Moseley 29 Cornish Pirates 20 - Match Report

Travelling to Birmingham on Saturday, the Cornish Pirates were keen to get back into gear and impress against Moseley in their last away game of the season, but it was not to be, as the home side emerged victorious from an often scrappily fought affair.

It was a contest between the 12th and 5th placed teams in National One, with the Cornish side's supporters surely hoping for a more entertaining contest than was witnessed when the two teams last met at Camborne early in December.

The Pirates were again missing a number of injured players, included among them skipper Tim Cowley, whose place at No. 8 was taken by Matt Evans. Centre Steve Winn was gifted the captaincy role, his side including a fresh half-back pairing in the shape of Rhodri McAtee and former Moseley favourite Ollie Thomas. On a cold and bleak afternoon, the Pirates got off to a less than impressive start. Taking an advantage of a Pirates error, Moseley centre Jack Adams set off on a punishing counter, and it one which ended with wing Charles Sharples scoring a try which was converted by fly-half Tommy Hayes. Moseley were far more ambitious than at Camborne, but put pressure on themselves when full-back Andy Binns was yellow-carded.

Iva Mougasa

McAtee looked to spark the Pirates effort, and they did then manage to get themselves back into the match when flanker Chris Cracknell was driven over the line for an unconverted try.

Immediately from the restart Hayes had little difficult kicking a penalty chance on offer, before the Pirates responded with a penalty of their own, it a superbly struck long-range kick from Thomas which made the half-time score read 10-8 to 'Mose'.

It was hoped that the Pirates would raise their game for the start of the second half, but they were quickly damaged in midfield by Adams and his centre partner Ali James, a former Oxford 'Blue'. Adams was particularly impressive, scoring one try himself, converted magnificently by Hayes, and then setting up another for wing Nathan Bressington.

Skipper Winn sadly had to depart injured in the first few minutes of the half, his place taken by Mark Ireland, with it not long before Thomas was replaced by Gareth Steenson who all but immediately set up a try at the posts for wing Briant Tuohy. Steenson also added the extras. Back in the game once more, there was an extra urgency in the Cornish team's play, for whom lock Bruce Cumming was the pick of the forwards. However, a bizarre set of events then did them no favours. McAtee departed injured, him replaced by Vunga Lilo who slotted in on the wing, thus allowing Jimmy Moore a switch to scrum-half, and then replacement props Sam Heard and Alan Paver were both suddenly yellow-carded.

" Bruce Cumming was the pick of the forwards"

Moseley flanker Oliver Atkinson forced his way to the line to give his side a bonus point providing fourth try, it converted by Hayes, it leaving the Pirates with much to do if they were to get back into the match.

Play was both feisty and scrappy, and a little frustrating to watch for those who had journey to the Midlands, with referee Mr. Rose soon putting his hand to pocket yet again to issue yellow cards four and five to Moseley hooker Adam Caves and Cracknell.

Moseley flanker Oliver Atkinson forced his way to the line to give his side a bonus point providing fourth try, it converted by Hayes, it leaving the Pirates with much to do if they were to get back into the match. Play was both feisty and scrappy, and a little frustrating to watch for those who had journey to the Midlands, with referee Mr. Rose soon putting his hand to pocket yet again to issue yellow cards four and five to Moseley hooker Adam Caves and Cracknell. Heard powered his way over for a consolation try in injury-time, but it was all too late, and with the conversion attempt also going wide the chance of a bonus point went with it.

"Sam Heard powered his way over for a consolation try"

Missing injured players Heino Senekal and Ed Fairhurst in recent weeks, plus Tim Cowley last Saturday, has understandingly taken some of the potency from the Pirates team, it one that now faces a stiff test for their final game of the season at home to the much improved London Welsh side at Camborne this coming Saturday (ko 3pm).

14th in January, 'The Welsh' have climbed to 7th in National One, and will be looking to avenge the 20-17 points defeat inflicted upon them by the Pirates at Old Deer Park in December.

Moseley:
A. Binns (O. Winter 64), C. Sharples, J. Adams, A. James (P. Cox 53), N. Bressington, T. Hayes, G. Taylor (capt - D. Lewis 62), J. Rodwell, R. Bignell, O. Atkinson, R. Stott, P. Arnold (N. Mason 50), B. Buxton, A. Caves , N. Williams.

Replacements (not used): D. Ostleton, P. Ensor, M. Evans

Yellow cards: Binns, Caves.

Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan, J. Moore, P. Devlin, S. Winn (capt - M. Ireland 44), B. Tuohy, O. Thomas (G. Steenson 50), R. McAtee (V. Lilo 56), M. Evans, I. Motusaga, C. Cracknell, B. Cumming, S. Hobson (S. Betty 62), D. Seal (S. Heard 50), R. Elloway (D. Dawidiuk 71), P. Cook (A. Paver 50).

Yellow cards: Heard, Paver, Cracknell.

Scorers:-

Moseley

Tries: : Sharples, Adams, Bressington, Atkinson
Con: Whitehead 2
Pens: Hayes 1

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Cracknell, Tuohy, Heard
Cons: Steenson
Pen: Thomas

Referee: David Rose (RFU)

Attendance: 784

Press Gang Man Of The Match: Bruce Cumming