Championship Round 8

Cornish Pirates 62 Birmingham Solihull 10
Sunday 25th October

Yes, it was 'game on', whilst also time for home supporters to plan a suitable way to show appreciation to the visiting players. We'll elaborate more on this later in the report!

A plan for generosity was the concept off the playing park, whilst on it the Pirates had to prove themselves anything but when the match got underway.

Welcoming back a number of players from injury was a bonus, and it showed benefit right at the start when returning leader, scrum-half Gavin Cattle, was quickly into the action. Support was given by his half-back partner Jimmy Moore, and when the visitors strayed off-side in front of their own posts, it was Moore who fired over the simple penalty on offer.

The Bees, through the determined running of centres Ronnie McLean and Cameron Mitchell, with back up from flanker Chris Brightwell, responded to concentrate the Pirates' defence.

Home centre Steve Winn showed that he was up for the challenge by responding with a shuddering tackle, but when the Pirates were soon after penalised McLean levelled the scores with a well-struck penalty from wide out on the left.

In the period of play that followed the Pirates penned the Bees deep inside their half, it only a matter of time before the pressure would surely tell, which it did when, with a quarter of the game gone, Cattle crossed for the first try of the afternoon. Moore added the two extra points.

More good play from the Pirates, with full-back Wes Davies effectively involved, soon brought a second try, when wing Rob Cook fired off the final pass to centre Nick Jackson who crossed at the clubhouse corner for another converted try.

On a bright and sunny afternoon, and with Camborne Youth Band again adding extra atmosphere, the crowd was thoroughly enjoying what they were witnessing, and after Cattle once again provided an initial surge, the ball was spun tantalizingly left once more. Joining proceedings, Davies cantered over the line and as if for good measure followed this up with a second try two minutes later. Witnessing his second try was like watching an action replay, which applied similarly to Moore's two perfectly judged conversions.

With the scoreline reading 31-3 at the break, there were hopes for more of the same in the second period, but it was to start with the Bees looking lively themselves thanks to the efforts of No. 8 Leo Halavatau, hooker Jack Preece, and prop Ricky Davies. The visitors went mightily close to scoring, but they were thankfully held for the Pirates to soon press themselves at the other end of the field. Unfortunately, a few basic errors crept in as the Pirates strayed from the basics for a spell, but setting the example for control, skipper Cattle soon brought them back on track with his second converted try of the game which immediately followed the showing of a yellow card to Birmingham & Solihull's McLean.

A converted try from Cook, his first for the Pirates, soon followed, and there was one for No. 8 Blair Cowan, who was another player returning from injury and making an impact. His try took the Pirates to 50 points, but man of the match Moore, who had looked comfortable in the fly-half berth all afternoon, was unable add the extras for the first time in the match.

With replacements introduced, including a welcome return from injury for scrum-half James Doherty, who making his Championship debut, wing Aisea Havili made a potent introduction. Indeed, with his first touch of the ball he made light of beating a defender to then run and dive for an unconverted try in the right hand corner.

To their credit, the Bees quite considerable efforts were rewarded with a try scored by Brightwell which was converted by McLean, before the on-field action culminated in a second converted try of the match for Nick Jackson.

Following the final whistle the Pirates supporters applauded both teams with equal measure, with there a few understandable tears from the visiting contingent. Theirs has been a club in crisis, the financial woes experienced making it doubtful that they will exist beyond this week.

The plan for generosity previously mentioned, born from the best of human spirit, had evolved into something special.

Thanks to the instinctive response and then leadership of Mike 'Black Pig' Richards, with help from others such as Paul & Cathy, Quirky, Tina, Phil Jackson, Tim, and Chris & Sue Rouncefield etc., the amazing sum of £1,657 was collected and donated by Cornish Pirates supporters to help the unpaid Bees players who have stayed loyal to their club's cause.

After Phil Westren spoke to the gathering in a packed clubhouse after the game, Captain Benbow was called upon to present the monies to Birmingham & Solihull's taken aback captain Matt Long.

It was a special gesture, one never ever to be forgotten and which will forever be appreciated by the Bees, whatever their future holds. A day to remember? You bet!

Cornish Pirates:
W. Davies (R. Bright 73), R. Cook, N. Jackson, S. Winn, R. McAtee (A. Havili 66)
J. Moore, G. Cattle (capt, J. Doherty 60), B. Cowan, S. Betty, M. Evans
S. Pammenter, B. Gulliver (T. Holmes h/t), R. Brits, R. Elloway (D. Ward 66), A. Paver (C. Rimmer 60).

Replacement (not used): L. McGlone.

Birmingham & Solihull :
W. Martin, W. Lawson, R. McLean, C. Mitchell (R. Tomlinson 66), M. Culpin, R. Petty, S. Brown (J. Williams 66), L. Halavatau (K. Dowding 66), A. Clayton, C. Brightwell, S. Ault, A. Davidson, R. Davies (D. Gardner 66), J. Preece, M. Long (capt).

Replacements (not used):
E. Martin, G. Thomas, R. Earnshaw.

Yellow card: McLean

Scorers:-

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Cattle (2), Jackson (2), Davies (2), Cook, Cowan, Havili
Cons: Moore (7)
Pen: Moore.

Birmingham & Solihuill
Try: Brightwell
Con: McLean
Pen: McLean.

Referee: Paul Knowles (RFU)

Attendance: 2,530

Man of the Match: Jimmy Moore