At the very end of the game, as the Pirates defended desperately to hold out for victory, it was not to be.

A second try in the match for replacement prop forward Joey Conway sealed a win for the Blues.

All but immediately after Cornish Pirates’ fly-half Bruce Houston kicked the game off, on a wonderfully sunny October afternoon wing Arthur Relton scored the game’s opening try left of the Newlyn posts.

Houston was luckless with the conversion.

Soon a playmaker for the Bedford side was their skipper, scrum half, and a former ‘Pirate’ in the shape of Alex Day.

A member of the famous Tuilagi family, number 8 Fred, also carried strongly.

Twice from line-outs the Pirates did well to repel the Blues at the scoreboard corner, but after centre Charlie McCaig was yellow-carded, it was Conway who scored the first of his two tries.

Fly-half Will Maisey was successful with his conversion attempt.

A terrific 50-22 kick from Day kept pressure upon the Pirates, who thankfully held firm.

The home side was forced to defend for a spell, and did especially well.

Then, following good play from skipper Bokenham, play would eventually be taken deep inside Bedford’s half.

As a try looked likely to be scored at the old Western National corner, one would materialise on the half hour mark for hooker Morgan Nelson.

Houston this time added the extras.

Unfortunately, it was a case of back in the lead one moment and giving it away the next, as a mistake at the back enabled Dean Adamson to canter in at the Penzance posts.

Maisey then converted for the halftime score to read 12-14.

(Image: Brian Tempest) It all felt a little more promising for the Pirates when lock Matt Cannon scored a converted try to put the home team back in front.

Yet again, however, the acquired lead was short-lived, as a converted try by centre Lucas Titherington saw the visitors regain the lead.

The Pirates had made changes that freshened up their game, and replacement prop Billy Young was another to score his first five-pointer for the club.

However, giving penalties away and forced to defend desperately would eventually lead to Conway’s second, and all-important, last minute try.

After the final whistle, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said: “It’s not nice to lose a match in the last play of the game and it is the second time it has happened this season.

“This is a new group and the pack can learn some harsh lessons, which the Championship can give, but I do think we deserved a bit more from the game and probably edged it.

“Having gone so close to winning I am naturally gutted."