-Smith
6. Justin Blanchet
7. Alex Rae
8. Huw Worthington

Replacements:
16. George Edgson
17. Dave Spelman
18. Alex Penny
19. Ed Taylor
20. Ben Adams
21. Elliot Clement-Hill
22. Harry Sheppard

Cornish Pirates team: 15. Kyle Moyle, 14. Alex O'Meara, 13. Harry Strong, 12. Nicolas De Battista (c), 11. Matt Evans, 10. Will Cargill, 9. Alex Day; 1. Billy Keast, 2. Dan Frost, 3. Christian Judge, 4. Toby Freeman, 5. Brett Beukeboom, 6. Tom Lawday, 7. John Stevens, 8. Tom Duncan. Replacements: 16. Marlen Walker, 17. Jack Andrew, 18. Josh Caulfield, 19. Dan Lee, 20. Nicolas Coronel,  21. Reiss Cullen, 22. Laurence May.

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