Newbury 18 Cornish Pirates 48

Newbury 18 Cornish Pirates 48
Saturday September 29th 2007
Report By Phil Westren
Pix Big Brian & Simon Bryant

Ahead of their eagerly awaited 'derby' match at home to Exeter Chiefs this coming Sunday, this victory was a comprehensive one from which the Cornish Pirates importantly secured five very useful league points.

"Chris Cracknell took his accustomed role on the flank"

The Pirates line-up showed a number of changes from the team that faced the Bees the previous weekend, skipper Tim Cowley made a welcome return from injury, allowing Chris Cracknell to move to his more accustomed role on the flank. Ollie Thomas, a former Moseley star who has been troubled with a groin injury since his arrival in Cornwall, made his debut at full-back, and Ali Koko, concussed in the match against the Cornish All Blacks, took the wing spot occupied the previous week by Paul Devlin who now partnered Steve Winn in the centre. Two other changes saw Richard Bolt back in the number nine shirt, and Dan Seal gifted a starting role at tight-head prop. On a perfect day at Monks Lane for playing rugby football, the home team showed they were up for it by taking the game to the Pirates at the start.

Fly-half and captain Tim Walsh almost dummied his way to the line to the left of the posts on the clubhouse side of the field, but was held. However, the diminutive Aussie was quick to regain his feet, taking a position from where he comfortably slotted a drop goal.

" Ollie Thomas showing some deft touches"

The Pirates were undaunted, responding confidently with Thomas showing some deft touches & well involved when the first score for the Pirates was created, the ball moved smoothly through the hands of Devlin and fly-half Gareth Steenson, with support given by hooker Nathan Kemp who crossed the line on the left and back to the posts, thus gifting Steenson an easy conversion to make it 3-7. Newbury wing Jonny Hylton, a Pirates hero at Twickenham in April, but now flying for the 'Blues', showed his pace on the right, and with Walsh and his half-back partner Dan Smaje also busy, the visitors were pressured into giving a penalty away which Walsh successfully kicked.. With a quarter of the game gone, the Pirates were about to monopolise much of the possession, also creating good chances, but too often their passing and handling let them down. Steenson missed a simple penalty chance on offer, but made no mistake when a second opportunity came his way. For the Pirates it was simply a matter of persevering with their try-scoring efforts, which were about to gain due reward before the break.

Good play again by Thomas, who had linked with wing Rhodri McAtee, saw his clever pass gift Bolt a clear run to the line, thus posting the young Devonian 's first points for the club since his move west across the Tamar from Exeter.

Steenson converted and also kicked his second penalty of the match after Cracknell, Kemp and man of the match Cowley had carried the ball deep into the heart of Newbury's defence.

Having only won narrowly in their two previous National One visits to Monks Lane, the Pirates could feel pretty well satisfied to arrive at the interval 20-6 up, it felt that by tightening their game up just a little, there was surely every hope that a comfortable win was on the cards.

Back to the action, the Blues came out blowing, their huff and puff looking to be rewarded with at least a penalty, but Walsh missed the simple chance on offer.

Rubbing salt into the wound, the Pirates response provided an example of the improved fluency and flow sought in their play, Thomas, Bolt and the impressive Winn creating space to edge ever closer to the Newbury line, the finishing touch applied by former 'Blue' Cracknell, whose try was converted by Steenson.

"The finishing touch applied by former 'Blue' Cracknell, whose try was converted by Steenson"

Newbury hit back with a try scored by Paul Fincken, an on loan hooker from Bristol, but the Pirates then proceeded to put the result beyond any doubt. Hylton looked to have a chance to run in from half-way, but threat held McAtee and Thomas went off in tandem once more, replacement flanker Eniola Gisende lending support to cross for a converted bonus point try.

Devlin followed up with another quick brace, repeating his second half feat achieved at Camborne six days earlier, both tries again converted by Steenson.

"Devlin followed up with another quick brace"

To pass the half century mark looked a certainty, but it was not to be as the home team finished an entertaining game in style, scoring two unconverted tries through replacement back-rowers Chris Rainbow and Matt Styles, and then a bonus point effort which they deserved for their enterprise shown, it scored by Hylton and converted by Walsh.

The Pirates were disappointed to leak four tries in the match, but there was at the same time much to commend on a performance which appeared to show a team getting it together in a manner that could bode well for the future - this coming Sunday's test at the Recreation Ground, Camborne, to provide another indicator.

Newbury:
C. Ashwin, J. Hylton, M. Nutt, S. Perkins, A. Henderson, T. Walsh ©, D. Smaje (M. Simpson-Daniel 53)
T. Brown (C. Rainbow 53), D. Abbott (M. Styles 69), C. Morgan, T. Radbourne
G. Hayter (A. Ashcroft-Leigh 64), W. Thompson, P. Fincken (O. Campbell 80), M. Irish (R. Faulkner 71).

Replacement (not used) - G. Turner.

Cornish Pirates:
15 Ollie Thomas, 14 Ali Koko (B. Tuohy 53), 13 Paul Devlin, 12 Steve Winn (N. Buckley 71)
11 Rhodri McAtee, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Richard Bolt, 8 Tim Cowley (capt), 7 Iva Motusaga
6 Chris Cracknell (N. Gesinde 53), 5 Bruce Cumming, 4 Joe Beardshaw (S. Hobson 74)
3 Dan Seal, 2 Nathan Kemp (R. Elloway 46), 1 Peter Cook (S. Heard 53) .

Replacement (not used) - J. Moore.

Scorers:-

Newbury
Tries: Fincken, Rainbow, Styles, Hylton
Con: Walsh
Pen: Walsh; drop goal: Walsh

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Devlin (2), Kemp, Bolt, Cracknell, Gesinde
Cons: Steenson 6
Pens: Steenson 2

Referee: Nick Williams (RFU).

Man of the Match: Tim Cowley.

Attendance - 520