Handed
what many would have perceived a relatively easy Round 4 opener in this season's
EDF Energy National Trophy competition, the Cornish Pirates duly delivered with
a victory against Southend. However, with conditions far from conducive, and with
the men from Essex also giving their all, the win was hard earned. Witnessing
the teams warming up, it was clear from the damage being done to the pitch that
purity of performance would be difficult to achieve when the match kicked off,
and so it proved. The Pirates, with new boy Blair Cowan selected at No. 8, were
meeting Southend for the very first time, and although they quickly put their
opponents under immense pressure, early chances went begging because of poor handling. Southend
also defended stoutly, and in full-back Simon Hoult they had a player who kicked
ably out of hand to help keep the Pirates at bay.  "A
cohesive shunt towards the Southend line" | Wing
Jimmy Moore had the chance to open the scoring for the Pirates in the fourteenth
minute, but his penalty strike from 31 metres missed. Because
of general dominance witnessed, it was surely just a short matter of time before
the Pirates would actually register some points on the board, and so it proved.
With a quarter of the game gone, a cohesive shunt towards
the Southend line ended with Paul Andrew burrowing over for an unconverted try.
The gifted young prop was making a welcome first start
at such a level, and he had already impressed in the match with his ball carrying
and tackling. |
Approaching the half-hour
mark the Pirates pressed potently once more. Scrum-half Ed Fairhurst made the
initial yardage, and from the breakdown good passing, especially from hooker Rob
Elloway, enabled flanker Iva Motusaga to score on the right. Moore this time added
the extras. As first half minutes ticked away, the Pirates
would surely score again before the interval, but it was not to be. | Moore
was unlucky not to gave been awarded a try after a determined kick and chase,
and credit was then due Southend for responding to provide some spark over a now
gloomy 'Rec' . Scrum-half Reece Reed did well to latch on to a loose back pass,
which ended with his team making a rare visit into the Pirates half, but they
could take no further advantage. For the start of the second
period, Dan Seal replaced Sam Heard at tight-head prop for the Pirates, whilst
the whole team must also have appreciated the opportunity to have a change of
shirts. For the visitors it was a matter of ploughing on
as they were, but with apparent added confidence and determination. |
The
Southend pack had worked particularly hard, with flanker Tim Kasten and prop Isaac
Cook to the fore, and they built play purposefully to the scoreboard corner. At
line-out time, however, they suddenly let themselves down, when replacement Jamie
Connors was yellow-carded for appearing to pull a Pirates jumper to ground. Having
numerical advantage, the Pirates wasted no to time to soon attack at the other
end of the field. Fairhurst made the initial break out, with there good support
by Andrew once more. A try looked certain to be scored when the ball was moved
swiftly right, but a pass was knocked on. Southend had the
next chance to score, but Hoult's penalty kick from 39 metres unluckily hit the
left post. Both sides used up their quota of replacements
into the last quarter, which helped to put a little more pep back in to the game,
and it was not long before a Pirate called off the bench scored.  "A
final try of the afternoon followed for McAtee" | Full-back
Adryan Winnan, who has had a lengthy spell out because of injury, had countered
well all afternoon, and after one particular fine run, which was given support
by Moore, up popped replacement scrum-half Nicky Griffiths who crossed the line
on the left. Other players called to enter the fray included
Wayne Davey, who has played league rugby for the Pirates in the past, and has
been a stand out performer in 'Super Cup' matches played this season. He relished
the opportunity on offer, and in his time on the field did well. A
final try of the afternoon followed for lively wing McAtee, with Moore slotting
the simple conversion on offer. |
If the
Pirates were looking for pluses, then their defence was certainly sound, but at
the end there was natural disappointment with the overall display. All will know
that they can play better, and will likely have to raise their level of performance
to succeed further in the competition, with the draw for Round 5 awaited with
interest. Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan, R. McAtee, M. Ireland
(P. Devlin 75), S. Winn, J. Moore, S. Whatling (B. Tuohy 72)
E. Fairhurst
(N. Griffiths 64), B. Cowan (W. Davey 75), I. Motusaga (T. Luke 62), C. Morgan
B. Gulliver (capt), M. Evans, S. Heard (D. Seal h/t), R. Elloway, P. Andrew (P.
Cook 66). Southend:
S. Hoult (A. Frost 62), M. Billings (D. Cleare
70), L. Sloan (capt), C. Green, T. Lewis (C. Vaughan 77), B. McKeith, R. Reed,
T. Stannard (L. Irvine 40+3), R. Gill, T. Kasten, C. Waring (J. Connors 35), S.
Cook, I. Cook, J. George, S. North (M. Williams 57). Yellow card: Connors. Scorers: Cornish
Pirates
Ttries: Andrew, Motusaga, Griffiths, McAtee
Cons: Moore (2) Referee:
Philip Davies (RFU) Man of the match: Paul Andrew Attendance:
837 |
