PLYMOUTH ALBION 36 CORNISH PIRATES 20 / 26-11-2005
LOCAL pride went the way of Plymouth Albion as they condemned the Cornish Pirates to a second successive defeat with a 36-20 victory in Saturday’s Powergen National Trophy tie at the Brickfields. Three tries in 13 first-half minutes enabled Graham Dawe’s Albion to power themselves into the last eight of this season's competition where they will face NEC Harlequins, who a week previous had soundly beaten the Pirates in the league. Certainly in-form Albion were again in fine fettle, but the Pirates did little to help themselves with a disappointing defensive display, particularly in the opening period, when they gifted their hosts three tries. Although better in the second period - Tom Barlow's arrival at fly-half certainly helped their cause - the Pirates were unable to find a way back into the game as Albion ruthlessly closed the game out in the latter stages. However, the Cornishmen started Saturday’s clash positively enough. Fly-half Lee Jarvis narrowly missed with a drop-goal chance in the second minute, before firing his side in front five minutes later with a penalty after Albion skipper Danny Thomas had been penalised for not rolling away. Using the boot of the Welshman, the Pirates looked to build on their early lead with a series of kicks down field. Unfortunately, many found home full-back Luke Arscott, who was happy enough to gather and then fire his own efforts back down the throats of the visitors. It was from one of those kicks out of defence that the 21-year-old came within a whisker of giving his side the lead. On tat occasion, however, Pirates' winger Kevin James got back in time to field his fly-hack into touch just yards from the try-line. It was not long, however, before Albion drew level, fly-half Ed Barnes converting a penalty on 23 minutes after Samoan flanker Iva Motusaga had been penalised by referee Dean Richards. With parity restored, it was the home side who then kicked into overdrive, stinging the Pirates with a three-try blast. Strong running from Alfie Tooala and Regadt Van Eyk created the opening for Arscott to dive in for the first try, quickly followed by a score from scrum-half Nigel Cane, who exposed a gaping hole at the side of a ruck to sneak in by the posts. Worse was to follow for the Pirates in stoppage time as more slack defending allowed winger Jon Fabian to run in unchallenged from just inside the visiting 22. Barnes converted all three scores to make it 24-3. Jarvis reduced the deficit with a penalty with the last action of the half to make it 24-6. The loss of skipper Joe Bearman to a hand injury did little to help the Pirates' cause. He was replaced by South African Matt Evans, who was making his first appearance since picking up an injury in the away defeat at Bedford back in early October. Albion, however, picked up from where they left off and within seven minutes of the restart were claiming their fourth try, No.8 Tooala burrowing over from the base of a scrum. It was one-way traffic as Albion looked to attack at every opportunity. Indeed, they turned a Pirates attack over deep inside their own 22, before releasing Nic Sestaret to dart down the right flank. With prop Alan Paver - one of five former Albion players in the Pirates' squad - in hot pursuit of the Frenchman, it was only a pulled hamstring that prevented Sestaret from extending Albion's grip. It was a mere respite as moments later the home side made the most of Joe Beardshaw's sin-binning to grab their fifth touchdown, prop Martin Rice claiming the plaudits from a well-rehearsed catch-and-drive move, which Barnes converted. The Pirates needed some fresh invention and it duly came with the arrival of Barlow. Immediately he got the visiting backline moving with a renewed impetus that brought it's reward with a try for Gavin Cattle. Barlow bagged the conversion, then added the extras to winger Richard Welding's 12th touchdown of the campaign as the Pirates threatened a late fightback. Albion, though, were having none of it and they duly shut up shop in the final quarter with a hardness in defence that the Pirates should really take note of. Plymouth
Albion 36 |
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