Pirates Dominate At Bitter Butts

On a bitterly cold evening in Coventry, this was a win at the Butts Park Arena which the Pirates fully deserved.

They had travelled from Cornwall earlier in the day, there surely doubt in the minds of some that the game would ever be played, such were the weather conditions across the country.

To the squad's credit, however, everyone involved maintained a required level of focus, and once it was underway were dominant in most areas throughout.

As the temperature dropped still further approaching the evening kick-off time, the field was frosted with ice, but there some benefit in that it was well grassed. .

After a scrum-capped Jonny Bentley kicked the game off, it was not long before hooker Rob Elloway stayed down on the floor with what appeared a knee injury.

There was relief when he got to his feet, threw well then to the line-out, and followed this with a bullish carry into Coventry's '22' on the left. When the home side was immediately penalised at the breakdown, it provided a chance for full-back Rob Cook to open the scoring, which he suitably did in the sixth minute to also register his fiftieth 'Championship' point of the season.

From the restart flanker Dave Ward took off on a trademark run, and the ball was then moved swiftly left to right to wing Aisea Havili. There were hopes initially of a try-scoring opportunity, but when Coventry strayed off-side the Pirates had to settle for a penalty attempt which Cook duly delivered to make it 0-6.

A frustrated Elloway, who had looked forward to his starting role, had to depart proceedings with a confirmed knee injury, demanding that Ward moved back up into the front-row and Tyrone Holmes came off the bench to take his place on the flank. The Pirates scrum, where loose-head prop Ryan Storer was making his first Championship start, looked rock solid, but when the chance of a catch and drive soon followed the line-out at the changing rooms corner was disrupted.

Coventry appeared to clear the danger, but not for long as Bentley's well executed cross field kick was hacked on by Havili and then seemingly scooped up by centre Nick Jackson who unluckily nudged the ball forward on the line.

Coventry skipper Henno Venter tried to rally his troops, and was given support by lock Louis McGowan and centre Fangatapu Apikotoa whose lofted kick put pressure on the Pirates for the first time in the match. However, a number of knock-ons, which was not so surprising on such a cold evening, halted any further progress.

Back came the Pirates, first with a clever kick left by No. 8 Blair Cowan to the left, and then with some fine passing which released Havili once more. A try looked all but certain, but when he stepped just a few inches back inside the 'Cov' cover was there to hold him up.

There would have been some frustration in the Pirates camp that they were unable to turn pressure into points, it important at this time in the game to maintain their purpose and have confidence in themselves. With a sense of increased urgency, and from a platform provided by Ward and lock Ben Gulliver, the try sought would soon come with centre Rhys Jones finishing off a move down the right. Cook added two more points with his well struck conversion, and the 0-13 scoreline at the break was the very least that the Pirates deserved.

As the evening got increasingly colder, when play resumed the Pirates thankfully still looked purposeful. Cook was as solid under the high ball as ever, and Havili showed extra determination with a run on the right.

An early score for the Pirates would put the result all but beyond doubt, but Coventry were refusing to buckle, helped also by a brief spell of Pirates indiscipline, and it was the home side who then proceeded to create a fine try of their own with Apikotoa and his fellow centre Phil MacKenzie in tandem, the latter touching the ball down to the right of the posts. Wing Ollie Grove added the extras. There was now just six points separating the sides, it a time for the Pirates to regain control, which they did following a period of ping-pong kicking.

A last kick, one more potent than of the ping-pong variety, was executed by Pirates skipper Gavin Cattle down the right. It gave the visitors a position from where there was a realistic opportunity to work for a score, and although lock Laurie McGlone, who was one of five Pirates playing against his former club, was stopped in his tracks just a couple of metres out, from the resulting ruck Cattle popped a lateral pass to Holmes who was not to be denied his try.

It was a perfect response following Coventry's score, and for good measure Cook slotted the conversion. Coventry, again to their credit, didn't let their heads drop, and threatened from a series of scrums in front of the Pirates posts. Venter eventually linked with scrum-half Mike Walls for the ball to reach replacement James Lewis, who was forced into touch by wing Jimmy Moore.

From the line-out Cattle cleared the ball up field and Havili chased and tackled with real purpose, but the Pirates would soon lose the services of Holmes who was yellow-carded. Down to 14 men the Pirates were immediately put under quite some pressure, them grateful to Cattle for sweeping up the loose ball and setting it for clearance.

Coventry looked to counter, when suddenly Cook intercepted to run nearly 60 metres for a try at the posts which he also converted. At 27-7 it was in reality a case of game over, but Coventry were gifted space off a scrum which enabled flanker Aaron Carpenter to canter over for what would prove to be the last score of the game.

From what had been witnessed from the Pirates it was clear that the securing of a bonus point had been well in their grasp, but it was not to be, although the victory alone on such a harsh and cold night was in itself something to savour.

Coventry:
O. Winter (J. Lewis h/t), O. Grove, P. Mackenzie, F. Apikotoa (C. Lewis 70), S. Frewin, J. Thomas (T. Hayes h/t), M. Walls, H. Venter (capt, D. Askew 58), R. Bignell, A. Carpenter, L. McGowan (B. Dechartres 65), S. Herrington, J. Hall, R. McMillan (M. Dwyer 73), R. Dugard (D. Maddocks 52).

Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, A. Havili, N. Jackson, R. Jones, J. Moore, J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt, J. Doherty 70), B. Cowan (R. Labuschagne 76), S. Betty, D. Ward, B. Gulliver, L. McGlone, A. Paver (R. Brits 76), R. Elloway (T. Holmes 10, M. Evans 76), R. Storer (C. Rimmer h/t).

Replacement (not used): S. Winn

Yellow card: Holmes

Scorers:-

Coventry – tries: MacKenzie, Carpenter; con: Grove.

Cornish Pirates – tries: Jones, Holmes, Cook; cons: Cook (3); pen: Cook (2).

Referee: Mark Wilson (RFU)