Cornish Pirates

Leeds Tykes 21 - 20 (11 - 11)Cornish Pirates

HOLLYWOOD scriptwriters could not have envisaged a more dramatic ending to this blockbuster as the Cornish Pirates were mugged of victory by Leeds Tykes at Headingley.

Villi Ma'asi surveys the impressive surroundings as evening draws in

Jonny Hepworth’s injury-time try, importantly converted by Leigh Hinton, not only allowed the Yorkshiremen to snatch a somewhat undeserved victory, but also claim their first home win of the campaign.

It was certainly rough justice on the Pirates, who could not have given anymore in terms of effort and commitment, but who were ultimately punished for not making the most of their many chances.

The hysterical celebrations from the Tykes at the final whistle showed how much this victory meant to them. However, the home club – players and supporters alike – know they had got out of jail by the skin of their teeth.

A night of non stop excitement for the fans of both sides

Understandably, Pirates coach Jim McKay emerged from the visiting changing rooms a dejected man at the final whistle. The Australian remarked: “We are extremely disappointed with the result. I cannot fault the guys as their attitude and commitment was excellent and we played exactly to the script we had for the game.

“Little things didn’t go our way tonight, which is disappointing, and we were quite often on the wrong end of a few 50-50 calls. As a team we are still very much coming together and you could say tonight was a kind of growing pain in our development. It’s going to take time for everything to work, but gee everyone is so down because we gave so much to that game.”

Certainly the Pirates came out of the traps firing as the opening exchanges offered them two early chances. Fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo just failed with a second minute penalty, while prop Sam Heard crucially knocked on just yards from the line as the Pirates looked to make the most of Jon Dunbar’s early yellow card.

Eventually the Pirates pressure told when a bone-crunching tackle from Canadian international Stan McKeen on Leeds wing Tom Biggs saw him isolated inside his own 22, Di Bernardo this time atoning for his earlier miss when he slotted the resultant penalty after Biggs had been penalised for holding on.

The home response, however, was immediate and from the restart it was the Tykes who reclaimed the ball, before working it down the right channel to Hepworth, who brushed off at least three Pirates to score the game’s opening try on 18 minutes.

Two minutes later and it was the Pirates who were again back in front, a solid break in midfield from Henry Barratt created a ruck from which Gavin Cattle, Matt Evans and Joe Beardshaw combined to release winger Rhodri McAtee to dart over in the left-hand corner.

It was frenetic stuff from both sides, but just as before the Pirates immediately gift-wrapped an opportunity for the Tykes to level on 22 minutes. This time it was Sam Betty who was the culprit, the young flanker penalised by referee Tim Wigglesworth for holding on.

Hinton fired over that penalty, plus another on 34 minutes after Pirates prop Alan Paver had been yellow-carded for a professional foul. However, a second Di Bernardo penalty just before the interval ensured the two teams turned round with honours even at 11-all.

Again the Pirates started the second half as they had begun the first, their early pressure bringing more reward when Di Bernardo stroked over a sublime drop-goal from just inside the Leeds half.

The Argentinian – who did well to shut out the constant barracking from the home faithful all evening – then extended the Pirates lead yet further when he slotted a 62nd minute penalty, only for Hinton to replicate the feat at the other end five minutes later.

Still the Pirates were cruising and when Di Bernardo added yet another penalty with eight minutes remaining to make it 20-14, their appeared only one victor at that stage. Leeds, though, had other ideas and forced to try anything they looked for one final throw of the dice.

The move paid off three minutes into injury time when Hepworth collected a pass just in from the right touchline before somehow picking his way through the Cornish rearguard to score. Hinton added the extras to restore the Tykes lead once more.

Even then both sides had chances, Di Bernardo failing with a speculative drop-goal effort, as did opposite number Hepworth, whose kick was well charged down by Chris Cracknell. But, it was the Tykes who ultimately held their nerve to win.

Post match, the Yorkshiremen are treated to a fine rendition of Trelawney before the Pirates players join the fans. Once again new friends were made & many from Leeds will now enjoy a weekend in Cornwal for the return match

Leeds Tykes 21
Tries – Hepworth 2; Conversion – Hinton; Penalties – Hinton 3

Cornish Pirates 20
Try – McAtee; Penalties – Di Bernardo 3; Drop-Goal – Di Bernardo

Leeds:
L Hinton; T Rock (R Welding 55), A Rock, C Jones, T Biggs; J Hepworth, D Edwards (J Rauluni 70); T McGee, R Rawlinson, M Cusack (D Paul 79); P Bouza, K Myall (P Nilsen 77); J Dunbar (S Stitcher 58), M Lock (capt), R Oakley. Replacements (not used): J Isaacson, R Vasey.

Yellow Card: Dunbar

Pirates:
A Winnan; J Hylton, H Barratt, D Bell (S Winn 4-15), R McAtee; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt); A Paver, V Ma’asi, S Heard; H Senekal, J Beardshaw; S McKeen, S Betty (G Anderson 38-44, C Cracknell 64), M Evans. Replacements (not used): D Roke, J Moore, S Hobson, O Hambly.

Yellow Card: Paver

Referee: T Wigglesworth (RFU)

Attendance: 2,039

Match Report by Mark Stevens of the Western Morning News, Cornish Pirates media partners