Cornish Pirates 19 Moseley 15
SuNday October 26th 2008

Phil Westren

Despite having dominated so much of this match, the Pirates nearly faltered once more near the end, only for them to snatch what was an ultimately deserved victory with the very last play of the game.

At 14-15 down, and with the seconds ticking away, a fourth consecutive home defeat had stared them in the face, before wing Brian Tuohy's try eased the tension and lifted spirits

The Pirates started this match keen to give a good account of themselves,and to also build upon the clear improvement shown at at Doncaster the previous weekend.

Early signs were encouraging, with perhaps the unlikely pairing of prop Alan Paver and hooker Rob Elloway leading the way. Both handled and ran like threequarters, creating the pressure for a penalty to be awarded which was successfully kicked by fly-half Rhys Jones.

From the restart the Pirates took play deep into Moseley's half once more, with full-back Adryan Winnan having posted a fine kick out of hand down the touchline. However, when the slippery ball went through the hands, too many mistakes were made at crucial times.

It was remembered that when the two teams met at the same venue last season, the visitors monopolized possession and kept it tight in an especially dull first forty. This time around it was a different story, as the Pirates now denied 'Mose' any ball, and proceeded to add three points to their tally when Jones confidently slotted a drop goal from 35 metres out.

When Jones briefly left the field with blood streaming from his nose, temporary replacement Steve Winn wasted no time to demand the attention of Moseley defenders. With forward momentum maintained, industrious flanker Iva Motusaga was nearly over the line to the left of the posts, but there shortly after a set back when Elloway had to leave the field in considerable discomfort with a leg injury.

Young Welshman Jones kicked his second penalty of the afternoon shortly after his return to the field. However, there was disappointment that the Pirates had not managed to conjure up a try in a half that ended with Moseley fly-half Richard Vasey, a close season signing from Leeds Carnegie, kicking a drop goal but missing a penalty attempt.

The Pirates started the second half with prop Scott Franklin having replaced an injured Sam Heard, and with there also hope of getting more fluency in their play as conditions became a little drier.

Moseley had the chance to put more points on the board, but Vasey was just short with his penalty strike from halfway, with it now important that the Pirates regained control and used their dominance to good effect. If they were looking for inspiration, then Winnan was their man, him showing superb commitment to gather a lofted ball, and, more importantly, when 'Mose' were penalised, give an opportunity for the Pirates to take play close to the Moseley line which enabled No. 8 Bertrand Bedes to stretch and score on the right. The conversion attempt from out wide missed, but with space opening up play became even more enterprising.

As a unit the Pirates pack was playing well, with man of the match Heino Senekal a stand out performer, but there also much to admire in the defensive effort shown by a defiant Moseley team.

Weathering the storm, the Midlanders suddenly worked their way up field to make a rare, but fruitful visit inside the Pirates '22', it one that ended with No. 8 James Rodwell scoring a try on the right to which Vasey added the extras.

In response, the Pirates continued to give it their all, it soon looking likely that they would surely hit back and score themselves. A try looked 'on' at the clubhouse corner, and a try was indeed about to be scored, but it would be at the opposite end of the field as Moseley's flying wing Charlie Sharples intercepted a lofted pass and ran 95 metres to the line. It was an unconverted score that put the visitors one point ahead, with just a quarter of an hour or so remaining.

It was as if a dark cloud had settled over the 'Rec', this a test that the Pirates needed to pass. Franklin and flanker Chris Morgan provided the position from where the Pirates had the chance to get back on track, but a penalty strike from Jones went to the left of the posts. Another difficult chance from wide on the right was also off target, but the Pirates kept up their late onslaught.

To their credit, Moseley continued to defend heroically, until in the last seconds bulldozing runs from Senekal and Bedes sufficiently pierced the barrier in front of them from where the ball went through the hands to Tuohy in space.

Left with a 15 metres run to the line, the Irishman punched the air in celebration even before touching the ball down, and the joyously relieved home crowd knew that victory was theirs.

That the conversion missed, it mattered not, as the final whistle immediately sounded and the win craved for had been deservedly delivered.