Northampton
Saints 26 Cornish Pirates 10
Saturday December 22nd 2007
Report
Phil Westren | 
Match Pictures |
Although
beaten 26-10, the Cornish Pirates again showed that they can mix it with the best,
demanding full respect from the league leaders whose victory was ultimately achieved
by the incisive running of their backs.
This
was a match played in front of bumper National One record crowd of 12,868, all
gathered having a sense of anticipation that this could be one of National One's
games of the season. It was also, of course, a first ever visit for the Cornish
Pirates to Franklin's Gardens, which is regarded as being one of the very best
grounds in the country.
 | The
Pirates arrived at Northampton in determined mode, primed to upset their unbeaten
hosts and avoid any frustration felt such as experienced when they let slip their
chance of victory back at Camborne in September. All in
all, it promised to be quite an occasion, with those present hopeful of witnessing
a pre-Christmas 'cracker' of a match. The Pirates side showed
four changes from the one that started against the Cornish All Blacks - there
two in the pack and two in the backs. |
| Travelling
Fans Man Of The Match Heino Senekal | |
Alan
Paver returned at loose-head prop in place of Peter Cook, and in the second-row
Bruce Cumming partnered Heino Senekal, him taking the place of Joe Beardshaw whose
has a knee ligament injury which is likely to keep him out for several weeks.
Expected to add a combination of power and pace out wide was Tongan World Cup
player Vunga Lilo, who took over from Rhodri McAtee on the wing, whilst the one
other change saw the return from injury of fly-half Gareth Steenson, the Division's
leading points scorer. Last week's man of the match Ollie Thomas, who wore the
number 10 shirt against the Blacks, was named on the bench.
In
the opening minutes of this contest, there was no doubt that the Cornish Pirates
were the better side, working the phases fluently and creating pressure from where
fly-half Gareth Steenson was unlucky with a long-range penalty effort which rebounded
off a post.
Unlucky once, it was all but immediately a
case of the gods conspiring against you for a second time, as when Northampton
skipper Bruce Reihana attempted to gather the ball and run out of defence he was
was swallowed up by Tim Cowley's forward charges. A second penalty was signalled
to the Pirates, this time a much easier opportunity, but it was this time pushed
past the left hand post.
Keeping up the momentum, scrum-half
Ed Fairhurst needed no motivation at a ground where he had proudly captained Canada
against the New Zealand Maoris earlier in the year, the pack carried and off-loaded
in bullish style, and an opening try for the Pirates looked a cert after a break
by Steenson, but it was not to be.
 | The
Saints responded to stretch the Pirates by spreading the ball wide to wingers
Chris Ashton and Paul Diggin, their efforts rewarded in the fifteenth minute when
former London Irish fly-half Barry Everitt, the player with the best kicking strike
rate in the league, successfully slotted a penalty on offer. The
Cornish Pirates could be forgiven for ruing those missed early opportunities,
especially when it looked as if Reihana was about to make them pay still further,
but all of a sudden Lilo intercepted to run clear to the posts for a try that
Steenson converted and which gave the Pirates a 7-3 lead. |
|
Suddenly Lilo intercepted to run clear for a try | |
Confidence
levels were clearly high, the Pirates also sound at scrum and line-out time, and
the running of lock Heino Senekal and centre Steve Winn effective, before the
pattern of the game seemed to change after referee Mark Wilson pulled up seemingly
injured. There was a six minutes break before he was replaced, and when it was
back to match action new referee Greg Garner's first blow of the whistle was unfortunately
to signal a second score for the Saints, No. 8 Mark Hopley making the break which
opened up space for the ball to reach the hands of full-back and former 'All Black'
Carlos Spencer who crossed for an unconverted try at the corner. Nobody will know
whether the enforced break led to the Pirates lowering their concentration levels,
but either way the home team were back in the lead.
For
the many hundreds of Cornish Pirates supporters who had made the long journey,
the atmosphere in a now fully floodlit Franklin's Gardens was at a higher level
than that usually experienced, especially away, and it also giving them a taste
of what could potentially be created in Cornwall should shared stadium hopes ultimately
come to fruition.
Northampton Saints were now looking more
potent through scrum-half Ian Vass, Ashton and Reihana, plus flanker Darren Fox
who was forever busy at the breakdown. A number of Pirates were also picking up
injuries, hooker Nathan Kemp one who was soon to be replaced by Rob Elloway.
Approaching
half-time it was no surprise that the Northampton side extended their lead, one
they just about deserved, first through a second penalty kicked by Everitt, and
then another unconverted try this time scored by Diggin, it enabling the Saints
to march in 16-7 up at the break.
On the resumption of play
the Saints looked to turn the screw still further, with Fox and Hopley the meanest
of marauders and Everitt gifted a penalty at their hushed home, it one though
that missed.
The Pirates response was to show that they
were still very much up for the challenge, led by Cowley and with Lilo also unlucky
not to go clear once more.
 | Such
was the commitment from both sides that mistakes made by each were inevitable,
the home team also aware pre-match that they themselves would need to raise their
game. There was clearly absolutely no room for complacency
against a spiritedly competitive and improving Cornish side, and especially when
a Steenson penalty narrowed the deficit. The Saints, however,
were quick to make a riposte, reopening a nine points gap when Everitt punished
the Pirates for straying off-side almost in front of the posts. |
Now
was the test, it vitally important that the Pirates pack stayed solidly sound
to hopefully dictate play in the last quarter and deny Northampton the possession
sought to release their dangerous backs. It was a tough call, with Northampton
also spoilt with strength available to them off the bench.
As
the remainder of the half panned out, there was much to admire in terms of effort,
and although Northampton scored a converted try through replacements scrum-half
Johnny Howard, the Pirates, in a feisty finish, derived some satisfaction in denying
their hosts a bonus point.
Could it be third time lucky
in the cup? We shall see in three weeks time, it sure though to be a ferociously
fought and close contest which is one not to be missed.
Northampton
Saints:
C. Spencer, C. Ashton, B. Reihana (capt), J. Clarke, P. Diggin,
B. Everitt, I. Vass (J. Howard 52)
M. Hopley (M. Easter 60), D. Fox, P. Tupai,
M. Lord (C. Short 69), A. Rae, B. Stewart
P. Shields (D. Hartley 69), T.
Smith (S. Tonga'uiha 55.)
Replacements (not used): S. Myler, N. Starling.
Yellow
card: C. Ashton.
Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan,
V. Lilo, M. Ireland, S. Winn (P. Devlin 73), B. Tuohy (J. Moore 68), G. Steenson
E. Fairhurst, M. Evans, C. Cracknell (I. Motusaga 49), T. Cowley (capt)
B.
Cumming (S. Hobson 60), H. Senekal, S. Heard (D. Seal h/t)
N. Kemp (R. Elloway
40), A. Paver.
Replacement (not used): O. Thomas.
Scorers:-
Northampton
Saints - tries: Spencer, Diggin, Howard; con: Everitt; pens: Everitt (3).
Cornish
Pirates - try: Lilo; con: Steenson; pen: Steenson.
Referee:
Mark Wilson (RFU).
Attendance: 12,868
