CROSS Keys could end Cornish Pirates' hopes of making the British and Irish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday after the men from the Mennaye Field had their opening weekend win chalked off.

The Pirates had stunned Bedford with a late try to steal the spoils 35-34 but had played the last eight minutes with uncontested scrums following an injury to prop Tyler Gendall.

The laws of the game state that they should have gone down to 14 men but they replaced the front rower with fly-half Bertie Hopkin.

He scored a try in the 78th minute that was converted and an organising committee has deemed that those seven points should be chalked off.

It means that Bedford have been awarded a 34-28 win, leaving the Pirates to settle for a losing bonus point.

Doncaster top Pool Four with two bonus point wins, Keys and Bedford both have six points and the Pirates now have two.

On Sunday the Gwent side travel to Cornwall while Doncaster host Bedford.