Moseley 15 - 42 Cornish Pirates
Saturday December 9th 2006

Report by Phil Westren - Pictures thanks to Dick Strong

Moseley promoted champions of National 2 & unbeaten in the league last season have not found life at a higher level quite so easy.

At a stage in the season when newcombers often find their feet, the Pirates would be wise not to take anything for granted & take steps to avoid a repeat of the narrow defeats suffered at Waterloo and Otley.

Whilst the Pirates had beaten the Midlanders 52-16 at home in September, when fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo scored 32 points in the match - a record for the Pirates in National 1, the result now means nothing

The Pirates team, playing Moseley away for the first time, showed a couple of changes from the one that started against Waterloo the previous week. Iva Motusaga, recovered from a hamstring injury, returned in place of Sam Betty who had provided able cover on the open-side flank, and Tim Cowley, having served a one match club imposed suspension following his sending off at Otley, was given the nod at No. 8.

For the home side gifted Cook Islander and former Worcester fly-half Tommy Hayes, who has had limited chances at Bristol and has recently been looked at by Newcastle Falcons, was a surprise inclusion having just arrived at Moseley as a loan signing.

Still sunny at kick-off time, and with floodlights switched on right from the start, the Pirates wasted little time in lighting up the occasion. Showing immediate dominance at the scrummage area, their general all-round application enabled them to use acquired possession to good effect, Di Bernardo posting Moseley deep into their half with clever kicks out of hand.

It was, inevitably, not long before the first score materialised, centre Duncan Bell meeting Di Bernardo's pass following mobile approach work from props Alan Paver and Dan Seal, and centre Steve Winn. Di Bernardo missed the conversion attempt, but a successfully slotted penalty chance, which soon followed, took him to 191 points scored in the season.

Approaching the half-hour mark the Pirates were reduced to fourteen men, skipper Gavin Cattle finding himself mysteriously yellow-carded as Moseley's Ollie Thomas, a smart performer in the number fifteen jersey, kicked the easy penalty on offer. Fourteen then became thirteen as Di Bernardo had to depart with an ankle injury, but the Pirates still managed to dominate events, and even manufactured another fine try after the forwards had once again provided a bullishly solid platform.

Driving purposefully and confidently upfield, the ball was only delivered with the line in sight, acting scrum-half James Moore darting off from the driving maul to release the ball which soon found the hands of full-back Adryan Winnan who crossed at the corner. The conversion missed, but the versatile Moore, who now had to fill the fly-half role, with Lewis Vinnicombe taking his wing spot, eased over an injury-time penalty to put the Pirates comfortably 16-3 up at the break after home skipper Andy Binns was sin-binned.

Moseley came out fired up for the second period, looking for an early score and desperate to build upon the success they had at least enjoyed at the line-out, but a clinical response by the Pirates, initiated by flanker Iva Motusaga and finished off by Vinnicombe in the the corner, with Moore adding the extras for good measure, quashed any realistic hope that the Midlanders could stage any form of worthy comeback.

It was of no surprise to anyone that busy back-rower Chris Cracknell was next on the try-scoring sheet, his sixth in just four games a bonus point providing effort converted by Moore.

Winnan, game by game looking more potent from deep, scored his second try at a time when the floodlights were now essential to provide a chance of identification, before Moseley then hit back when wing Nathan Bressington went over for a converted try out wide.

Despite the Pirates' overall dominance, the match certainly stayed competitive to the end, the last minutes seeing Winn become the second visiting player to be shown yellow. Young lock James Inglis paced and powered to the line for his first try since joining the Cornish team, it converted by Moore, and Thomas then finished off a flowing final movement to give Moseley a last minute consolation score.

It was a convincing victory, job done, a result for the now 2nd-placed Pirates which sets up two enthralling fixtures not to be missed at home against Leeds and Plymouth Albion.

Supporters attending this Sunday's match against the Tykes, and Saturday' week's derby clash against Plymouth Albion (both kick-off at 2p.m.), are advised to get to the ground early to avoid expected congestion - rail or coach travel is recomended.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Bell, Winnan (2), Vinnicombe, Cracknell, Inglis
Cons: Moore (3)
Pens: Di Bernardo, Moore.

Moseley
Tries: Bressington, Thomas
Con: Thomas;
Pen: Thomas.

Cornish Pirates
A. Winnan, J. Moore, D. Bell, S. Winn, J. Hylton, A. Di Bernardo (L. Vinnicombe 36),
G. Cattle (capt - R. Wells 79), T. Cowley (M. Evans 46), I. Motusaga (S. Betty 64)
C. Cracknell, J. Inglis, H. Senekal (J. Beardshaw 64), D. Seal, V. Ma'asi (N. Makin 54)
A. Paver (G. Anderson 54).

Yellow cards - G. Cattle, S. Winn.

Moseley
O. Thomas, N. Bressington (D. O'Leary 74), A. Binns (capt), N. Buckley, J. Aston, T. Hayes
D. Hunter (P. Knight 40), J. Rodwell (M. Evans 54), R. Bignell, A. Lightowler (C. Daniell 54)
P. Skelding, A. Hadley (M. Evans 40-51), K. Moran (J. Pearson 79), A. Caves (C. Hall 54), P. Coles.
Replacement (not used) - R. Davies.

Yellow card - A. Binns.

Referee - Mark Wilson (RFU)