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Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle says he is 'gutted' as his side conceded a last-minute try to lose 28-24 at home to Bedford Blues.

Joey Conway's 80th-minute try ensured the Blues left the Mennaye Field with five Championship points as the lead changed six times in a close match.

It was the second successive home game that the Pirates had lost to a last-minute try after champions Ealing edged past them last month.

The loss leaves Pirates 10th in the 12-team Championship with three losses from four games - the club lost just four matches throughout the whole of last season when they finished second.

"When you compare that to last week's performance it was way more spirited, enthusiastic - I'm proud of the effort that went in," Cattle told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Cornwall.

"But it's just where we are as a group. Maul defence and goal line was good, ball defence from the middle third of the pitch put us under a lot of pressure - we gave too many penalties away in that area.

"It's a new group. Some harsh lessons are learned and the Championship does that."

Arthur Relton had given Pirates a 5-0 first-minute lead but Conway's converted try after 16 minutes sent Bedford in front, only for Morgan Nelson and Dean Adamson to cross for either side in a four-minute spell after 30 minutes to see the visitors lead 14-12 at the break.

Matt Cannon's 52nd-minute try put Pirates 19-14 up, but Lucas Titherington restored Bedford's two-point margin three minutes later.

Replacement Billy Young sent Pirates 24-21 ahead with 12 minutes to go only for Conway to break Pirates' hearts as Will Maisey converted all four Bedford tries.

"You can't fault the effort," added Cattle.

"It doesn't make you feel any better, because you're after the win, but there were some encouraging performances in there.

"I thought Charlie Royce went really well, I thought Billy Keast was good today, Morgan Nelson - some boys put their hands up.

"They would have been frustrated with last week and reacted this week, but I'm gutted."