| | | | | Manchester
6 Cornish Pirates 12
Saturday October 4th 2008 Phil
Westren |
A try scored by
full-back Marika Vakacegu, the Fijian's sixth in just as many games, sealed this
victory for the Cornish Pirates against a resolute Manchester side who were desperately
seeking their first win on the season. 
Over
100 Pirates Fans Once Again Made The long Journey North
 | Played
in very difficult conditions, the strength of the wind on the day made it inevitable
that this would never be a classic, it an element that is, and was, always difficult
to combat. The Cornish Pirates side showed 10 changes in
their line-up from that which started the previous weekend against Nottingham,
and one of them, scrum-half Nicky Griffiths, was quick to make his mark. He
is a player who has always looked sharp and alert when given a chance in previous
games, and with speed of thought he scored an opening try in just the fourth minute
when quick-tapping a penalty and zipping in for a try at the posts which was converted
by fellow Welshman and fly-half Rhys Jones. | | "Nicky
Griffiths was quick to make his mark" | |
Manchester
had an opportunity to immediately hit back and open their account, but a penalty
attempt at goal by wing Gareth Wynne was missed. Playing
the first half with the advantage of the wind blowing at Grove Park, more was
expected of the Pirates, but they were unable to play with any control and flow,
despite the pluses witnessed in the ball carrying of Canadian prop Scott Franklin
and the all round ability shown by Vakacegu. Losing the
services of lock Heino Senekal, yellow-carded by referee Mr. Tutty, was a potential
blow, for Manchester soon went close to scoring through the this time running
effort of Wynne. |  | | | "The
ball carrying of Scott Franklin" |
As a disappointing
first half neared its end, the home side, with prop Marshall Gadd and lock Ed
Norris to the fore, kept up the pressure and again took play close to the Pirates
line, it certainly testing the Cornish team's defence which was thankfully up
to mark. Starting the second half brightly, the Pirates impressed when the
ball was moved swiftly and purposefully through the hands of Griffiths, centre
Steve Winn, Vakacegu and replacement Paul Devlin. The promise was there, but it
remained just that, as basic errors then crept in to allow Manchester an opportunity
to respond. Gifted
three penalty opportunities, Wynne was on target with two of them, and with the
scoreline reading 6-7 the result into the last quarter was still in the balance. Now
was a time when the fitness and conditioning of the Pirates needed to count, the
mental side as important as the physical. There was a fresh
and clinical response in the manner that Griffiths, Jones and Devlin were involved
to work from a forward platform and create space for Vakacegu to take full advantage
of. |  | | | |
When
the conversion missed, it was now a case of holding on, which they managed to
do, their cause also helped when Manchester's replacement Ben Lloyd was sent to
the sin bin in the 79th minute. And so, in a match played in very difficult
conditions, the Pirates may have again faltered at times, but there were also
a number of pleasing aspects witnessed in their game. The young half-back
pairing of Grffiths and Jones had acquitted themselves admirably, Vakacegu again
played very well, and the general determination to prevent Manchester from crossing
the line was of credit.
Manchester:
B. Coulbeck, R. Wellock, C. Parrott, S. Rawlings, G. Wynne, R. Wainwright,
W. Runciman, S. Moss, G. Dew, M. Owen (B. Lloyd 65), E. Norris, P. Ralph (D. Collier
65), N. Flynn, H. Platt (capt), M. Gadd (T. Mantell 73). Replacements (not
used): C. Wills, L. Stringer, G. Lewis, A. Wilson.
Yellow card: Lloyd. Cornish
Pirates:
M. Vakacegu, B. Tuohy, M. Ireland (J. Moore 75), S. Winn, R.
McAtee (P. Devlin h/t), R. Jones, N. Griffiths (E. Fairhurst 73), B. Bedes, I.
Motusaga, S. Betty (C. Morgan 51), B. Gulliver (capt), H. Senekal, S. Franklin
(D. Seal 45), D. Dawidiuk (R. Elloway 45), A. Paver. Replacement (not used):
M. Burak.
Yellow card: Senekal. Scorers:- Manchester
- pens: Wynne (2). Cornish Pirates - tries: Griffiths, Vakacegu;
con: Jones. Referee: Mr. M. Tutty (RFU). Attendance: 341 
The
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H.J.C
Turner, A.S. Gibson, W Maclaren, R.R. Osborne
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