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| Final Whistle Brings Relief | |||||||||||||
Under clear blue Yorkshire skies the Cornish Pirates managed to secure the bonus point win they desperately sought, but only after withstanding a nail-biting last few seconds at Otley's Cross Green ground. Against opponents who had made a swift return to National One following their relegation in 2007, the Pirates struggled to play with any cohesion in the opening quarter, being initially loose at the line-out and kicking poorly from hand. In Rob Kitching and Dan Smith the home team had pace aplenty on the wings, with the Pirates fortunate that winger Marika Vakacegu (twice) and prop Alan Paver were up to showing their defensive qualities. However, in the eleventh minute pressure on the Pirates told, Kitching the creator of an unconverted try scored by former Wharfedale flanker Rob Baldwin.
Rhodes had a relatively simple chance to put Otley further ahead, but his effort missed, as again the Pirates looked to respond. Full-back and skipper Adryan Winnan, centre Tom Luke and lock Ben Gulliver were to the fore, with the latter unlucky not to have taken the chance created. However, then awarded a penalty, from a catch and drive option the Pirates were clinical and committed in a drive to the line which ended with Canadian international lock Mike Burak a try-scorer. Jones was again on target with the conversion.
With the conditions of the day, and with a plentiful supply of primary possession, there was every reason to expect the Pirates to further dominate in the second period, and also, hopefully, waste little time in securing what would be a bonus point providing fourth try. When play resumed they again appeared to be in control, but still had to work hard for ground position. When territory was eventually claimed, immense pressure was applied close to the home team's line, and it no surprise when referee Mr. Wigglesworth eventually yellow-carded Otley flanker Nathan Bland. Scrum time was the Pirates choice with penalties now awarded, there a confidence that they could deliver and score the important try sought, and it eventually proving right. After having kept it tight at first, the ball was then worked through the hands of Luke and then Havili who went in for his second try in the match. It could, and should have been game over, but Peter Clegg's men refused to buckle and hit back with a converted try scored by replacement wing Stephen Parsons. It was an apt reminder that the game was far from over, which indeed it wasn't, even after the Pirates conjured up a perfectly created try finished off by Vakacegu. When Parsons notched up a second well converted try there was just six points in it, and with replacement prop Dan Seal yellow-carded there was a realistic fear that the Pirates were somehow contriving to throw this one away.. With the seconds ticking down, Otley looked to be over again for a try which, if converted, would have given them their first win of the season, but it was not to be. The referee decided that their last assault to the line had been 'held up', his final blast of the whistle both silencing the home crowd and providing an enormous sense of relief to all Pirates. Otley: Cornish Pirates:
Scorers:- Otley - tries: Parsons (2), Baldwin; cons: Rhodes (2); pens: Rhodes (2). Cornish Pirates - tries: Havili (2), Burak, Elloway, Vakacegu; cons: Jones (3). Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (RFU). Attendance: 675.
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Westholme, Alexandra Road, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4LY | Tel: 01736 331961