| Pirates Triumph In The Snow - EDF National Trophy Round 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leeds 17
Pirates 18
THE Cornish Pirates edged ever closer to a first-ever appearance at Twickenham courtesy of some last gasp heroics from Alan Paver and Alberto Di Bernardo. With the game eight minutes into injury time, prop Paver snuck his way over for a crucial try, which Di Bernardo had to convert with the last kick of the game. Despite the best efforts of a raucous home crowd, the unflustered Argentinian coolly slotted his kick to guide the Cornishman to a sensational 18-17 victory at Headingley and into the last eight of this season's EDF Energy National Trophy. For Jim McKay's side it was rich rewards for their efforts on a bitterly cold evening in West Yorkshire. With snow falling throughout the encounter, it was the Pirates who prevailed in an absorbing contest.
With little to choose between either side in the opening exchanges, it was the Tykes who finally broke the game's deadlock on six minutes, fly-half Richard Vasey sending over a penalty after the visitors had been penalised by referee Andrew Small at the line-out. Ten minutes later Di Bernardo had the chance to level things up, but his effort - given after Leeds had strayed offside - sailed wide of the uprights. It did not matter, however, as the Pirates leading points-scorermade amends seven minutes before the break to leave the two sides deadlocked at three apiece at the turn.
The early stages of the second half proved just as tight as both sides looked to gain the ascendancy. Sadly the icy conditions, coupled with some sloppy handling, meant the opening exchanges were somewhat stop-start. However, once the Pirates settled, it was their rampaging forwards who continually punched their way into enemy territory. The front five of Paver, Ma'asi, Seal, Senekal and Beardshaw were immense, whilst the back-row contingent of McKeen, Motusaga and Cowley were a disruptive force all evening.
It was their combined efforts which gained the penalty on the hour mark which gave the Pirates the lead for the first time in the game. Some unnecessary use of the boot by home scrum-half Darren Edwards saw him banished to the touchlines for ten minutes - and from the ensuing play it was Di Bernardo who struck over a difficult touchline kick. Leeds, though, were far from finished. Vasey saw a second penalty effort narrowly miss its target, before prop Mike McDonald bullocked over for the game's opening try on 66 minutes, which Vasey converted. It was pulsating stuff from National One's top two sides, but it was the Pirates who roared back into contention, hooker Ma'asi burrowing his way over from a well rehearsed catch-and-drive move to make it 11-10. With the clock ticking away and the snow still falling, Leeds thought they had secured a dramatic late victory. Just as they did back in October, when they won in the dying seconds 21-20 in the league, a flowing backs move saw winger Tom Biggs collect a pass from former Pirate Richard Welding to sneak over in the corner for Leigh Hinton to convert. As the home faithful celebrated, the Pirates regrouped for one final hurrah. Sensing it was last chance saloon, they threw everything at the Tykes in a ferocious final fling. With time all but up, it was the diminuitive figure of Paver who emerged from the mass of bodies.
Even then the game was not won, but step forward the Pirates magician.
Leeds Tykes 17 Tries - McDonald, Biggs Cornish Pirates 18 Tries
- Ma'asi, Paver Leeds:
Yellow Card: Edwards Pirates:
Referee: A Small (RFU) Attendance: 828
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