IF the Rugby Football Union's top brass needed
any reminding about the desire for Premiership rugby in the Duchy, then the newly-named
Cornish Pirates served up a timely reminder to them.
Winger Richard
Welding led the way with a sublime five-try salvo as the Pirates blew aside the
challenge of the visiting Earth Titans - the team formerly known to many as Rotherham
.
On a historic day for the Cornish outfit, those who descended on
the club's first-ever fixture at their new Kenwyn base were treated to a dazzling
display from Jim McKay's side who, along with NEC Harlequins, remain the division's
only unbeaten sides with 14 points from three games.
Successive away
victories over Doncaster and Newbury had brought early cheer for the Pirates on
the road, but it was at home that coach McKay was keen for his side to finally
start showing their true colours. They didn't disappoint.
With RFU
Chief Executive Francis Baron, Management Board chairman Martyn Thomas, plus former
England coach Geoff Cooke among those watching from the new stands, it was the
Pirates who opened the stronger.
Just two minutes had been played
when Tim Cowley and Tom Barlow combined to send Shaun James scampering into the
Titans' 22, but with Welding outside him, the Welsh centre opted to go it alone
and the chance was lost.
The Titans used the early let-off to their
advantage and stunned the home crowd of 2,800 into silence when they took the
lead on 12 minutes through No.8 Christopher Hala'ufia.
The Tongan
- who was the pick of the visiting side - powered over from close range after
the Titans had camped in the home half for a sustained period.
The
score acted as a timely wake-up call to the Pirates, who within five minutes had
drawn level with the first of Welding's quintet of touchdowns.
A
loose kick from full-back Ernst Claassens fell invitingly to Welding on the right
flank - and the former Orrell and Sedgley Park speedster needed no second invitation
to make his mark.
He brushed aside Anthony Carter and then fended
off the attentions of two other tacklers to score in the right-hand corner. Barlow
landed the difficult touchline conversion.
Minutes later and Welding
was doubling his tally, the returning Gavin Cattle linking superbly with all-action
prop Alan Paver to send the winger over once more.
Titans' fly-half
Michael Whitehead briefly cut the deficit to four points with a penalty on 28
minutes, only for the impressive Welding to claim his hat-trick with a carbon
copy of his opening score.
Another poor clearance out of defence
from South African Claassens fell into the arms of Welding who, just as he did
before, saw off Carter, Lee Blackett and Claassens to cross, Barlow's extras making
it 19-8 at the turn.
Three soon became four as Welding took just
two minutes of the second half to trouble the scorers once more. Skipper Joe Bearman
took a line-out 30 metres out, Cattle took the knockdown and Welding - coming
in off the wing - turned on the after burners to scorch in, Barlow landing the
conversion from wide out.
The Pirates were seemingly in cruise control.
Having threatened to unleash their attacking prowess in the two previous league
games, it was the Titans who felt the full force of their deadly arsenal.
Full-back Wes Davies went over for try number five on 51 minutes, quickly
followed by Matt Jess - who used a neat bit of footwork down the left wing - to
secure his second score of the season and make it 36-8.
The onslaught
continued aplenty for the Titans, who despite adding all their replacements in
the second half, were simply unable to match the power, pace and precision of
their hosts.
Welding's fifth converted score - which enabled him
to equal the division's most tries in a game record - came ten minutes from time,
this time finishing off some neat approach work from Bearman, Davies and Will
James.
To their credit the Titans battled on valiantly in the closing
stages, their efforts rewarded with an injury-time try for centre Tom Allen. By
then, however, the celebrations - both on and off the field - were already in
full swing as the visitors had been brought firmly down to earth.
A
delighted McKay said afterwards: "Today was really do or die for us, losing wasn't
really an option. After all the build-up to everything we knew we had to deliver
a big performance.
"I'm very happy with the way the boys performed.
Full credit to Rotherham , they're a good side, but it was good to show what we
can do when we're on the front-foot. Our execution was much better today and we
scored some very good tries out there."
McKay added: "Richard will
obviously get the headlines, but I wouldn't like to single anyone out for special
praise. It was a really good team performance and it sets us up nicely for next
week at Exeter ."
Indeed, watching Chiefs coach Ian Bremner will
have been given plenty of food for thought ahead of this weekend's cross-Tamar
clash at the County Ground .
Pirates: W Davies; R Welding, D Roke
(K James 56), S James, M Jess; T Barlow, G Cattle; A Paver, P Ince (N Makin 56,
V Ma'asi 75), N Adams (D Seal 56); W James, J Beardshaw; J Bearman (capt), S Betty,
T Cowley (M Evans 72). Replacements (not used): L Jarvis, M Churcher
Cornish
Pirates, Tries - Welding 5, Davies, Jess; Conversions - Barlow 4
Titans:
E Claassens; D Strettle, T Allen, L Blackett (capt, L Strauss 69), A Carter; M
Whitehead, J Bedford (M Jonker 76); J Carey (J Golding 59), N Hanna (N Conroy
53), J Rawson (A Hopcoft 40); L McGowan, G McComb (N Pike 62); S Donald, N Cochrane,
C Hala'ufia (H Fourie 72).
Earth Titans, Tries - Hala'uifa, Allen;
Penalty - Whitehead
Referee: T Beddow (RFU)
