Cornish Pirates

Pirates 21 Leeds Tykes 21
Saturday December 17th 2006

CORNISH Pirates coach Jim McKay admitted his side had been left "bitterly disappointed" despite snatching a last-gasp draw with National One leaders Leeds Tykes.

A converted Tim Cowley try deep into added on time helped the Pirates gain a share of the spoils in Camborne. However, the home side could well have been celebrating victory had Alberto Di Bernardo slotted a penalty with the very last kick of the game.

Having just kicked the all-important conversion to level things up at 21-21, the Argentinian fly-half was then called upon to deliver a knockout blow to the Tykes, who found themselves hit with a late double bombshell by referee Gareth Copsey.

First lock Kearnan Myall was banished to the sin-bin following an altercation in the lead-up to Cowley's late touchdown, then instead of the normal restart, Copsey awarded a potentially match-winning penalty to the Pirates on halfway.

However, as the Rec crowd held their breath in anticipation, and the drizzle began to fall a little harder, the normally deadly Di Bernardo scuffed at his intended target and the Tykes were spared.

It certainly would have been a cruel twist of fate on the Yorkshire club, who for a large part of this encounter showed why they remain the favourites for an immediate return to English rugby's top tier.

Richard Welding tries to evade Heino

But if there was to be one criticism of Stuart Lancaster's high-flyers, it would be the fact that they were unable to close the game out when in a position of command, 21-11, entering the final quarter of this entertaining encounter.

Sure they may have switched off in some aspects of their play. However, let's not take away the part the home side played as they looked to gain some reward for their endeavours.

Some would argue past Pirates' sides would have quite happily accepted it was not going to be their day, instead opting to merely run down the clock and save their bodies for their next adventure.

Certainly this hearty crew don't adopt such an approach and neither does coach McKay. The Aussie comes from a country where winning is everything, while coming second is pointless.

"We want to be the best and we're pretty disappointed we didn't win in the end," said the Pirates boss. "We could have snatched it, which would have been amazing, but in the end we'll take the draw.

"Leeds are a very good side and they had the momentum in the first half. In the second half we probably cancelled each other out, but when we got into good positions we completed, which was good."

Even without the likes of Adryan Winnan, Stan McKeen, Iva Motusaga, Henry Barratt and James Inglis, McKay was delighted with the commitment shown by his side. He added: "We've got no rock stars or superstars, but we have got a good team that works hard for each other and that was pretty evident today."

Steve Winn goes in to support the tackle

However, not for the first time this season, McKay was forced to address key issues with his players during the half-time break. Whatever was said, it seemed to have the desired effect as the Pirates took control after resuming 14-6 down.

"I was pleased with our self-belief. We had it before the game and we had it during the game. I just felt we were a little bit jittery in the first half. We had opportunities to exert some pressure on them, but we didn't," said McKay.

"I said to the guys at the break we need to score three times, but unfortunately they scored as well. We hadn't really operated with the ball in the first half, so it was important we hung on to it for longer, which we did."

Villi Keeps It Moving

Once the Pirates did keep control of the ball, they offered a real attacking threat, one which is sure to have been noted by watching Plymouth Albion coach Graham Dawe, whose side head to Camborne this Saturday.

In a match which was always going to be tight, Leeds narrowly won 21-20 at Headingley in September, it was the home side who broke the deadlock early on, Di Bernardo plundering a fourth-minute penalty.

The same player could have added a second kick shortly after, but this time his effort - from just inside his own half - sailed wide of the left post.

With the forward battle intense, the Pirates were dealt a blow on 17 minutes when flanker Sam Betty was yellow-carded on the advice of a touch judge. Instead of taking the easy penalty chance, Leeds looked to make the most of their numerical advantage. In the end a series of scrums in the left-hand corner finally brought reward when flanker John Dunbar dived over from close range, former Pirate Richard Welding converting to make it 7-3. However, a second Di Bernardo penalty, given after Chris Cracknell had been taken out in a line-out, saw the Pirates reduce the arrears, before Betty returned to the fray. As defences dominated, it was not until first-half stoppage time that the scorers were troubled again, Tykes fly-half Jonny Hepworth exposing a yawning gap in the home defence to go in under the posts, Welding again converting.

Having secured maximum points from all their previous home engagements this season, the Pirates needed a strong start to the second half. Lifted by their half-time pep talk, the home side re-emerged with a renewed vigour that soon brought its rewards.

Strong pressure from the home pack saw them punch their way into enemy territory, Chris Cracknell eventually burrowing over for his seventh try of the campaign.

Di Bernardo's up and down day with the boot continued as he failed with the conversion, then a penalty on 53 minutes.

But having got within strike range, Leeds then silenced the home faithful with a somewhat fortunate third score. Welding's long punt out of defence seemed destined for the sidelines, but instead bounced favourably for Chris Hughes, who linked with his full-back, who in turn fed Tom Rock to cross.

Down by ten, the Pirates needed a rapid response. Di Bernardo's third penalty instigated the revival, which culminated in Cowley's late touchdown.

Even as evening draws in

Cornish Pirates 21

Tries - Cracknell, Cowley
Conversion - Di Bernardo
Penalties - Di Bernardo 3

Leeds Tykes 21

Tries - Dunbar, Hepworth, Rock
Conversions - Welding 3

Pirates:
D Roke; R McAtee (J Hylton 37), D Bell, S Winn, J Moore; A Di Bernardo
G Cattle (capt, L Vinnicombe 63); A Paver, V Ma'asi, S Heard (D Seal 80)
H Senekal, J Beardshaw; C Cracknell, S Betty (T Cowley 56), M Evans.

Replacements (not used): R Wells, S Hobson, N Makin.

Yellow Card: Betty.

Leeds
R Welding; C Hughes, T Rock, A Tuilagi, J Holtby; J Hepworth, J Rauluni (D Edwards 63)
M McDonald (D Paul 80), R Rawlinson (J Parkes 69), C Noon (M Cusack 66); S Hooper (capt)
K Myall; J Dunbar (R Bryan 70), M Schusterman, R Oakley.

Replacements (not used); R Vasey, A Rock.

Yellow Card: Myall.

Referee: G Copsey (RFU).

Attendance: 3,024.