Match Report Bristol 19 Cornish Pirates 12

Match Reports
2009/10

Bristol 19 Cornish Pirates 12

RFU Championship Stage 2 Play-Off
Friday 19th March 2010

Woll's Match Report

On a damp mild evening at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol, the first RFU Championship play-offs match took place for what is anticipated to be an exciting set of fixtures

When the sides had met home and away in Stage 1 of the competition, Bristol won both encounters with plenty to spare, but this was always going to be a whole different ball game, and as a starter the contest certainly lived up to expectation, it an intensely fought affair between two evenly matched teams.

The Pirates travelled as underdogs, and with several influential players unavailable, but their belief and focus was to topple the favourites. There was a clear sense that they would give their all individually, and thus collectively, and so it proved.

Witnessing Chris Stirling, Harvey Biljon and Ian Davies take their seats in the stand and shake hands with each other was also a sign that the admirable trio's available team had been prepared to the best of their ability, and along with the players and back up team they were together up for the test.

By playing on a Friday evening there were inevitably only a small number of Pirates supporters present, but those who made the journey were justifiably proud to show their colours. For many others, of course, the choice of viewing the game on Pirates TV through the internet was welcomed, as was the opportunity to watch the game 'live' on the big screen at the Pirates 'Westholme' clubhouse.

Gavin Cattle After Jonny Bentley kicked the game off playing towards the Blackthorn stand end of the ground, a line-out on the right quickly followed. Returning to the 'Mem' to play against his former club, flanker Chris Morgan rose high to provide clean possession which led to Bentley spotting space for exploitation. As the fly-half jinked and ran into Bristol's '22', the close support required was unfortunately not quite on hand to capitalise on the try-scoring opportunity created. Seven points with less than two minutes on the clock would have done nicely, but when a penalty was awarded the Pirates settled for three when full-back Rob Cook stepped forward to slot the chance on offer from some ten metres to the right of the posts.

Soon after the restart the Pirates strayed off-side, enabling Bristol to level the scores through the boot of fly-half Adrian Jarvis who then proceeded to maintain pressure upon the Pirates through his kicking from hand. From a catch and drive on the left Bristol edged ever close to the line, working a position from where flanker Iain Grieve detached himself from the maul to score a try converted by Jarvis.

To go 10-3 up seemed to buoy the home outfit, whose cause was also helped because the Pirates had problems at the line-out. However, the defence was solid and the Pirates then responded to put pressure back on their opponents when wing Aisea Havili timed his chase perfectly after Bentley had kicked down the right.

Taking play into the corner, lock Laurie McGlone was unlucky not to be awarded a try as the intensity of the game mounted still further. Skipper Gavin Cattle also displayed the level of determination required, and when he got a pass away to No. 8 Blair Cowan it again looked as if a try was about to be scored. As it worked out the ball was held up over the line, and when a penalty came the Pirates way Cook added three more points to the Pirates tally, when with a little more luck it could so easily again have been seven.

Midway through the first half the Pirates looked the dominant force, despite the scoreline. Bristol tried to bring wingers Lee Robinson and Dan Norton into play, and centre Luke Eves also went close to scoring their second try, but the Pirates were determined to give nothing away. Defence and discipline were admirable in equal measure, and the reward from effort came when Bentley was able to clear the ball to safety.

With 35 minutes on the clock Bentley was obstructed when he looked to chase his chip ahead, but Cook's penalty attempt from 43 metres out just shaved the left hand post.

The final play of the half saw Cowan driven into touch and then seemingly stamped on by Bristol 's Ross Johnston. The hooker's face had guilt written all over it, and a fracas followed, but when the half-time whistle sounded it presumably saved his bacon for what could easily have been a likely ten minutes spell in the sin bin.

Supporters had much to enjoy in the first forty, and there must have been a relief to all Bristolians present that their side held a lead that on the balance of play they probably didn't deserve.

Right at the start of the second half it was apparent that Bristol were keen to up the tempo, with centre 'Junior' Fatialofa providing the menace in attack. The former 'Pirate' twice made thrusts with ball in hand, but the Pirates ultimately eased the pressure thanks to astute kicking from Cattle and a powerful carry by McGlone.

A charge down by flanker Dave Ward further helped the Pirates cause, and when Bristol were penalised at scrum time Cook kicked his third penalty to put the Cornish side within a point of their hosts.

The Pirates line-out problems continued, but their scrummage was sound, it a time when 'Bris' decided to introduce that respected old stager, prop Darren Crompton, to proceedings.

A period followed where the Pirates simply gave too many penalties away, gifting the chance for Jarvis to extend Bristol's lead, which he did with two successfully struck penalty attempts.

Cattle, Cowan, McGlone and Ward looked to put the Pirates back on the front foot, and efforts extended were again rewarded when Cook pulled three points back with another successful penalty.

At 16-12 the Pirates were in with a chance of creating a score to sneak a memorable victory, but it was not to be. Another late Jarvis penalty opened the gap to seven points once more, but at least the Pirates held on for a bonus point. They had fought magnificently all evening, and their efforts deserved the plaudits afforded them, not just from the Pirates faithful but also from Bristol's followers. Before the game many in the home crowd predicted a comfortable home win, but they knew now that this was a game which could have gone either way.

Bristol:
L. Arscott, L. Robinson, L. Eves (J. Adams 59), A. Fatialofa, D. Norton
A. Jarvis, J. Spice (capt, R. Shaw 76), D. Montagu, R. Pennycook, I. Grieve (J. Merriman 56)
N, Budgett, J. Phillips, W. Thompson (M. Irish 69), R. Johnston, M. Irish (D. Crompton 53).

Replacements (not used):
O. Hayes, D. Barry, M. Davies.

Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, A. Havili, M. Ireland, T. Luke, N. Jackson
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), B. Cowan, D. Ward, C. Morgan
R. Labuschagne, L. McGlone, A. Paver, R. Elloway (M. Myerscough 63), C. Rimmer.

Replacements (not used):
P. Andrew, R. Prosser, S. Franklin, L. Collins, M. Evans, J. Doherty.