Cornish Pirates

Cornish Pirates 26 Newport 20

British irish Cup Round 5
Sunday March 7th 2010

Phil Westren's Match Report

In glorious sunshine the Cornish Pirates booked a semi-final place in the British & Irish Cup with a well contested and spirited 26-20 points win against a determined and very good Newport side

The victory, courtesy of tries from Blair Cowan, Nick Jackson and Rob Cook, who also kicked three penalties and a conversion, puts the Pirates six points clear at the top of Pool A, and they now join Pool D winners Doncaster Knights in the semi final draw on Wednesday, March 24.

Munster will overtake Bristol Rugby and go through as Pool C winners if they gain a point from Friday’s home match against Heriot’s at Musgrave Park, while Ulster Ravens need to beat Aberavon at Ravenhill on the same night to edge out London Welsh in Pool C.

The atmosphere at Camborne on Sunday was extra special even before the kick-off, as supporters gathered in the build up to enjoy the club's well organised St. Piran's Festival.

What with the 'Cornish Wurzells' entertaining, there was also the added and always enjoyed presence of Paul Wickes and representatives of the Falmouth Marine Band, who led the 'Giant Pasty Parade' along with the renowned Cornish trio of Graham Hill, Brian Chenoweth and Milly Edwards.

When the match action began it was the Pirates who had the first chance to open the scoring with a penalty offered to full-back Rob Cook. However, on a breezy day it would not be a formality, and so it proved, as his second minute attempt missed the target.

Keen to impose themselves, the Pirates maintained territorial advantage, with bullish ball carrying from forwards Rudi Brits, Chris Morgan and Roderick Labuschagne.

From pressure applied it was no surprise that Newport were pinged for being caught off-side, gifting Cook a second penalty opportunity which he this time time slotted with ease.

Newport looked to gain possession from the restart, and to hold onto it, but once regained the Pirates' fly-half Jonny Bentley drilled the 'Black & Ambers' back into the clubhouse corner.

The visitors did well to prevent another score and worked their way out of trouble with skipper and No. 8 Andrew Coombs leading the way. Wing Ryan Owen also looked to take advantage of space created, but the Pirates scrambled back to cover the danger.

A second successful penalty from Cook extended the Pirates lead on the quarter of an hour mark, but when lock Labuschagne was yellow-carded, Newport's fly-half Chris Wannell pulled three points back for the Welsh visitors.

Down to 14 men seemed to spur the Pirates to increase their effort, and although play was a little frantic for a spell, their reward for endeavour then materialised when Cook crossed for an unconverted try and the scoreboard corner.

The try for the Pirates lifted the crowd, but from the restart and before supporters had settled back into their seats Newport's left winger Mike Poole was seen stretching his legs to score on the left. Wannell' s difficult conversion attempt also missed.

In the latter part of the first half Newport prop Dai Pattison was also yellow-carded by Irish referee Leo Colgan, but there would be no further points scored before the break, despite flanker Dave Ward going close after a series of scrums on the right, and there also an exciting 70 metres counter attacking run from man of the match wing Rhodri McAtee.

During a busy interval there were mini-rugby exhibition matches and various presentations, and Welsh rugby legend Dai Watkins, a former Newport player, kindly made the 50/50 Draw, won by David Paul from Heamoor.

Cook missed a penalty attempt early in the second half, but the Pirates played with confidence against the wind and Ward again displayed his usual determination. Lock Mike Myerscough, who had replaced an injured Ben Gulliver early in the match, was also providing good ball from the line-out.

Skipper Gavin Cattle kept demanding all out effort from his colleagues, and he was sharp to spot space on the left from which Bentley then took advantage. A clever chip and chase was given support by wing lively Nick Jackson who outpaced the struggling cover to cross for a converted try at the posts.

In what was always going to be a tough and closely fought game, Newport's heads dropped just a little, and then further still when Cook slotted a penalty after Coombs was shown a yellow card.

Playing 15 against 14, and with the score 21-8, the Pirates now had every chance of turning the screw on their opponents, but to their credit the Welshmen refused to buckle and hit back with another fine try scored by the impressive Poole. If the conversion was landed it would surely make an interesting end to the game, but it was mightily difficult and not surprisingly missed, and at 21-13 Newport needed to score twice.

As it worked out, having made an impact off the bench, a try from replacement flanker Blair Cowan, following clever play again by McAtee on the right, all but ensured victory for the Pirates.

Newport managed a score at the death, when Coombs drove over the line for a try converted by replacement fly-half Dai Griffiths, but by then Pirates supporters were already preparing to start their victory celebrations.

The draw for the semi-finals will now take place on Wednesday 24 th March in Cardiff, and it will be a random draw . At present the semi-finals are scheduled to take place on the 24 th April and the final on the 15 th May.

Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, R. McAtee (R. Jones 70), P. Devlin (S. Winn 59), M. Ireland, N. Jackson
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), L. McGlone, D. Ward, C. Morgan
B. Gulliver (M. Myerscough 8), R. Labuschagne (T. Holmes 57, R. Labuschagne 70), R. Brits (A. Paver 50), R. Elloway (B. Cowan 50), P. Andrew (R. Storer 57).

Yellow card: Labuschagne.

Newport:
G. Wyatt, M. Poole, A. Hughes, P. Leach (S. Williams 76), R. Owen
C. Wannell (D. Griffiths 76), A. Walker (A. Quick 49), A. Coombs (capt), C. Hill, S. Waldron (L. Hunter 30-40, D. McShane 49)
Adam Brown, D. Rosser (M. Workman 77), G. Robinson (D. Way 70), Andrew Brown, D. Pattison.

Yellow cards: Pattison, Coombs.

Scorers:-

Cornish Pirates – tries: Cook, Jackson, Cowan; con: Cook, pens: Cook (3).

Newport – tries: Poole (2), Coombs; con: Griffiths; pen: Wannell.

Referee:Leo Colgan (IRFU)

Man of the match: Rhodri McAtee

Attendance: 3,650.