THE
New Year started in style for the Cornish Pirates as they saw off visiting Doncaster
with a six-try salvo at Kenwyn on Sunday.
Welshman Rhodri McAtee
was the architect of their victory, bagging a hat-trick of tries, as well as creating
the opening for centre Duncan Roke to touchdown.
It was vintage stuff
from McAtee, who has only recently returned to the Pirates first team following
a spell out with injury, then a spell away on international duty with the Wales
Sevens squad.
Featuring once again on the left flank for the home
side, McAtee raced in for two fine first-half scores, before grabbing his treble
midway through the second period, when he latched onto a pass from full-back Wes
Davies before turning on the after burners and scorching in from 60 metres to
score.
His try treble was all the more sweeter as the diminutive
back dislocated his shoulder in the reverse fixture on the opening day of the
season. That injury certainly hampered McAtee’s early season promise, but the
former Worcester man has battled back strongly and his return to form was clearly
evident in this latest league fixture.
McAtee ripped into a Doncaster
side, who battled valiantly in the opening quarter before he cut them apart with
his opening try of the game on 20 minutes. With a line-out on the left, the Pirates
worked the ball through Simon Hockings, Gavin Cattle and Lee Jarvis before McAtee
sped in off the left flank to collect from Jarvis and jinx his way to the line.
The recalled Jarvis, one of two changes made to the Pirates team
that beat Plymouth Albion on Boxing Day, obliged with the extras, but was unable
to net a penalty chance five minutes later. Opposite number Rob Liley also failed
with a shot of his own at the uprights.
However, as the half progressed
it was the Pirates who upped the tempo with some impressive running rugby. McAtee
added a second converted score on 28 minutes, before turning provider for centre
Duncan Roke to touchdown moments later, Jarvis again converting for a 21-0 lead.
It was an advantage the home side extended in first half stoppage
time when lock Heino Senekal – the other change to the home line-up – capped his
first league start of the season when he rumbled over from close range.
At 26-0 up at the turn, the Pirates were firmly in control of proceedings.
However, Doncaster rallied during the half-time break and they stunned their Cornish
hosts with a bright opening to the second half, which brought about two tries
for winger Michael Wood, both of them converted by Liley.
However,
a Jarvis penalty helped nudge the home side further in front, before McAtee claimed
his treble try on 62 minutes. A loose kick from Donny full-back Jon Boden was
fielded by Davies, whose pass to McAtee released the ‘Welsh Whippet’ to scythe
through the visiting rearguard. Jarvis once more administered the conversion to
that score and Cattle’s effort five minutes later as the Pirates raced into a
43-14 advantage.
To their credit, Doncaster refused to throw in their
towel and their efforts were rewarded with late tries for flanker Russell Earnshaw
and replacement Steve Barretto, the latter of which was converted by Liley.
By then, however, the game and the five points were safely in the bag for
the Pirates, who are without a game this weekend following their exit from the
Powergen Trophy to Plymouth Albion.
Cornish Pirates 43
Tries
– McAtee 3, Roke, Senekal, Cattle; Conversions – Jarvis 5; Penalty – Jarvis
Doncaster 26
Tries – Wood 2, Earnshaw, Barretto; Conversions
– Liley 3
Pirates: W Davies; R Welding (M Jess 40), D Roke, K James,
R McAtee (S James 73); L Jarvis, G Cattle (capt); A Paver, V Ma’asi (N Makin 60),
N Adams (D Seal 68); H Senekal (S Betty 75), J Beardshaw; S Hockings, I Motusaga,
M Evans. Replacements (not used): J Pritchard, P Ince.
Yellow Card:
Paver
Doncaster: J Boden; J Rothwell, N Wakley, J Cannon, M Wood;
R Liley (capt), C Harrison (L Lane 40); R List (S Barretto 40), S Boden (J Roddam
73), N Tau (S Bunting 68); G Kenworthy (O Cook 77), D Cook; R Earnshaw (D Murray
80), S Grainger (R Peacey 64), D Montagu.
Referee: D Rose (RFU)
