Cornish Pirates

Producing a truly scintillating team performance, the Pirates rolled backed the years to score ten tries, all converted, in this sensational game of rugby.

It was first time they had scored seventy points in a league match since their National Three (South) 76-22 points victory away against Redruth in March, 2002.

The Pirates first try was scored in less than three minutes, following a catch and drive on the right. Lock Heino Senekal was initially held up over the line, but from the resulting scrum skipper Tim Cowley made the pressure count, his effort converted by fly-half Gareth Steenson.

Set piece play had delivered, but it was quickly evident that the Pirates would let it flow, their handling exploits next rewarded when wing Rhodri McAtee dashed over at the scoreboard corner for a try again converted by Steenson. Everyone surely knew this was a game likely to entertain, and so it was proving, with the Surrey side joining the party with less than a quarter of an hour gone. Centre Doug Flockhart, a former Scotland U21s international, counter attacked from deep inside his half, his pace and determination seeing him run in a try which deserved the applause given by a sporting home crowd. Full-back Neil Hallett, Esher's top points scorer these past four seasons, missed the conversion.

"Rhodri McAtee dashed over "

The Pirates wasted no time to hit back strongly, putting their opponents under enormous pressure. Scrum-half Llyr Lane worked valiantly for the visitors, but with the Pirates in marauding mood, possession was secured which enabled full-back Adryan Winnan to hit the line and take full advantage to score. Steenson converted, and then posted the Pirates to territorial advantageous areas with his kicking from hand.

A bonus point providing fourth try had soon to materialise, which it did through flanker Chris Cracknell - yet again on the right, and yet again converted by the metronomic boot of 'Steeno'.

One more converted try was scored in the first period, it a play finished off again by Winnan after scrum-half Ed Fairhurst had made a telling chase and tackle to the posts.

With the scoreline 35-5 at the break, it was no surprise that the jubilant crowd stood as one to applaud their team off as they returned the players returned to the changing rooms.

On the resumption of play, Esher looked to get back into the game, their chances heightened when Senekal was yellow-carded. For a full seven minutes they tested the Pirates defence deep at the clubhouse corner, but without reward, as wing Jimmy Moore broke the stranglehold to spark a move which involved all hands and was eventually finished off again by Cracknell. Steenson, just inevitably, added the extras.

If the last score was outstanding, it a great team effort, then what followed was even better, it without doubt a contender for 'try of the season'. Started by Cowley, the swiftness of handling that followed was sublime, the movement finished off by replacement centre Paul Devlin, it the ninth try of the season for the club's top try-scorer. With the conversion slotted the Pirates were now just one short of the fifty mark, their hunger making it obvious that it would soon be passed. The ball was still flowful in flight, front-rowers Nathan Kemp and Peter Cook finding themselves lined up and ready to grab the honours, but their chance scuppered by a lively McAtee who appeared from nowhere to dart over for his second converted try of the afternoon.

"a great team effort"

When replacement flanker Sam Betty was also shown yellow by referee Mr. David Rose, the impressive Flockhart scored his and Esher's second try of the game, before the Pirates then proceeded to finish off a fine afternoon's work with two more of their own. The first was a penalty try awarded after Fairhurst appeared held back, and the final one went to replacement wing Brian Tuohy, them both converted by replacement fly-half Ollie Thomas.

It had been quite a display, the choice for man of the match not an easy one, it perhaps fitting that in a performance which drew the best from one to fifteen, it was coincidentally the players wearing numbers 1 and 15, Alan Paver and Adryan Winnan, who actually shared the honours.

Following this win, one that sees the Pirates move up one place to fourth in the National One, the whole crowd left the 'Rec' with big smiles on their faces. Captain Benbow, the club mascot who always carries the biggest smile of all, suitably commented: "Me shipmates, t'was 15-a-side rugby played played like Sevens!"

Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan, J. Moore, M. Ireland (P. Devlin 28), S. Winn, R. McAtee (B. Tuohy 71)
G. Steenson (O. Thomas 65), E. Fairhurst, T. Cowley (capt - M. Evans 56), I. Motusaga
C. Cracknell (S. Betty 65), B. Cumming, H. Senekal, D. Seal (P. Cook 56),
R. Elloway (N. Kemp 50), A. Paver.

Scorers:-
Tries: McAtee 2, Winnan 2, Cracknell 2, Cowley, Devlin, Tuohy, penalty try
Cons: Steenson 8, Thomas 2

Yellow cards: Senekal, Betty.

Esher:
N. Hallett, M. Moore, D. Flockhart, T. Clouston (C. Baumberg 72), R. Briggs (D. Hewitt 54)
D. Slemen, L. Lane (G. Barr 58), D. Barrell , T. Yellowlees (N. Starling 58), M. Soden ,
A. Harris (M. Butterworth 58) M. Blakeburn, A. Alexander (J. Smith 52)
J. Campbell (S. Goldsmith 65), D. Cormack (capt).

Scorers:-
Tries: Flockhart 2

Referee: David Rose (RFU)

Man of the Match: : Alan Paver & Adryan Winnan (shared)

Attendance: 2,315

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