Cornish Pirates

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	Cornish Pirates 48 Newbury 5 Sunday August 31st Phil Westren

Opening their 2008-09 National One campaign at Camborne last Sunday, the Cornish Pirates convincingly beat a spirited Newbury Blues team, as a seven to one try-count clearly confirms.

The Cornish Pirates started with four new faces making their league debuts for the club, though the figure would have been five but for the late withdrawal of Aisea 'Ice' Havili. Having picked up an eye infection, the Tongan star's place on the wing was taken by Rhodri McAtee.

Coached by former Bristol and England back-rower, Ben Sturnham, the Newbury side included Gareth Griffiths, who was on loan at Redruth last season, at fly-half, whilst former Cornish Pirate Marc Sweeney was selected at outside centre. Wing Jonny Hylton, who also played for the Pirates a couple of seasons back, would have been expected to play but was unfortunately injured in the week.

With conditions absolutely perfect, and a worthy crowd in attendance, the stage was certainly set for the Pirates to start the new season in style, and although fly-half Doug Sanft missed a simple penalty chance in just the third minute, he more than made up for it five minutes later with a fine strike from 44 metres. His distribution from hand was also impressive, setting centre Steve Winn on a midfield thrust to create the space from where the first try of the match was created when skipper Adryan Winnan's grub kick was chased to the line for winger Marika Vakacegu to score on the left. Sanft added the conversion.

Winger Marika Vakacegu scores on the left

The forwards were all impressive on the hoof, making the yardage from where the Pirates launched a series of attacks. These were all at high tempo, it perhaps no surprise to witness a few handling errors, but it also inevitable that further scores would ultimately materialise.

Applying pressure again on the left would next bring reward off a scrummage, when No. 8 Bertrand Bedes took control of the ball and drove low to the line.

It was the third week running that the Frenchman had scored, it a case that the sound of 'La Marseillaise' will surely regularly resonate around the 'Rec' in the coming months. Sanft was again on target with the conversion. As the half drew to a close the Pirates seemed to take their foot off the pedal and were immediately punished by the Blues, alert wing Matt Humphries showing determination to dive and score at the clubhouse corner after chasing Griffiths' perfectly judged cross-field kick. From the restart, however, there was just enough time for the Pirates to conjure up one more converted try, it scored by former Newbury flanker Chris Morgan who took a pass and strode 20 metres to the posts.

Chris Morgan strode 20 metres to the posts

After the break, the Pirates were keen to add to their points tally, but a penalty attempt by Sanft rebounded off a post, and Winnan was also desperately unlucky not to score. It was naturally frustrating, but when the next score came it was certainly worth waiting for as man of the match McAtee finished of a superb threequarter movement by putting on the burners to speed in for a try at the clubhouse corner. The conversion was not easy, but 'deadly' Doug Sanft was again on target.

Rhodri McAtee MOTM

Maintaining their dominance it was an opportunity for the Pirates replacements to get their chance, which they took. Of six introduced by midway through the second period, each seemed to get their hands on the ball before one of them, hooker Darren Dawidiuk, paced his way to the line.

Next on the scoresheet was the final replacement, wing Jimmy Moore, who showed all his commitment and skill to not only score a fine try, but to also at the very end magnificently convert a fully deserved try for Winnan.

All in all the result, in honesty, was to be expected, but the Pirates still had to deliver, and to a high degree they certainly did. Head coach Mark Hewitt was pleased to get the bonus point, and although, in his words, "we blew a few opportunities", there's a realistic gut feeling that similar such chances will be taken by this embryonic and gifted side as the season progresses.

Cornish Pirates
A. Winnan (capt), R. McAtee, M. Ireland (J. Moore 64), S. Winn, M. Vakacegu,
D. Sanft (T. Luke 61), E. Fairhurst (N. Griffiths 61), B. Bedes, C. Morgan,
B. Cumming (I. Motusaga 60), B. Gulliver, H. Senekal (M. Burak 60)
S. Heard (D. Seal 48), R. Elloway (D. Dawidiuk 55), A. Paver

Newbury Blues:
M. Williams, M. Humphries, M. Sweeney (C. Perry 64), A. Henderson,
N. Defty (D. Birtwhistle 55), G. Griffiths, W. Gasson (N. Morris 64), R. Noonan,
S. Fox, M. Lee (A. Widdop 78), J. Brown (L. Perkins 26), I. Ascroft-Leigh
T. Fidler, P. Fincken (capt), R. Green (J. Burgess 59).
Replacement (not used): J. Greenwood.

Scorers

Cornish Pirates
Tries: A. Winnan, R. McAtee, M. Vakacegu, B. Bedes, C. Morgan, D. Dawidiuk, J Moore

Conversions: D. Sanft 4, J Moore 1

Penalties: D. Sanft 1

Newbury

Try: M. Humphries

Referee: Nick Williams (RFU)
Touch Judges: Steve Leyshon & Lloyd Jackson

Man of the match: Rhodri McAtee

Attendance: 2,686