Cornish Pirates

Cornish Pirates 34 -13 (24-3) Newbury
Sunday October 1st 2006

Rainbows Shine on another Pirates win

IT wasn't pretty, in fact it was down right ugly at times, but the Cornish Pirates put aside the disappointment of their narrow defeat at Leeds to return to winning ways over visiting Newbury Blues yesterday.

First half tries from Gavin Cattle, Viliami Ma'asi and a penalty try set the Pirates on their way to a third successive home victory, before Rhodri McAtee and Stan McKeen wrapped things up with touchdowns after the interval.

Yesterday's success certainly served as the ideal recipe for the Pirates following the misery of their Headingley defeat. However, this latest success was a far cry from the toil and endeavour they showed in the Yorkshire Dales seven days earlier.

"It was an ugly win," said Pirates coach Jim McKay at the final whistle. "Of course we'll take it and the five points, but we know we didn't play anywhere near our potential today and we still have lots to work on."

Certainly the tricky south westerly wind which howled across the Recreation Ground did little to help proceedings, nor did Newbury's insistence on looking to slow the home side's ball at every opportunity.

Indeed, when the Pirates were finally able to lay claim on some quick ball, the visiting Blues struggled to cope with the threat the home side offered.

"I thought we adapted quite well to the conditions, which were pretty tough," added McKay. "But our performance today didn't reach any great heights.

"I was very pleased with the way the forwards went, they really offered us a good platform to work from, so full credit to them and to Robin Cowling for the work he's done with them in the scrums. We really caused them problems in that department."

In a lively opening from the Pirates, it took less than a minute for them to open the scoring, fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo landing a penalty after Newbury had been penalised for holding on in the tackle.

Alberto Di Bernardo kicking sublimely as usual

However, the Blues were soon back on level terms when Australian fly-half Tim Walsh plundered a fine drop-goal on 17 minutes.

The score merely acted to reignite the Pirates, who two minutes later restored their lead when skipper Cattle sniped off the back of a ruck to ghost in from 20 metres, side-stepping Cornishman Mal Roberts along the way.

Gavin Cattle Captain Immaculate

Di Bernardo converted that score, before adding the extras to a Ma'asi try on 27 minutes - the hooker powered over by his fellow forwards from a line-out on the right-hand side to make it 17-3.

It was no more than the Cornishmen deserved, but they were far from finished as they added a third try four minutes before the break.

Storming Villi

With Newbury temporarily down to 14 men following the sin-binning of lock Gregor Hayer for a professional foul, the Pirates pack pressed home their authority with a scrum five metres out. As it closed in on the line, the visitors crumbled under the pressure and referee Alan Biggs had no hesitation in going under the posts, Di Bernardo slotting the easy conversion.

Walsh had a chance to cut the deficit just before the break with a penalty, but his effort sailed wide of the posts. While at the other end, a bullocking run from prop Sam Heard created space for Cattle and McAtee to release former Blue Duncan Bell down the left, but as he tried to collect the latter's pass, he knocked on just yards from the line and the chance was gone.

A Walsh penalty on 47 minutes brought about Newbury's first points of the half, but with the Pirates finally getting to grips with the wind, a fourth try was never far in coming.

Indeed, it duly arrived just past the hour mark when No.8 Matt Evans broke off a scrum only to be held just short of the line, however quick hands from replacement James Moore and Di Bernardo allowed McAtee to dart over in the right corner to make it 29-6.

Newbury - to their credit - continued to solider on and their efforts were rewarded when centre Mark Ireland picked a lovely line through the home midfield to score by the posts, Walsh obliging with the additional two points.

Man of the Match - Cornishman Sam Heard

However, it was all a little too late for the Blues, who were undone again in injury time when Canadian powerhouse McKeen made the most of some excellent approach play from Di Bernardo and Chris Cracknell to score his second try of the season.

A trip to Doncaster beckons for the Pirates this weekend, a game they know they can ill afford to falter in.

Pirates 34 Tries - G Cattle, V Ma'asi, penalty, R McAtee, S McKeen Pens - A Di Bernardo | Cons: A Di Bernardo 3 Newbury Blues 13 Try - Ireland; Conversion - Walsh; Penalty - Walsh; Drop-Goal - Walsh Pirates: A Winnan; R McAtee, H Barratt (D Roke 54), D Bell, J Hylton; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt, J Moore h/t); A Paver (G Anderson 68), V Ma'asi, S Heard; H Senekal, J Beardshaw; S McKeen, I Motusaga (C Cracknell 59), M Evans. Replacements (not used): O Hambly, S Hobson, S Winn Newbury: M Roberts; D Rees (K Bingham 74), A James, M Ireland, L Gibson; T Walsh, D Smaje (M Simpson-Daniel 74); R Bruce, A Dalgleish (G Cooper 58), S Carter; G Hayter, T Radbourne (A Harris 50) M Styles, C Morgan, T Brown (G Holmes 64). Replacements (not used): N Defty, B Wood. Yellow Card: Hayter. Referee: A Biggs (RFU) Attendance: 1,746.