| Pirates 'CHAMPIONS' At Twickenham | |||||||||||
| Exeter Chiefs 16 Cornish Pirates 19 COMETH the hour, cometh the man. Not for the first time this season Alberto Di Bernardo took centre stage for the Cornish Pirates. Handed the perfect stage from which to display his undoubted worth, the Argentinian ace helped inspire the Duchy's finest to a memorable 19-16 victory over Westcountry rivals Exeter Chiefs in yesterday's EDF Energy National Trophy final at a sun-baked Twickenham.
Just as he had done in previous Trophy encounters against Leeds Tykes and Plymouth Albion, Di Bernardo left it late before delivering the perfect knockout blow to the Chiefs. The Rosario-born back, who will be heading for the Guinness Premiership with Leeds next season, plundered 14 points to ensure the Trophy was heading back to the Duchy for the first time ever. For the Chiefs it was yet more heartache at the home of English rugby. Having come unstuck against both Rotherham and Orrell in previous finals, hopes were high that finally Pete Drewett's side could make it third time lucky. At 16-6 up in the second half, it appeared the in-form Devon club had finally broken their Twickenham hoodoo. The Pirates, however, had other ideas and in a storming conclusion they reaped their rewards as the Chiefs slowly began to wilt in the blistering heat.
Ahead of kick-off, the Pirates had been boosted by the return to action of key quintet Heino Senekal, Tim Cowley, Duncan Bell, Duncan Roke and Rhodri McAtee, all of whom had missed much of the build-up to the final itself. Their return certainly gave Jim McKay's side a much stronger feel to it, whilst the Chiefs recalled Tony Walker, Gary Willis and Junior Fatialofa to their line-up which beat Newbury in the league the week previous. With both sides at full-strength and each club having claimed a win apiece against each other in National One, the stage was literally set for this winner takes all showdown. However, it was the Pirates - spurred on by a hearty contingent of followers from the Duchy, including the legendary Falmouth Marine Band - who came out flying from the kick-off. Just three minutes were on the clock when referee Dale Newitt penalised Exeter flanker Walker for going offside.
The Kiwi's indiscretion offered Di Bernardo his first sight at goal, some 35 metres out, and the Pirates star did not disappoint as he guided his right-foot effort between the posts for an early lead. Immediately, though, the Chiefs responded and having won a succession of penalties close to the Pirates line, referee Newitt allowed sufficient advantage to Exeter, from which fly-half Tony Yapp was able to fire over a drop-goal and restore parity with just 10 minutes on the clock. With little to choose between either side, the slug fest between the two Westcountry rivals continued apace. The battle up front was certainly intense - as was the heat from above - whilst behind defences ruled the roost with neither team willing to give an inch to their opposite number. On 18 minutes Di Bernardo almost regained the lead for the Pirates when quick turnover ball following a Yapp clearance offered him a chance for one of his famous drop-goals. Sadly, on this occasion, the magician's radar was off course and his effort sailed wide of the right post. It was a similar story just past the half-hour mark when he saw a tough penalty chance from wide on the left flank fly past the sticks and into the arms of a waiting Chief. At the other end, Exeter threatened on occasions with the Fatialofa brothers - Mark and Junior - posing a real handful in the midfield, while only poor hands from winger Jason Luff prevented him from latching onto a slick handling move which seemed destined for the corner.
Although it was not the best half of rugby either side had produced this season, the two teams departed for their half-time pit-stop knowing they were now just 40 minutes from a famous victory. However, in a storming start to the second period, the Chiefs were clearly intent on getting the job done as quickly as possible. Yapp stroked over a penalty just a minute into the half, before adding the extras to Gary Kingdom's try on 48 minutes. The full-back, a previous winner at Twickenhem with Devon in the County Championship, rounded off a slick move from the Chiefs, which had begun when skipper Richard Baxter snapped up a loose Pirates line-out on the right. Using the turnover ball, Kevin Barrett, Yapp and the Fatialofas all combined to create the space for Kingdom to run in from 15 metres. Yapp's obliged with the extras too stretch Exeter's advantage to 13-3. A quick response was needed from the Pirates and it duly arrived when Di Bernardo shot over his second penalty of the afternoon on 52 minutes. But no sooner had the Duchy's finest brought themselves back into contention, they surrendered a penalty of their own when Senekal was penalised for handling on the floor. At 16-6 up, the Chiefs were seemingly in control of their destiny. However, as the Pirates have shown throughout their successful run to the final, they are a team that refuses to lie down, even when the odds seemed stacked against them. Roared on by those in the stands, the Pirates never-say-die attitude was ignited and slowly McKay's men began to find their rhythm. The warning signs were already there for the Chiefs before Tongan international Vili Ma'asi powered his way over for the Cornish club just past the hour.
Di Bernardo slotted the conversion, plus a penalty, as the Chiefs began to wobble. Now with the ascendancy, the Pirates went for the jugular. Fresh muscle was introduced from the sidelines to help aid their cause and, with four minutes of normal time remaining, the pressure finally told on the Chiefs. Having tried with two attempts of a pushover try, the Pirates declined a third opportunity and instead opted for a punt at the posts. Up stepped Di Bernardo who, from wide out on the left, banged over the most important kick of his life to put the Cornishmen back in front at 19-16. Even then he was not finished as a second drop-goal chance narrowly missed its mark from 40 metres out. However, the former Italy A international had once again weaved his magic with deadly effect. Although the Chiefs looked for a way back into the game, keeping the ball alive for a magnitude of phases, the Red and Black defence was in miserly mood and it was left to that man, Di Bernardo, to run the ball out of play and crown a memorable day for the West Cornwall outfit.
Whilst the Pirates celebrated their triumph, the Chiefs were left to reflect on a case of 'what if'. For them there will be little time to wallow in the misery of this Twickenham torment. Today they head for Liverpool and tomorrow's league clash with relegated Waterloo at Blundellsands. Cornish Pirates 19 Try - Ma'asi; Conversion - Di Bernardo; Penalties - Di Bernardo (4) Exeter Chiefs 16 Try - Kingdom; Conversion - Yapp; Penalties - Yapp (3) Pirates: Chiefs: Referee: D Newitt (RFU).
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