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| Frustrated Pirates' Sad End To September | ||||||||||||||
Despite a fine hat-trick scored by full-back Marika Vakacegu, the Merry Men of Nottingham still managed to ultimately claim the spoils from this match, and thus totally frustrate the Pirates team and their supporters. Leading the Cornish Pirates for the first time was lock Ben Gulliver, the side showing a number of changes from the one that won narrowly at Otley the previous weekend. Dan Seal, at tight-head prop, made his first league start of the season, him replacing Sam Heard, whilst in the back-row Frenchman Bertrand Bedes was unfortunately unavailable. The big No. 8 has made a big impression since his arrival in Cornwall, but was married on Saturday in Narbonne. His place in the middle of the back-row was filled by Matt Evans who, with others, was surely keen to impress.
Visiting skipper Craig Hammond, an influential Kiwi flanker, appeared to have high-tackled Vakacegu in the opening seconds, and was perhaps fortunate not to have been yellow-carded. The Pirates backs and forwards moved the ball at pace, creating a tempo that Nottingham struggled to cope with, and after a quick tap and go from scrum-half Ed Fairhurst, a yellow card was now shown when visiting prop Matt Parr was sent to the sin bin. Nine minutes had passed, as up stepped fly-half Doug Sanft to slot the simple penalty of offer and put the Pirates 3-nil ahead. Nottingham's full-back Dave Jackson had the chance soon after to level the scores, but his effort was mis-cued to the left of the posts, as the Pirates continued to play with confidence. Lock Gulliver along with flankers Bruce Cumming and Iva Motusaga were at the heart of the forward effort, whilst Fairhurst and centre Tom Luke were sparking the backs.
Approaching half-time Cumming's replacement Chris Morgan was yellow-carded, and Nottingham winger Jack Cobden squeezed in at the scoreboard corner for a try which left the half-time score reading 8-5 to the Pirates. Starting the second half with 14 men, it was vital that the Pirates strived to give nothing away, but their performance could not match their will . Gifting the 'Green & Whites' possession, the grateful visitors played with control and precision, conjuring up tries for Jackson and fly-half Tim Taylor, both of which Jackson converted. When Morgan returned, it was not long before Nottingham were down to 14 men for the second time in the match, as prop Nigel Hall was dispatched to the sin bin.
Although the try remained unconverted, the Pirates were at least back in front, the position similar to that which they found themselves against Exeter just two weeks previously. In that game they could not hold on, as the Chiefs hit back and won the match, there now prayers offered that there would be no such repeat. Nottingham regained the lead with a try in the right corner scored by replacement wing Andrew Savage, with the Pirates unlucky not to hit back all but immediately when first Vakacegu countered with a double kick and chase ahead, and then a scything run from McAtee was halted by what many thought was a high tackle. Nobody could deny that the Pirates were seemingly giving it their all, but there then a killer blow delivered by Nottingham's replacement prop Robbie Harris, who was suddenly gifted a clear 25 metres run to the posts for a try converted by Jackson. For the Pirates, September had ended on a sad note, with the frustration felt understandable. Cornish
Pirates: Replacement (not used): N. Griffiths. Yellow card: Morgan Nottingham: Replacements (not used): J. Clarke, C. Eggleshaw, B. Thompson. Yellow cards: Parr, Hall. Scorers:- Cornish
Pirates Nottingham
Referee: Lyr Apgeraint-Roberts Man of the match: Marika Vakacegu Attendance: 2,725 | ||||||||||||||
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