Cornish Pirates

Pirates 16 Coventry 15
Sunday January 7th 2007
Report Mark Stevens - Pix Big Brian

Pirates coach Jim McKay insisted he and his side were just happy to take the win after they came from behind to beat visiting Coventry 16-15 in a hard-fought battle at Camborne yesterday.

A penalty ten minutes from time from Argentinian fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo assured the Cornishmen of their 14th league win of the season. However, McKay's men were made to fight all the way by a resilient Coventry side, who were at least rewarded with a bonus point for their valiant efforts on a filthy day down in West Cornwall.

Iva Motusaga & Tim Cowley - mud soaked but pleased with a win

Having travelled to the Duchy with just one victory on the road all season - that came in their seasonal opener at Sedgley Park - Coventry were not expected to pose too much of a challenge to a Pirates side determined to regain some home pride following their pre-Christmas defeat by near neighbours Plymouth Albion.

With a howling wind at their backs, it was the Midlanders who were first to show, experienced winger Kurt Johnson latching onto Myles Dorrian's cute chip over the top of the home defence to score the opening try, converted by skipper Ben Russell, on three minutes.

More prolonged pressure from Coventry, particularly through their pack, caused further problems in the Pirates half. However, the lively visitors were unable to turn their superior territory and possession into much needed points. Sadly for them it was not until the 28th minutes that they finally added to their tally, Russell firing over a penalty after the home side had been penalised by referee Terry Hall for going offside in front of the posts.

As conditions worsened by the minute, the Pirates continued to do their best to keep Coventry at bay. Good rush defence created a number of turnovers close to the home line, but the gale-force conditions meant any attempt of a long punt downfield was easily swallowed up.

That said, the Pirates were hardly helping themselves. Just as it was against Albion last month, they struggled to find a game-plan strong enough to break through Coventry's solid defence when they did win quality ball.

Far too often in the opening half poor decision-making or slopping handling was to prove the Pirates downfall. Although when they did finally string a series of phases together at the end of the half, Coventry's rearguard action was more than able to cope with the home threat.

A change of jerseys for both sides brought a splash of colour to the start of the second half. That did not last and it was the Pirates who finally began to find their feet. Two successful Di Bernardo penalties inside the opening ten minutes of the second half brought the Pirates back into contention.

However, Coventry were undeterred and on the hour they stretched their lead when they capitalised on a rare Gavin Cattle mistake. The Pirates skipper was scragged at the base of a scrum; the visitors turned the ball over, before shipping it at pace to the left flank where Johnson crossed in the corner.

With 20 minutes remaining, McKay sent on forwards Vili Ma'asi and Chris Cracknell to help the Pirates find a way back into the game. The fresh muscle certainly appeared to pay off as within five minutes, Cattle atoned for his earlier error when he steered the home pack to within inches of the line, before burrowing over from close range. Di Bernardo added the extras.

Now in the ascendancy, the Pirates slowly began to turn the screw. Whereas before they had struggled to keep hold of possession, they were now clutching the match-ball as though it was a piece of white gold. Using the forwards to punch them deep into Coventry territory, it took an indiscretion from former Albion player Friswell, ten minutes from time, to gift the Pirates the opportunity they needed. His professional foul not only saw him banished to the sidelines for the closing minutes, but it gave Di Bernardo a chance he was not going to waste. He duly obliged with the difficult kick to put the Pirates in front for the first time in the match. From there, the home side easily closed out the match, much to the relief of McKay. The Australian said afterwards: "I'm very pleased and somewhat relieved in the end to get the four points. I thought Coventry, fair play to them, played the conditions well and they pushed us all the way. "We played with endeavour in the first half, but we turned the ball over too many times. They took their chances, so we found ourselves in a bit of a dogfight. That said, we held our nerve, which is a good sign, and we clawed out a win.

Joe Beardshaw & Gavin Cattle

"It was trench warfare out there. It was really muddy, but to compound things the wind was very strong. I don't think people realise just how windy it is when they are tucked away in the grandstand. It makes handling difficult, so it wasn't going to be pretty.

I'm just really happy with the win, we'll take that," added McKay. "When we look back at the end of the season this win is going to be really important for us."

Cornish Pirates 16

Try - Cattle
Conversion - Di Bernardo
Penalties - Di Bernardo 3

Coventry 15

Tries -K Johnson 2
Conversion - Russell
Penalty - Russell

Pirates:
A Winnan; J Moore , H Barratt (R McAtee 68), D Bell , J Hylton; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt)
G Anderson (R Samo 75), N Makin (V Ma'asi 61), D Seal; H Senekal, J Beardshaw; S McKeen
I Motusaga (C Cracknell 61), T Cowley (M Evans 75).
Replacements (not used): L Vinnicombe, S Winn

Coventry:
B Russell (capt); K Johnson, K Geraghty, D Sanders, S Montague ; M Dorrian, M Walls; N Treston
R Portherough ( S Friswell 50), R Brits; H Rheeders, I Nimmo (D Campton 78-80)
H Venter (Protherough 75-80), J O'Connor, T Johnson.
Replacements (not used): C Rimmer, E Binham , D James, B Toft, G Dixon

Yellow Card: Friswell.

Referee: T Hall (RFU).

Attendance: 1,870.