At
the end of a testing week following the departure of Mark Hewitt as head Coach,
the Cornish Pirates had the strength of character to ultimately perform in the
professional manner sought and record this morale-boosting victory. Scrum-half
Nicky Griffiths played a leading role, as he notched up a hat-trick of tries,
whilst the goal kicking of wing Jimmy Moore was also impressively faultless. Saturday
afternoon saw Moseley's Billesley Common ground bathed in late winter sunshine,
it seemingly lit up for a match that had suddenly demanded extra focus as supporters
sought to see how the Pirates would react to recent events. In
the opening period it was all more than a little worrying for the travelling contingent,
as the home side proceeded to score 13 unanswered points, which was a scoreline
that raised quite considerable concern. Playing with confidence,
the Midlanders had opened their account in the eighth minute, it following a grub
kick to the clubhouse corner by centre Jack Adams, which was followed up by wing
Dan Norton. As the speedster looked likely to score, he was suddenly scythed down,
with there an immediate reaction of disgruntlement from his fellow players and
supporters, but they need not have worried, as referee Mr. Terry Hall had no hesitation
in awarding a penalty try that was converted by fly-half Tristan Roberts. Adding
to their early woes, the Pirates failed to kick the ball 10 metres from the restart,
and also kicked poorly from hand, all of which enabled Moseley to maintain territorial
advantage. Under pressure the Pirates soon gave a penalty away and Roberts had
no trouble slotting the simple chance on offer. With the
Cornish side appearing completely out of sorts, their opponents looked to inflict
more damage when Norton sliced cleanly through midfield. Flanker Richie Bignell
lent support and looked odds on to score, but his chance of glory was cruelly
denied him, for as if from nowhere Griffiths made a tackle that was perhaps a
match defining moment. If Bignell had crossed for a converted try and 'Mose' gone
17-0 up, it would surely have been difficult for the Pirates to lift themselves
and get back into the game. Yes, Moseley did extend their
lead shortly after with a penalty kicked by Roberts, but it could have been worse,
and either way it was now surely the time for the Pirates to display some urgency
and spirit - which they did. Griffiths and his half-back partner Simon Whatling
showed themselves up for the challenge, as was clearly hooker Darren Dawidiuk
who made a storming run into Moseley's '22'. When the ball was moved left, with
flanker Iva Motusaga and centre Steve Winn involved, the ball reached full-back
Adryan Winnan who was unluckily held up over the line. The
sudden burst of confidence saw the Pirates in a position close to Moseley's line
where they opted for a series of scrums. No. 8 Bertrand Bedes made a couple of
pick up and drives, and pressure created saw Moseley skipper Andy Reay shown a
yellow card by Mr. Hall. Further scrums followed until
from a free kick Griffiths opted for a quick-tap and dart for the line, with his
sharpness and determination rewarded with a try at the posts which was converted
by Moore. The Pirates lost lock Heino Senekal to the sin
bin from the restart, and Roberts comfortably kicked the penalty on offer to make
it 16-7, but it was a set back that the rejuvenated Pirates made light of. Griffiths
had provided the spark to lighten them up, and after flanker Sam Betty had carried
the ball strongly, it was Griffiths who terrorised the home defence once more.
Eventually brought to ground, a penalty resulted in favour of the Pirates, and
Moore stepped forward to add three more important points. With
the scoreline now reading 16-10, the Pirates were very much back in the game.
They would have a breeze and slope advantage to them in the second half, and also
in their favour was the fact that Moseley would be playing into the lowering sun.
For the home side, rangy No. 8 James Rodwell was always
a threat, both him and Norton having returned to club action from England Sevens
duty. Rodwell did his best to put some spice back into Moseley's effort, but the
ingredient to further hotten this contest would take the form of another penalty
successfully slotted by Moore, with there now just the three points in it. Having
been caught off-side, the Pirates gifted Roberts his fourth penalty of the match
to re-open a six points gap. However, the Pirates responded in the fashion sought
once more, this time with a try scored by centre Paul Devlin, and it an opportune
time to register his first five points in this season's campaign. Moore duly added
the extras and the Pirates were in the lead for the first time in the match. Now
very much in the ascendancy, the Pirates were in the mood to entertain and it
was not long before another score was created. Winn made the initial yards in
a movement that was quickly taken near to the Moseley line. Griffiths, Senekal
and prop Alan Paver were all well involved before Griffiths appeared once again
to score another converted try. At the end of a difficult
week, the team now looked a different side, and the chance of scoring a bonus
point providing fourth try was surely on. Well, indeed it was, and it soon came
when Griffiths tore down the right wing. His pace had punished Moseley all afternoon,
and when he dived to record his hat-trick, nobody deserved it better. Moore duly
converted and then followed up with a penalty, him marking a rare appearance in
the starting line-up this season with a flawless performance. Cobden
scored a consolation try for Moseley right at the end, which was converted by
replacement Richard Vasey, but by then the smiles were deservedly back on the
faces of the Pirates players, officials, and supporters alike. Moseley:
A. Binns, A. Bressington, J. Adams, A. Reay (capt), D. Norton,
T. Roberts
(R. Vasey 71), J. Pasqualin (G. Taylor 71), J. Rodwell, R. Bignell, N. Mason
R. Stott (P. Arnold 63), A. Mulldowney, T. Sigley, A. Caves (D. Oselton 63), N.
Williams (Y. Thomas 73) Replacements (not used): A. Whitney, P. Cox. Yellow
card: Reay. Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan, M. Vakacegu, P. Devlin
(M. Ireland 73), S. Winn, J. Moore
S. Whatling (R. Jones 56), N. Griffiths
(E. Fairhurst 73), B. Bedes, I. Motusaga, S. Betty (C. Morgan 73)
B. Gulliver
(capt), H. Senekal (M. Burak 71), S. Heard (D. Seal 53), D. Dawidiuk, A. Paver
(P. Cook 63) Yellow card: Senekal. Scorers:- Moseley
Tries: penalty try, Adams
Cons: Roberts, Vasey
Pens: Roberts (4). Cornish
Pirates
Tries: Griffiths (3), Devlin;
Cons: Moore (4) pens: Moore (3). | Scorers |  |  |  | |
| 3
Tries | 1 Try | 4
Cons / 3 Pens |
Referee: T. Hall (RFU). Attendance:
965. | 
