| | | | | Cornish
Pirates 28 Rotherham 32
Sunday October 12th 2008 Phil
Westren |
An injury-time try scored by Rotherham
flanker Ryan Burrows truly broke Cornish hearts at the 'Rec' on Sunday. It
came from a break out attack after the Pirates had given their all in an effort
to cross their opponents line, which, if they had delivered, would likely have
earned them the win that both the team and their supporters so desperately sought.
Sadly, it was not to be. On an autumn's afternoon that resembled
high summer, and with Cornish Pirates prop forward Dan Seal given the fully deserved
honour of leading the team on to the field as a mark of celebration for him having
recently passed the 200 games mark for the club (a wonderful and remarkable achievement
in the modern era), the scene was surely set for something special. 
"On
an autumn's afternoon that resembled high summer"
From
the start the Yorkshire visitors wasted no time to play with a level of confidence
acquired from having amassed 106 points in back-to-back wins in their last two
outings. Taking play to the clubhouse corner in just the second minute, wing Errie
Claassens and full-back Mike Whitehead formed a potent double act, with skipper
Whitehead receiving the plaudits for a try he scored which was converted by fly-half
Tom Barlow. Barlow and scrum-half partner Neil Chivers were
two former Pirates in the visiting line-up, them keen to impress, and doing so,
and Barlow soon after adding a penalty goal.  | The
Pirates need to respond, with Seal setting the example as the Pirates tore into
the Titans half. When the ball was moved swiftly through the hands a try was surely
a 'cert', but there a cruel blow then dealt. Yes, a try would be scored, but it
was from an interception made by Rotherham wing Jon Feeley who ran 85 metres for
a converted score at the posts. The scoreline now read 0-17,
and there were just 13 minutes on the clock. It was a case of rubbing salt into
what was already an open wound, but there a sense that the Pirates had it in them
to get back into the match. Indeed, their response was fully energised, and applied
effort was rewarded when No. 8 Bertrand Bedes stretched for a try scored on the
left converted by centre Tom Luke. | | "
Seal setting the example as the Pirates tore into the Titans half" | |
Almost
immediately from the restart the Pirates gave away a penalty which gave the impressive
Whitehead a chance to show another side of his repertoire, goalkicking from a
distance, and he duly obliged, his strike from all of 55 metres successful.  | For
the home team scrum-half Ed Fairhurst, Luke, and the second-row pairing of skipper
Ben Gulliver and Heino Senekal to the fore, applying the pressure for a penalty
chance to be awarded Luke, which he slotted with little difficulty to pull three
points back. Both sides were willing to play open rugby,
it perhaps no surprise that such strategies would inevitably mean that each would
also make mistakes. With the Pirates keen to score again
before the break, full-back Marika Vakacegu was a player with much to offer and
who showed glimpses of hope whenever he touched the ball. Joining play wide on
the left, the Pirates maintained their go forward, ending with wing Brian Tuohy,
top try-scorer for the Titans a couple of seasons back, making it to the line
for a score magnificently converted by Luke. | "
Brian Tuohy, a top try-scorer for the Titans a couple
of seasons back, making
it to the line for a score" |
At
half-time, and despite being three points down at 17-20, there was a feeling that
the Pirates could hopefully go on and win this encounter, and when the second
half started they appeared like a team on a mission. However, when Whitehead chipped
cleverly into space to set up a Rotherham counter attack, Feeley took the ball
on for No. 8 Jon Skurr to then finish the approach work off with a try converted
by Barlow. The Pirates tried desperately to respond, but
they made too many basic errors, kicked poorly from hand, and there a mix of knock-ons
and forward passes. A bullocking charge by Senekal raised
morale, thankfully followed by two penalties kicked by man of the match Luke which
brought the Pirates back into contention.  | Replacement
scrum-half Nicky Griffiths found space to break clear in midfield, a scoring chance
on the left looking 'on'. Replacement Adryan Winnan was
unable to gather Griffith's long pass, but he shortly after bravely gathered a
high ball which helped pin the Titans back. Now was the
time when the Pirates surely had a good chance to score a try that would nudge
them ahead, but it was not to be. When the Titans snaffled
possession, with Whitehead again involved, play was taken up field to the left
corner from where flanker Ryan Burrows crossed for what everyone knew was a match-winning
score. | | "
Griffith's long pass" |
There
was still time for the Pirates to hit back and at least get a bonus point from
the match, which was secured in the final seconds when Seal showed a combination
of strength, pace and determination to make the line. At
the end, the Pirates had no complaints, as a very useful Rotherham outfit had
played with better control over the whole 80 minutes. Also, clearly, there is
no immediate quick-fix for the Cornish team, as further tests of character, and
loyalty, await.
Cornish Pirates:
M. Vakacegu, A. Havili
(R. McAtee 61), P. Devlin, T. Luke, B. Tuohy
D. Sanft (A. Winnan 68), E. Fairhurst
(N. Griffiths 61), B. Bedes, I. Motusaga
C. Morgan, B. Gulliver (capt), H.
Senekal (M. Burak 64), D. Seal (S. Franklin 64)
R. Elloway (D. Dawidiuk 71),
A. Paver (D. Seal 73). Replacement (not used): M. Evans. Rotherham
Titans:
M. Whitehead (capt), J. Feeley, B. Hunt, C. Briers, E. Claassens
T. Barlow, N. Chivers (C. Erskine 80), J. Skurr, T. Du Plessis (A. Barnes 80),
R. Burrows
M. Challinor (L. McGowan 61), G. Hayter, B. Prescott (A. O'Donnell
7-17), N. Conroy (H. Horn 52)
S. Corsar (A. O'Donnell 74). Replacements
(not used): T. Allen, J. West. Scorers:- Cornish
Pirates -
Ttries: Bedes, Tuohy, Seal
Ccons: Luke (2)
Pens; Luke (3). Rotherham
Titans
Tries: Whitehead, Feeley, Skurr, Burrows
Ccons: Barlow (3)
Pens:
Barlow, Whitehead. Referee: Greg Garner (RFU) Attendance: 2,488 Man
of The Match Tom Luke
Match Day Sponsor: Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
& Industry Match Ball Sponsor: A1 Accounting |
