THE Cornish Pirates will head into the festive
period still in touching distance of unbeaten league leaders Harlequins following
a hard-fought victory over London Welsh at Old Deer Park.
With
little to choose between the two sides, it was the right boot of Pirates fly-half
Tom Barlow five minutes from time that proved the difference, even though his
opposite number Mark Meenan twice had chances to snatch a late draw for the Exiles.
Earlier,
however, it was Meenan who fired the home side into a 6-0 lead, the experienced
back firing over two 40-metre penalties inside the opening five minutes.
The Pirates showed their attacking potential, however, when they hit back
two minutes later, quick-thinking from scrum-half Gavin Cattle with a tap penalty
set centre Duncan Roke off on a defence-splitting run that led to a 12th try of
the season for Richard Welding. Barlow converted from the right-hand touchline
to make it 7-6 to the Cornishmen.
Three minutes later Barlow extended
the Pirates’ lead with a long distance penalty of his own, this given by referee
Rowan Kitt after Exiles prop Colm Hannon entered a ruck from the side to disrupt
the ball.
With both scrum-halves giving good service the crowd saw
some attacking rugby. At times the Pirates looked awesome moving the ball wide
– and it was not long before they added to their tally, Welshmen Kevin James crossing
in the right-hand corner after 23 minutes as the visitors looked set for a comfortable
win.
However, a lack of professionalism let the Exiles back into
the game with a penalty and a further ten-metres awarded by Kitt after the Pirates
appeared to have been awarded a scrum on the half-way. Meenan again put the ball
over comfortably from 40 metres to bring the score back to 17-9.
Both
teams were then guilty of missing chances to add to their points tally. Pirates
were close to a score in the left-hand corner, while full-back Gareth Swales ran
some good lines, but twice his distribution let the Exiles down.
Meenan
was having a good game teasing the Pirates’ defence with crossfield kicks for
the rapid Tim Holgate to chase. With half-time approaching, Allen Chiltern took
a quick penalty in midfield and Meenan’s astute cross kick was gathered by Holgate,
who fed inside to Swales, who just made the line ahead of the cover as the Pirates
went to the half-time break three points up.
The Pirates controlled
territory in the opening ten minutes of the second period, but the London Welsh
forwards were tenacious, winning some good ball to keep the Cornishmen at bay.
Meenan levelled the scores in the 53rd minute with a 30-metre penalty when the
Pirates were slow to roll away after a tackle, but the Pirates looked to have
enough to win the game.
An astute kick from Cattle put the Exiles’
defence under pressure and James Greenwood was forced to concede a penalty close
to the line for not releasing in the 56th minute. The Pirates went for a catch-and-drive
move in the corner and drove over the line, but the referee ruled the ball was
held up and gave a scrum. While at the other end, Meenan narrowly missed with
a penalty on 65 minutes.
With little to choose between either side,
the defining moment came five minutes from time when the Pirates were awarded
a controversial penalty for collapsing a scrum a second time. It presented Barlow
with a penalty shot, which he slotted between the posts for the match-winning
score.
Still the drama was not finished and the large Cornish support
was forced to endure a nervy conclusion. The Exiles threw everything at their
higher-placed visitors in the dying minutes and they came within a whisker of
snatching a draw when the Pirates were penalised for offside deep into injury
time.
Meenan took his time lining up the kick, but sadly his kicked
sailed outside the left-hand upright and the Pirates were spared.
London
Welsh 17
Try – Swales; Penalties – Meenan 4
Cornish Pirates
20
Tries – Welding, James; Conversions – Barlow 2; Penalties – Barlow 2
London Welsh: G Swales: J Greenwood (A Bidwell 65), J Storey, D Hayward,
T Holgate; M Meenan, A Chilten (capt); S Millard, C Richie, C Hannon (A Fahey
75), H Quigley, J Brownrigg, M Fitzgerald (J Pettemerides), S Etheredge (R Griffiths
23), P Cox. Replacements (not used): A Tauialo, R Shaw, D Field).
Cornish
Pirates: W Davies, R Welding, D Roke, K. James, M Jess; T Barlow (L Jarvis 79),
G Cattle (capt); A Paver, V Ma'asi (N Makin 77), N Adams (D Seal 79), W James,
J Beardshaw, S Hockings, I Motusage, M Evans. Replacements (not used): N Chivers,
J Pritchard, S Betty, H Senekal.
Referee: Mr R Kitt (RFU).
