A FULL house from fly-half Lee Jarvis ensured
the Cornish Pirates ended 2005 on a high with victory over near neighbours Plymouth
Albion in their National League One encounter at the Brickfields.
The
Welshman, who was introduced as a half-time replacement for Tom Barlow, produced
a stylish second half display – one in which he helped himself to a try, two conversions,
a penalty and a sublime 40 metre drop-goal – to steer the Pirates ship home in
front of a bumper 5,677 crowd.
It
ensured the Pirates were finally able to end a miserable losing streak against
their Devon hosts, who had held the upper hand in their last five encounters,
including last month’s 36-20 Powergen Trophy success.
This time round,
however, it was a much more spirited performance from the Duchy premier club,
who offered a much greater physical threat up front, as well as providing a much
greater variety to their back play.
Such features were and are needed
against Graham Dawe’s well-drilled Albion outfit, who took just four minutes to
break the game’s deadlock, Fijian Nat Saumi firing them in front with a fourth
minute penalty.
The lead proved shortlived, though, fly-half Tom
Barlow – one of four former Albion players in the visiting ranks – restoring parity
with a shot of his own, given after the home side had strayed offside in midfield.
As the half progressed there was little to choose between either
side, Albion threatened with a series of close-in drives, while Kevin James and
Alan Paver were both penalised for holding on following some determined attacking
from the Pirates.
However, as the half drew towards a close, it was
Albion who regained the initiative. Declining two kickable penalty chances, they
instead used the opportunity to set-up one of their trademark mauls from which
flanker Martin Schusterman sniped off the back to barge his way over in the right-hand
corner.
Although Schusterman then turned from hero to villain in
the space of a minute, the Argentine forward penalised by Premiership referee
David Rose for going over the top, gifting Barlow a second penalty with the last
action of the half.
It was to prove Barlow’s last action of the match
as he was replaced by Jarvis during the interval – and Albion too made a change
as Matias Albina came on for Nigel Cane at scrum-half.
Just two points
separated the teams as they re-emerged for the second half, which quickly exploded
into life. Just 30 seconds had been played when the Pirates capitalised on a turnover
deep in the Albion 22 to release winger Rhodri McAtee wide on the left, only for
the Welsh Under-21 international to spill the ball with the line at his mercy.
It acted as a mere let-off for Albion, who did well to defend a quickly
taken penalty from McAtee moments later, but were unable to stop a series of drives
from the visitors, the third of which enabled Tongan hooker Viliami Ma’asi to
burrow his way over.
Jarvis converted that score, before adding the
extras to his own touchdown on 52 minutes, the fly-half applying the finishing
touches to a slick handling move that had involved Duncan Roke, McAtee and Wes
Davies. Indeed, had this try been screened on Sky’s Rugby Club, there is no doubt
Messrs Barnes and Morris would still be rejoicing about this one come May.
Despite the Pirates securing a 12-point buffer, Albion were far from out
of it and they struck back just past the hour mark, prop Martin Rice reducing
the deficit when he was driven over following good approach work from the impressive
Schusterman and compatriot Albina.
Saumi converted to make it 15-20,
then traded penalties with Jarvis as the match set itself up for one final crescendo.
With both sides pressing hard, particularly in defence, it was Jarvis who took
charge, collecting a ball from half-back partner Gavin Cattle before booming over
a drop-goal from 40 metres out six minutes into injury time.
Still
the action was not finished as the game filtered into the 13th minute of injury
time. Needing to keep the ball alive, Albion’s late, late endeavours were rewarded
not only with a late Nic Sestaret try, but also a losing bonus point.
That,
though, will be the only real bright point for player-coach Dawe and his team,
who must now quickly raise themselves for Saturday’s trip to Devon rivals Exeter
Chiefs.
The Pirates, meanwhile, have until January 2 to toast their
victory, one which will not only have put the seal on a ground-breaking 2005,
but one which will ensure they head into the New Year in fine fettle.
Plymouth
Albion 23
Tries – Schusterman, Rice, Sestaret; Conversion – Saumi;
Penalties – Saumi 2
Cornish Pirates 26
Tries – Ma’asi,
Jarvis; Conversions – Jarvis 2; Penalties – Barlow 2, Jarvis; Drop-Goal – Jarvis
Albion: L Arscott; N Saumi, R Van Eyk, K Fisilau, N Sestaret; E Barnes,
N Cane (M Albina 40); M Rice, S Pearl (G Dawe 54), R Hopkins; N Rouse, T Hayes;
M Schusterman, D Thomas (capt), A Tooala (B Luxton 76). Replacements (not used):
S Leung-Wai, J Fabian, S Zimmerman, C Lowrie.
Pirates: W Davies;
R Welding, D Roke, K James, R McAtee; T Barlow (L Jarvis 40), G Cattle; A Paver,
V Ma’asi (N Makin 57), N Adams (D Seal 79); W James (H Senekal 65), J Beardshaw;
S Hockings, I Motusaga (S Betty 80), M Evans. Replacements (not used): M Jess,
J Pritchard.
Referee: D Rose (RFU)
Attendance: 5,677.
