THE Cornish Pirates made it two wins from two
as they defeated local rivals Redruth in their latest pre-season game at the Mennaye
Field.
Having defeated Launceston earlier in the week, Jim McKay's
side once again found themselves up against National Two opposition - and once
again the Pirates were able to clock up another half-century of points without
really exerting themselves to the limit.
This Saturday's home friendly
with Gwent Dragons promises to be much more of a test for the Pirates, but having
shown a brief glimpse of their potential during this past week, the Welsh visitors
can ill afford to take the threat of Cornwall's premier side lightly.
Sticking
with a near identical starting line-up from that which took to the field at Polson,
the Pirates wasted little time in going about their business. With just two minutes
of the game played it was centre Wade Kelly who was on hand to collect a pass
from summer signing Richard Welding to score, fly-half Lee Jarvis converting for
a 7-0 lead.
Minutes later and Kelly was doubling his tally, the Australian
making the most of a loose pass from former Pirate Paul Thirlby to intercept and
gallop clear of the visitors defence to score.
Despite Kelly's double-whammy,
Redruth slowly began to come more in the game, and although they offered little
in terms of attacking play, their work particularly in the forward exchanges was
promising and was praised by McKay following the final whistle.
However,
the Pirates - who have endured a punishing pre-season training regime - were clearly
a yard quicker in most departments and it was not long before they were troubling
the scorers once more. A hard-hitting run through the middle from former Worcester
and Henley back Duncan Roke created the space, Tim Cowley accepted his offload
before releasing Welding to score in the corner. Jarvis converted from the touchline
for a 19-0 lead.
Redruth's cause was not helped three minutes before
the break when another former Pirate, Richard Carroll, was sent to the sin-bin
for persistent offending. With the man advantage, the Pirates pressed home their
authority upfront, hooker Peter Ince on the end of a well-drilled catch-and-drive
move, which Jarvis converted again for a 26-0 lead at the turn.
McKay
introduced Lodewyk Hattingh, Rhodri McAtee and new recruit Shaun James into the
action and the fresh blood soon paid dividends as the home side extended their
lead on 46 minutes with a hat-trick score from Kelly.
To their credit,
Redruth refused to lie down and valiantly battled away at their near neighbours.
Their efforts finally rewarded five minutes later when referee Mark Wilson awarded
them a penalty try after the home side were pinged for a series of offences. Thirlby
added the easy conversion.
Replacements aplenty followed from both
sides, but it was the Pirates who added their sixth try, Welding applying the
finish to a move which had started with a great burst of speed from Matt Jess
and was then worked through Shaun James and at least three fellow backs. Jarvis
was on hand to add the extras to make it 38-7.
Once more back came
Redruth. Using their most effective weapon, namely their pack, they drove themselves
into the Pirates 22 from where they created the opening for hooker Mark Harper
to touchdown, Thirlby bagging the extras.
However, in a strong finish
from the Pirates, Roke sped through for a seventh score, converted by Jarvis,
who then in injury time put the seal on a fairly polished home performance with
a score he again converted.
Pirates: W Davies; R Welding, D Roke,
W Kelly, M Jess; L Jarvis, G Cattle; A Paver, N Makin, D Seal; W James, T Cowley;
J Bearman, S Betty, M Evans.
Replacements used: V Ma'asi, I Motusaga,
L Hattingh, S James, R McAtee, P Ince
Tries - Kelly 3, Welding 2,
Ince, Roke, Jarvis; Conversions - Jarvis 6
Redruth: J Trezise; L
Vinnecombe, C Bonds, J Caruana, N Pedley; P Thirlby, M Churcher; D Jacques, M
Harper, S Heard; R Carroll, D Cook; J Navin, J Hosking, N Pascoe.
Replacements
used: A Morcom, P Joyce, B Priddey, J Pengilly, A Skinner, J Mann, G Thirlby,
C Fuca
Tries - Penalty Try, Harper; Conversions - P Thirlby 2
