PIRATES LEAVE IT LATE TO SINK ALBION / 18-04-2006
CORNISH PIRATES 29 PLYMOUTH ALBION 28
With the Pirates set to play their final National League One game of the season against London Welsh back at the Mennaye Field on April 29, the future remains unclear as to whether they will grace the Truro venue next season. However, if this was to prove the conclusion to their short, but somewhat sweet stay 'Up on the Hill', then the Pirates served up the perfect parting gift to their army of supporters - the numbers of which have swelled steadily during the season following their short sojourn up the A30. Trailing 28-22 four minutes into injury time, it seemed the points were heading East with Graham Dawe's powerful Albion Armada, who overcame a formidable opening half-hour from the Pirates to claw themselves to within inches of a famous victory. With honours even between the two sides this season - Albion triumphed 36-20 in the Powergen Trophy back in November, before the Pirates gained their revenge with a 26-23 victory in the league in December - things were always going to be tight between the cross-Tamar rivals. In Round Three, however, it was the Pirates who flew out of the blocks. In a rousing opening, Heino Senekal, Duncan Roke and skipper Gavin Cattle all went close, before South African No.8 Matt Evans broke the deadlock on 11 minutes when, aided by his fellow forwards, he was powered over the line from a line-out, Lee Jarvis converting. Minutes later and they were adding to their tally, flanker Joe Bearman intercepting a telegraphed pass from Albion fly-half Ed Barnes to race in from 60 metres to score. Jarvis missed with the conversion, but he atoned on 28 minutes when he fired over a penalty to put the hosts 15-0 up. Albion were clearly reeling and in need of a pick-me-up of some sorts. So, in troubled times, they resorted to the good old tried-and-trusted, prop Martin Rice burrowing over from a catch-and-drive move, which Barnes converted. Barnes could have reduced the arrears yet further, but he failed with penalty kicks either side of the break. However, when Pirates prop Alan Paver was sin-binned for not rolling away at the tackle area, Albion used the man advantage to great effect. Using quick ball over a ruck just inside the Pirates half, Barnes latched onto a pass from Nigel Cane, before dropping his shoulder and brushing off the attentions of at least four home tacklers to score and convert. However, better was to follow for the Devonians who claimed converted try number three on the hour mark, Alfie Tooala, Keni Fisilau, Luke Arscott and Ed Lewsey combining to set-up Regardt Van Eyk to touchdown. Renewed impetus - in the shape of Vili Ma'asi and Nick Adams - was sent on in a bid to add some fresh muscle up front for the home side - and the move clearly paid off as Ma'asi was the initial instigator of Rhodri McAtee's try six minutes from time. With Cattle having been dragged to the bottom of a ruck, Ma'asi took control at the base lobbing a pass right to Matt Jess, who in turn fed Wade Kelly, he linked with Richard Welding, whose electric burst through the middle created the opening for the 'Welsh Whippet' to glide his way in from 15 metres out, Jarvis obliging with the tough conversion to make it 22-21. The drama, however, was far from over and when full-back Arscott picked his way through the home defence with 84 minutes on the clock, Barnes converting, Albion sensed this could well be their day. The Pirates, though, had other ideas and using their pack to edge ever closer to the visitors line with a series of pick-and-go moves, it was James who emerged from a mass of bodies with the match-ball in hand. Jarvis converted with the final kick of the game to seal a memorable win. Cornish
Pirates 29 Pirates: R McAtee; R Welding,
D Roke (M Jess 40), W Kelly, K James; L Jarvis, G Cattle (capt), A Paver (D Parkes
61), N Makin (V Ma'asi 67), D Seal (N Adams 67); H Senekal, J Beardshaw (S Hockings
70), T Cowley (Parkes 52-61), M Evans. Replacements (not used): N Chivers, T Barlow.
Albion: L Arscott; E Lewsey, R Van Eyk, K Fisilau, N Sestaret; E Barnes, N Cane; M Rice, S Friswell, R Hopkins; N Rouse (M Lewis 33-40), B Luxton; M Schusterman, D Thomas (capt, C Lowrie 80), A Tooala. Replacements (not used): N Saumi, J Fabian, M Albina, A Livesey, G Dawe. Referee:
T Wigglesworth (RFU) |
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