Cornish Pirates

Having beaten the Cornish All Blacks 49-7 in their Cornwall RFU Skinner's Brewery Super Cup opener played at the Mennaye Field in September, the Cornish Pirates followed this up with another victory in this return encounter played at Polson Bridge on Monday evening..

It was a case once again of both sides using the contest to provide important match time to squad players, with the Cornish Pirates also drafting in a number of their 'Amateurs', who all performed well.

On a wet might near Cornwall's border with Devon, the home team opened the scoring when former Exeter player Adam Staniforth slotted a penalty on offer.

The Pirates looked to create scoring opportunities of their own with Simon Whatling, who was making his comeback after being out of the game for 14 months with a shoulder injury, orchestrating events. He looked sharp and able playing at fly-half, but in a feisty encounter was also yellow carded.

As the first drew to a close, discipline levels continued to be tested, with the Pirates then going permanently down to just 14 men when flanker Sam Betty was shown red by referee Simon Lane, for what appeared a head butting offence.

It was a set back, but the Pirates response was to suddenly conjure up a score that would given them a lead at the break. Young full-back Richard Bright had impressed throughout the first forty, and it was he who made the telling yardage to set up a try for Tongan wing Aisea 'Ice' Havili, which was converted by Whatling.

Playing with the advantage of the elements in the second half, the Pirates dominated, but with it still feisty. The home team actually had three players yellow-carded during the period, with there also one more 'Pirate', prop Paul Andrew, receiving similar punishment..

Havili celebrated his return to playing action with a second try of the game as play had entered the last quarter, and there was a penalty too kicked by Doug Sanft, who was another player keen for game time and who had showed up well.

Cornish All Blacks:
T. Elliott, J. Marlin, J. Murphy (capt), A. Staniforth, A. Collings (L. Patterson 60), M. Provis, I. Wilson (M. Dibble 77), J. Brandling-Harris, G. Smith (L. Duke 32, D. Manns 60), J. Heaver, B. Jenkins, S. Pape (L. Duke 72), M. Manton (T. Hurdwell 72), D. Semmens (A. Webb 72), J. Bolt (A. Knight 60).

Yellow cards: Provis, Manton, Knight.

Cornish Pirates:
R. Bright, A. Havili, M. Ireland (B. Davey 69), D. Sanft, K. James (A. Hall 60), S. Whatling (A. Hall 59), R. McAtee (S. Winn 70), M. Evans, S. Betty, W. Davey, T. Somers, S. Heath, S. Heard (D. Seal h/t, P. Andrew 69), P. Cook (capt), P. Andrew (A. Gwennap 60).

Red card: Betty.
Yellow cards: Whatling, Andrew.

Scorers:

Cornish All Blacks - pen: Staniforth.

Cornish Pirates - tries: Havili (2); con: Whatling; pen: Sanft.

Referee: Simon Lane (RFU)

The Cornish Pirates next match in the 'Super Cup' competition is scheduled at home against REDRUTH on Monday 1st December. It is a match which will be played under floodlights at the Mennaye Field, Penzance (ko 7.30pm), with supporters reminded that the clubhouse will be open before the game and where refreshments (including curry & chips) will be for sale