Cornish Pirates

Plymouth Albion 9 Cornish Pirates 6
Saturday November 24h 2007
Report Phil Westren

The Cornish Pirates dominated so much of this match, played in front of a 6,381 record crowd, but still ended up beaten by three penalties to two. First half error and indiscipline had let them down, while in the second half, though raising their game, they were simply unable to breach a stubbornly defiant Plymouth Albion defence.

There are few, if any contests that have in recent years whetted the appetite as much as a local derby match between the Pirates and Plymouth Albion, but the record books showed that the Devon team had the upper hand - winning six of eight league games played against each other in National One. It was a record that the Cornish Pirates were keen to re-balance, looking also to build upon their bonus point win secured at home to Rotherham Titans the previous weekend. The contest between the seventh and fourth-placed teams in the league was always likely to be close, but with the Pirates knowing that if they could return back across the Tamar with the spoils, then there would surely be a good chance to notch up more league points in the next two to three weeks. There were four changes in the Cornish Pirates line-up from the one that started against the Titans. James Moore replaced Brian Tuohy on the wing, and Ed Fairhurst returned at scrum-half in place of Richard Bolt.

"This match, played in front of a 6,381 record crowd"

In the forwards, Alan Paver took over the loose-head prop berth that had been occupied by Peter Cook, and Heino Senekal replaced Joe Beardshaw to partner Bruce Cumming in the second-row.

On a dull and damp afternoon with a 3pm kick-off, it was no surprise to see the floodlights on from the start, the play of the Pirates also impressively bright at the beginning.

A thirty metres dash from skipper Tim Cowley was followed by a burst into Albion's '22' by centre Vunga Lilo, the rangy Tongan picking up a pass near his feet to go within inches of the line. Hopes of a try were realistic, but when the pressure created forced the home team to stray off-side, the settled for reward was a penalty successfully kicked by fly-half Gareth Steenson.

A burst into Albion's '22' by centre Vunga Lilo

The expected 'Brickfields battle' billing was living up to its pre-match name, but with the Pirates soon guilty of making too many basic errors and giving away two penalties which Steenson's opposite number, Ross Laidlaw, slotted to now put the Devon side ahead.

Plymouth Albion's Jannie Bornman led side was now in resurgent mode, the team and its supporters given a further boost when a third penalty strike by Laidlaw made it 9-3, with a chance then given to go even further ahead all but from the restart. Frenchman Nic Sestaret found space to run down the left touchline in front of the packed main grandstand, him then moving the ball back inside to find fellow winger Ed Lewsey, whose advance came to a shuddering halt. A 'tackle' made by Cumming was fairly adjudged illegal by referee Mark Wilson, the official having no hesitation in pulling a yellow card from his pocket. Luckily, for the Pirates, Laidlaw missed the resulting easy penalty kick on offer.

As further pressure mounted upon the Pirates, it seemed that the referee's arm was constantly raised against them, their woes about to worsen still further when flanker Iva Motusaga now took a familiar path to follow Cumming into the sin-bin.

Applying pressure at what will soon be the new scoreboard corner of the ground, with half-time approaching Albion surely had every chance to drive the Pirates back over their line, but they didn't. To their enormous credit, the Cornish visitors defended magnificently, the effort from just thirteen players certainly giving hope for the second period.

With Cumming returning to the fray for the start of the last forty, Steenson had an early chance to pull back three points, but his effort went wide to the right. Nonetheless, it was clear that the Cornish Pirates were keen to up the tempo, wing Ali Koko getting his first touch of the ball and Fairhurst lively, working with Senekal, Cowley and Cumming who made the hard yards.

Albion rallied briefly, lock Ben Gulliver always to the fore and full-back Emyr Lewis a potential threat, but it was not long before the Pirates increased the momentum once more and were duly rewarded when a Steenson penalty made the scoreline 9-6. Playing with purpose, a lofted kick and chase by full-back Ollie Thomas saw the ball quickly moved right to left for Lilo to threaten. Steenson also searched for a gap, backed up by inside centre Nick Buckley whose short punch breaks up the middle kept the Pirates on the front foot. However, on each occasion Lewis stayed calm and rifled the ball back upfield to relative safety. It looked as if the Plymouth had weathered the storm and would now build for a score of their own, but with Matt Evans carrying and setting the ball off the back of a scrum, Steenson cleared the danger. The Pirates held possession for the last five minutes, their control of possession on a greasy pitch simply superb, matched only by the defensive display of the their opponents who held on for a not so unexpected hard-earned 'derby' match victory.

"Steenson also searched for a gap, backed up by inside centre Nick Buckley"

Defeat was not in the mindset, a case of taking it on the chin and accepting at least a bonus point to keep the Pirates fourth in National One.

Cornish Pirates:
O. Thomas, A. Koko (R. McAtee 51), V. Lilo, N. Buckley, J. Moore, G. Steenson, E. Fairhurst, M. Evans
I. Motusaga (C. Cracknell 58), T. Cowley (capt, J. Beardshaw 75), B. Cumming, H. Senekal
D. Seal (S. Heard 68), N. Kemp, A.Paver

Replacements (not used): D. Dawidiuk, P. Cook, B. Tuohy.

Yellow cards: Cumming, Motusaga

Scorers:-

Cornish Pirates:
Pens: Steenson 2

Plymouth Albion:
E. Lewis, E. Lewsey, A. Cruickshanks, B. Davies, N. Sestaret, R. Laidlaw, N., Cane, J. Bornman (capt)
B. Stroud, T. Hayes, B. Gulliver, C. Stewart (A. Kettle 60), S. Barretto, J. Owen, T. Mathias.

Replacements (not used): R. Oxley, S. Zimmerman, C. Lowrie, K. Fisilau, W. Neethling, N. Saumi.

Scorers:-
Pens: Laidlaw 3

Referee: Mark Wilson (RFU)

Attendance: 6381