Cornish Pirates

A SERIOUS injury to Dan Seal overshadowed what proved to be a rousing start to the new National One season for the Cornish Pirates at their new Camborne home.

The 26-year-old tighthead prop was stretchered off after just 30 minutes of yesterday's league encounter with Otley, the early diagnosis indicating damage to his knee. Seal's injury took the shine off what was a pretty polished display from Jim McKay's Pirates, whose 39-0 success over the visiting Yorkshiremen ensured them of top spot in the standings.

Former Harlequins centre Henry Barratt crowned his league debut in Pirates colours by claiming two of the home side's five tries, Vili Ma'asi, Rhodri McAtee and a penalty try ensuring it was a five-point maximum for the Cornish club.

Line out leading to first try

Fellow newcomer Alberto Di Bernardo was equally impressive at fly-half, firing over two penalties and four conversions on his way to scooping the Worthington man-of-the-match award.

It was certainly the kind of seasonal start McKay would have wished for, but the experienced Australian knows all too well there will be much tougher challenges to come in the weeks and months ahead.

Despite adding a number of new faces to their squad over the summer, Otley looked a pale shadow of former National One campaigns. In every department the Pirates held the edge, their full-time status coming to the fore from almost the very first blast of referee Nick Williams whistle.

Whereas last season the visitors drew with Bedford on the opening day, then threatened to sting eventual champions Harlequins a week later, this season they were dispatched with a workmanlike efficiency by McKay's men.

Two early penalties from Di Bernardo gave the home side a 6-0 lead inside as many minutes, but moments later the Pirates were reduced to 14 men when flanker Sam Betty was yellow carded for a professional foul.

First try of the season

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Pirates continued to rule the roost and they gained their first try of the season on 15 minutes when Tongan hooker Ma'asi was aided over the line by his fellow forwards.

Although Di Bernardo failed with the tough touchline conversion, he atoned on 24 minutes when he added the extras to McAtee's try. The Welshman applying the finish to a sublime move from the home side, which saw the forwards and backs link in unison with a string of passes.

Rhodri's try

Down 18-0, things did not get any better for Otley, who themselves were briefly reduced to 14 men following Ben Steele's yellow card for a late hit on Di Bernardo. And With half-time fast approaching, a scrum just yards from the Otley line was worked left along the home backline to Barratt, who barged his way past two defenders to score by the posts, Di Bernardo again obliging with the extras for a 25-0 lead. More of the same was envisaged after the break, but it took until the 64th minute for the home side to finally make the breakthrough. Having blown several decent scoring opportunities, it took an indiscretion from Otley's Ian Shuttleworth to reward the Pirates with their all-important fourth try.

Half Time

The visiting skipper's blatant knockdown of Duncan Roke's intended pass to Jon Hylton not only brought about a penalty try, but also earnt the full-back a ten-minute spell on the sidelines.

As before, Di Bernardo slotted the conversion, before following suit five minutes from time when he plundered over the additional two points to Barratt's second of the afternoon.

Afterwards, McKay remarked: “I’m pretty happy with that as you’re never quite sure what’s going to happen in the first game. We’ve had nine weeks of pre-season and worked hard on a few areas. Otley are a pretty dogged and tough side, who’ve had to travel a long way. Overall, though, we’re very happy with the result, but performance-wise there are still things to build on.” The Aussie added: “I’m very happy with the debutants, especially Scott Hobson and Owen Hambly, they are only 18 years old, as is Sam Betty, and they are all Cornish, which is good. Sam Heard coming on and making his debut was also good, but there are lots of new guys out there and it will take a while to build this team up."

Man of the Match 'Alberto Di Bernardo

“I was pleased with our defence today and also the occasion. It was our first game at Camborne and it was important for us to do well. I thought we showed glimpses of what we are capable of, but we are still a little way off things.”

Cornish Pirates 39

Tries - Ma'asi, Barratt 2, McAtee, Penalty Try; Conversions - Di Bernardo 4; Penalties - Di Bernardo 2

Otley 0

Pirates:
D Roke; R McAtee (J Moore 72), H Barratt, D Bell , J Hylton; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt)
A Paver (G Anderson 63), V Ma'asi (O Hambly 72), D Seal (S Heard 30); H Senekal,
J Beardshaw (S Hobson 72); S McKeen , S Betty (I Motusaga 63), M Evans.
Replacement (not used): L Vinnicombe

Yellow Cards: Betty, Evans.

Otley:
I Shuttleworth (capt); S Parsons, R Whatmuff (P Mooney 63), K Dench, D Smith (X Andre 63); S Binns
A Brown; A Livesey, B Steele (D Sayers 55), B Fear (A Walker 70); D Whitehead (B Back 49), P Williams
P Stockdale (J Tiffany 55), N Bland (D Sayers 32-42, L O'Neill 79), M Maifea.

Yellow Cards: Steele, Shuttleworth.

Referee: N Williams (RFU)