Cornish Pirates

Before this game got underway - at the end of a week when Dicky Evans' resigned as Club President - there was a sincerely spoken tribute from Phil Westren and a pre-match show of wholehearted appreciation from supporters who stood as one to applaud the amazing level and of input and leadership he had given. The point was strongly made that his mighty efforts deserve a living legacy to record that it has been his spark that has offered the Pirates and Cornish rugby a chance of a brighter tomorrow.
		'Supporters stood as one to applaud Dicky'

Having finished eleventh in National Division One last season, the 'Blues' arrived into Cornwall in tenth position, with it appearing that perhaps a home win was surely always on the cards as it was also remembered that the Pirates won 48-18 at Newbury's Monk Lane ground in September.

The Cornish Pirates were certainly up for putting on a good display after the week's events, the weather much improved and the ground back in good condition thanks to the efforts of groundsman Colin Dymond and a number of volunteers who responded to help out on the morning of the game.

The Pirates welcomed a couple of players back from injury for this game, with a number of squad rotation changes in a team skippered by former Newbury star Chris Cracknell.

After leading his team onto the field it was Cracknell who literally led from the front, and the first to carry the ball into the opposition '22'. Support was given by lock Heino Senekal and prop Peter Cook, the Blues forced into giving a penalty away which fly-half Gareth Steenson fired over to put the Pirates 3-0 up in the third minute.

Newbury's fly-half Chris Ashwin soon levelled the scores with a simple penalty kick from in front of the posts, as the Berkshire visitors held territorial advantage for a spell during which the Pirates were grateful to the defensive efforts of Cook and flanker Sam Betty.

Suddenly, however, Steenson managed to open up a gap from just insider his own half, his midfield dash supported by centre Paul Devlin who ran in his eighth try of the season. Steenson added the extras.

Another home score soon looked likely following solid approach work by Senekal and his second-row partner Scott Hobson, plus hooker Rob Elloway, but when Newbury No. 8 Tom Brown carried the ball off a back of a scrum the Blues were able to escape the danger zone.

To raise morale the Pirates needed another score before the break, as wing Jimmy Moore admirably secured possession and centre Mark Ireland threatened to deliver against former team mates. A second try looked likely, but when Newbury were caught offside Steenson kicked the penalty on offer to give the Pirates a 13-3 points half-time lead.

Ashwin reduced the deficit with his second penalty of the match struck early in the second half, as both sides struggled to get into their stride. The Pirates were looking to please, but became a little frustrated when promising moves broke down, and at 13-6 could be anything but complacent - especially when Hylton showed his paces on the right.

Newbury's defence was proving more difficult to break down than in their early season encounter, until within the space of just two minutes near the end they had they had two players dispatched to
the sin bin. Steenson fired over a penalty, and soon followed this with the conversion of a try scored by Betty after space had been opened up on the left.

To their credit Newbury threw the ball about in an effort to create a try of their own, but when one came it was not for them. In the final few seconds man of the match Cracknell snapped up the loose ball on his own '22' and passed to Moore who sped seventy metres for a try at a now jubilant clubhouse corner of the ground.

This Saturday the Pirates play Exeter Chiefs away in front of a full-house at Sandy Park, t an important game between the second and fifth-placed teams in the league, and one the Pirates will be desperately keen to win in their quest for a top three finish.

Cornish Pirates:
15 O. Thomas, 14 J. Moore, 13 M. Ireland, 12 P. Devlin (N. Buckley 53), 11 A. Koko (V. Lilo 70)
10 G. Steenson, 9 R. Bolt (E. Fairhurst 51-64), 8 M. Evans, 7 S. Betty, 6 C. Cracknell (capt),
5 S. Hobson, 4 H. Senekal, 3 D. Seal, 2 R. Elloway (N. Kemp 47), 1 P. Cook (A. Paver 47).

Replacements (not used): T. Cowley, I. Motusaga

Newbury:
15 T. Walsh (capt), J. Hylton, T. Tombleson, 12 A. Reay, 11 M. Nutt, 10 C. Ashwin
9 D. Smaje (M. Simpson-Daniel 57), 8 T. Brown (R. Graham h/t), 7 D. Abbott, 6 T. Payne
5 G. Hayter, 4 J. Doherty,, 3 S. Carter (R. Faulkner 57), 2 P. Fincken, 1 M. Irish (T. Fidler 68).

Replacements (not used): A. Day, S. Perkins, D. Rees

Yellow card: R. Graham, R. Faulkner

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Devlin, Betty, Moore
Cons: : Steenson 2
Pen: Steenson 3

Newbury
Pens: Ashwin 2

Referee: Lyr Apgeraint-Roberts (RFU)

Man of the Match: Chris Cracknell

Attendance 2,398