Cornish Pirates

RFU Championship Play-Off Round 5

Friday 16th April 2010

Woll's Match Report

A frantic finish just wasn't enough for the Pirates, as their hopes of a Championship semi final spot all but disappeared down by the docks at Devonport.

It was the same story for both teams going into this SKY covered fixture, with both looking to bounce back from heavy defeats the weekend before.

A late try by Bentley was deserved reward for a second half display that had seen the Cornishmen spread the ball around with increasing threat.

But in the end two missed penalties denied them the spoils on a night when Albion earned their success with credit.

Friday night at Brickfields must be Samba night, given the sound of (the not so) distant drums greeting everyone on a fine mid April evening; courtesy of Weapons of Sound.

Jerusalem sung by 12 year old Poppy Mills by contrast added culture in a softer mode.

One notable absentee for the Pirates was top points scorer to date, Cook; following his human drill bit demonstration last week. A broken hand which he'd sustained earlier in that game, but had carried on, added to his; and the teams pre match quandries. His duties this time being the waterboy.

And so for the second week running it was Bentley to begin proceedings. Albion received and, after a little hesitation, managed to get a shove on to earn a penalty and clear their lines well into Pirates territory.

Another trademark Albion maul eventually spat the ball out in the safe knowledge that Davies would get the first chance of a score four minutes in. Fifteen metres out the fly half safely obliged. 0-3

This early success spurred on the home side who enjoyed most of the ensuing early spoils. The Pirates defence though remained dogged and kept their opponents going lateral until Mr Rose spotted another infringement five minutes on. Davies from just outside the 22 and to the left of the posts hooked his kick in a similar direction to miss the target comfortably.

Oblivious to the volcanic ash disruption to air space, the time arrived for some aerial ping pong as neither side fancied running from deep. Consequently, a quarter of an hour in and it is fair to say the contest still hadn’t caught fire with the SKY men looking on.

A ripple of excitement then when Davies was offered a third penalty chance in the eighteenth minute following some front row shenanigans. More direction this time from the 10 who doubled his side’s lead. 0-6

This sparked the first real break by the Cornishmen as Bentley sidestepped his way into space.

Better stuff then, but only until a forced knock on relieved the pressure on Plymouth in their 22; temporarily. Bentley’s subsequent penalty kick towards the club house end went badly awry and a rare chance to date went begging.

Albion’s control then faltered, as two consecutive turnovers firstly saw Luke; who was to have his best outing of the season; break down the left. Franklin then gained good ground down the centre to have the Devon lads creaking somewhat.

A kick to the corner created the ideal platform for the Pirates to at last get into gear. The maul set perfectly for a pushover try for Holmes to leave only twelve minutes of the half remaining.

Bentley's left peg had it wired this time and his conversion sailed through the uprights from wide left and, quite against the overall pattern of the half, the lead 7-6.

The visitors’ confidence showed some sign of renaissance; but they couldn‘t impose themselves sufficiently. Davies naturally had one further opportunity to punish this and made it 3 from 4 to regain a home lead (7-9) just as the break hove into view. That said, a two point lead after all that dominance...

This must have been preying on their minds as Mercer sliced through to go under the posts with barely five minutes of the new half past. Davies converted easily and suddenly it was a nine point advantage. 7-16.

Credit where it’s due as the Pirates responded well to this disappointment with the most telling spell of their own. Franklin was again notable but a resulting penalty saw Bentley again miss a second kickable pot.

Cool heads and patience were now required.

It was messy at times but gradually execution rates increased; even if the tempo didn’t. Time for Cowan and Betty to beef things up perhaps as they joined the fray with the third quarter rapidly disappearing.

We’d have to wait a little longer as knowing he had another penalty waiting, Davies (A) attempted a drop goal from 30 odd metres. It missed but his pot from the tee breezed though to extend the gap further 6-19.

On came Ward and Rimmer and at with time evapourating the Pirates finally took the bull by the horns.

From nowhere Tom Luke suddenly found a huge gap which resulted in an attacking 5m scrum. Pressure built; but as play switched from close to the line on the right; to close to the line on the left; a second try was squandered by the old faithful - knock on. Albion cleared to outside the 22.

Groundhog Day as the above paragraph repeated itself quite unnervingly with still no reward for some enterprising build up play.

The clock meanwhile reverted to the actual time of day as opposed to how long was left. Much confusion reigned with the unofficial timekeepers.

Davies (Wes that is) didn’t worry too much as another sweeping move ended up with Spreaders being nudged into life for the first time in the evening. The full back’s lunge for the line ultimately was judged out of play and Albion agains survived the onslaught.

Another great run by Luke soon after set up another rumble, which eventually found Bentley with nowhere else to go but over the line to dot down. The New Zealander quickly converted to get his side right back in it. But only if there was enough time.

 

Not quite as it turned out as Albion held on deep into stoppage time to end their season at home on a high.

This win ended a run of three defeats to their cross Tamar rivals.

More importantly for the visitors, hope for that semi spot had all but gone if not mathematically.

Barring another twist of fate elsewhere, and nothing less than victory over Bristol at the Rec on Red Flag Day; focus can now turn towards the British & Irish Cup Semi Final with Doncaster next week. Not much hope of a mundane, easy on the nerves Sunday at the Rec there then!

 

 

Plymouth Albion :
15 S. Tu' Ipulotu 14 B. Mercer (R. Cushion) 11 L. Gibson 13 M. Hopper (G. Kingdom)
12 K. Fisilau 10 A. Davies (K. Hallett) 9 E. Lewsey 8 K. Marriot (capt) 7 W. Sprangle
6 S.M. Stephens (D. Collier) 5 T. Skelding 4 T. Hotson 3 R. Hopkins (D. Morton)
2 J. Clark 1 G. Porter (M. Rice)

Replacement (not used): J. Owen

 

Cornish Pirates:
15 W. Davies 14 Tom Luke 11 N. Jackson, 13 P. Devlin (S. Winn) 12 M. Ireland
10 J. Bentley 9 G. Cattle (capt) , 8 L. McGlone (Ryan Storer) 7 T. Holmes (B. Cowan)
6 C. Morgan, 5 B. Gulliver 4 M. Myerscough (S. Betty) 3 S. Franklin (C. Rimmer )
2 R. Elloway (D. Ward) 1 A.Paver.

Replacement (not used): J. Doherty

 

Scorers

Plymouth Albion
Try: Mercer
Con: Davies
Pens: Davies 4

 

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Holmes, Bentley
Cons: Bentley 2

 

Referee: David Rose (Plymouth)
Touch Judge 1 Nigel Higginson (Plymouth)
Touch Judge 2 Paul Burton (Swindon)
Number 4 Luke Pearce (Exeter)
TV Match Official Tony Spreadbury (Bristol)

 

Attendance: 4141