JUST a week after appearing to get their season back on track, the Cornish
Pirates hopes of a top-two finish in National League One were dealt a crushing
blow as they slipped to defeat at Nottingham.
Two late penalties
from home fly-half Neil Stenhouse ensured the Midlanders a dramatic last-gasp
victory - and assured them of suitable revenge for an earlier 29-20 defeat by
the Pirates at Kenwyn.
The Pirates, though, had only themselves to
blame after dominating for large periods of the opening half, but failing to make
the most of their opportunities when they arose.
Fresh from their
confidence-boosting victory over second-placed Bedford Blues the previous week,
Pirates coach Jim McKay made just one change to his starting line-up, Wes Davies
replacing Welshman Kevin James in the centre, while on the bench Peter Ince, Tim
Cowley and Matt Jess all returned.
Once again Nottingham lined-up
without influential skipper Craig Hammond because of injury, but the Kiwi's absence
did little to deter the home side, who saw Stenhouse fail with a penalty attempt
in a dominant opening burst to the game.
However, once the Pirates
got into their stride it was McKay's men who posed the greater threat, skipper
Gavin Cattle creating the opening for winger Richard Welding to break the game's
deadlock on 13 minutes.
It was certainly an early setback for Nottingham,
whose last home defeat was back in mid-November when they went down narrowly to
local rivals Coventry 27-26. Stenhouse failed with a second shot at the posts
minutes later, while centre Tim Molenaar threatened with a dangerous run, only
to knock-on at a crucial stage.
It acted as a warning to the visitors,
who added a second try on 32 minutes, Welding racing in for his 15th try of the
season following a defensive lapse.
The former Orrell and Sedgley Park speedster
almost added a third just before the break, a forward pass ruling out his hopes
of a hat-trick score.
At 10-0 up, McKay could have felt reasonably
happy with his side's first half showing, but it was their display after the break
which will have caused him concern.
Nottingham wasted little time
in getting into their visitors after the break, Kevin Brennan threatened with
an early opening, before they finally troubled the scorers for the first time
on 45 minutes when flanker Mark Easter crashed over, Stenhouse converting.
Within minutes, the Pirates slender advantage was wiped out completely,
home winger Josh Kay diving over to make it 12-10.
The Pirates needed
a pick-me-up and it came courtesy of replacement fly-half Tom Barlow, who restored
their lead with two quick-fire penalties on the hour mark.
However,
in a dramatic finale to the game, it was Stenhouse - adopting a modern-day Robin
Hood role - who stepped up to the mark to snatch a late success.
First
he plundered a 77th minute penalty, then missed with a second shortly after, before
atoning deep into injury time when he administered his fatal blow to the Pirates.
Even then their was time for the Pirates to threaten with a late
drop-goal chance, sadly it was not to be their day.
Nottingham 18
Tries - Easter, Kay; Conversion - Stenhouse; Penalties - Stenhouse 2
Cornish Pirates 16
Tries - Welding 2; Penalties - Barlow 2.
Nottingham:
B Thompson; J Kay, T Kirk (W Logan 9), T Molenaar, D Jackson; R Stenhouse, K Brennan
(capt); P Cook, J Duffey (A Loney 48), N Hall; N Arnold, L Morley; M Easter, D
Wilks (A Corcoran 42, N Fitisemanu 63), M Boden. Replacements (not used): N Fowkes,
G Chenoweth, M Woodrow.
Pirates: D Roke; R Welding, W Davies, S James (M
Jess 30-32), R McAtee; L Jarvis (T Barlow 58), G Cattle (capt); A Paver, N Makin,
N Adams (D Parkes 71); H Senekal, J Beardshaw; J Bearman, I Motusaga (T Cowley
50), M Evans (S Hockings 75). Replacements (not used): N Chivers, P Ince.
Referee:
D Newitt (RFU)
Attendance: 1,147
