CORNISH Pirates coach Jim McKay was in upbeat
mood despite seeing his side conclude their pre-season fixtures on a losing note
going down 23-19 against the Gwent Dragons.
With the opening
day fixture at Doncaster less than a fortnight away, McKay has been encouraged
from what he has seen from his side in their three warm-up games, but believes
there is still much more to come from his side.
Certainly the Dragons
- who arrived in the Duchy with a host of international names sprinkled across
their line-up - believe the Pirates can challenge this term - and the Welshmen
were given a serious testing before eventually emerging with a narrow victory.
A strong second half display from the Pirates almost gained maximum
rewards with Richard Welding and Rhodri McAtee finding their way over the try-line
to go alongside hooker Peter Ince's first-half effort.
However, it
was the prolific Leigh Hinton, who ultimately proved the difference between the
two sides as he plundered 18 points on his debut for the Dragons.
Hinton
- a summer signing from Bedford Blues - was last season's top points-scorer in
National League One and it did not take the prolific full-back long to open his
account for his new club.
With just five minutes on the clock, home
skipper Lodewyk Hattingh strayed offside in midfield and up stepped Hinton to
administer the Welshmen's opening blow with a 30-metre penalty.
Moments
later the Pirates had the chance to square the game up, but former Dragons fly-half
Lee Jarvis pulled his penalty attempt wide of the left upright.
Worse
was to follow for Jarvis when on 11 minutes his intended pass for Wade Kelly was
brilliantly picked out of the air by winger Gareth Wyatt, who galloped to the
line unopposed, Hinton converting for a 10-0 lead.
However, the Pirates
were far from downbeat and they used their imposing pack, spearheaded by former
Wales A international Will James, to set-up their attacking platform.
The
idea clearly worked as they bagged their first points on 18 minutes, hooker Peter
Ince squirming over from a line-out move at the second attempt.
The
try merely acted as a wake-up call for the Dragons, who this weekend face Premiership
Bath in their final pre-season game. Hinton sent over a second penalty, before
adding the extras to his own try in first half stoppage time, the full-back collecting
a pass from Richard Fussell to make it 20-5 at the break.
And it
did not take the impressive Hinton long to add to his tally after the break, this
time adding a third penalty after an indiscretion by Samoan international Iva
Moutasaga, who was one of five players sent to the sin-bin by referee David Rose.
With both sides introducing a plethora of fresh faces as the half
progressed, it was the Pirates who finished the game the stronger. Richard Welding
cut the deficit with a converted try on 63 minutes, before Welsh Under-21 international
Rhodri McAtee sprinted through for a superb individual try, converted by Tom Barlow,
to set up an interesting finale.
Although the Pirates pressed hard
for a late winning score, the experience of the Dragons ensured their efforts
were thwarted.
Pirates: W Davies; M Jess, S James (D Roke 40), W
Kelly, K James (R Welding 58); L Jarvis (T Barlow 74), G Cattle (R McAtee 25);
A Paver, P Ince (V Ma'asi 40), D Seal (D Parkes 58); W James (B Ayimba 79), M
Evans; J Bearman (S Betty 78), I Motusaga, L Hattingh (T Cowley 40)
Pirates:
Tries - Ince, Welding, McAtee; Conversions - Jarvis, Barlow
Yellow
Cards: Motusaga, Cowley
Dragons : L Hinton (S Winn 75), G Wyatt,
H Luscombe, J Bryant, R Fussell (B Breeze 75); A Thomas, G Baber (capt, A Walker
70), D Maddocks (A Black 40), G Robinson, R Thomas (C Warlow 60); A Hall (I Gough
60), P Sidoli; R Bryan, J Ringer (R Oakley 64), R Dale (J Forster 40).
Dragons: Tries - Wyatt, Hinton; Conversions - Hinton 2; Penalties - Hinton
3
Yellow Cards : Bryant, Forster, Bryan
Referee: D Rose
(RFU)
