The
Cornish Pirates dominated so much of this match, played in front of a 6,381 record
crowd, but still ended up beaten by three penalties to two. First half error and
indiscipline had let them down, while in the second half, though raising their
game, they were simply unable to breach a stubbornly defiant Plymouth Albion defence.
 | There
are few, if any contests that have in recent years whetted the appetite as much
as a local derby match between the Pirates and Plymouth Albion, but the record
books showed that the Devon team had the upper hand - winning six of eight league
games played against each other in National One. It was
a record that the Cornish Pirates were keen to re-balance, looking also to build
upon their bonus point win secured at home to Rotherham Titans the previous weekend.
The contest between the seventh and fourth-placed teams
in the league was always likely to be close, but with the Pirates knowing that
if they could return back across the Tamar with the spoils, then there would surely
be a good chance to notch up more league points in the next two to three weeks. There
were four changes in the Cornish Pirates line-up from the one that started against
the Titans. James Moore replaced
Brian Tuohy on the wing, and Ed Fairhurst returned at scrum-half in place of Richard
Bolt. | | "This
match, played in front of a 6,381 record crowd" | |
In
the forwards, Alan Paver took over the loose-head prop berth that had been occupied
by Peter Cook, and Heino Senekal replaced Joe Beardshaw to partner Bruce Cumming
in the second-row. On a dull and damp afternoon with a 3pm
kick-off, it was no surprise to see the floodlights on from the start, the play
of the Pirates also impressively bright at the beginning. A
thirty metres dash from skipper Tim Cowley was followed by a burst into Albion's
'22' by centre Vunga Lilo, the rangy Tongan picking up a pass near his feet to
go within inches of the line. Hopes of a try were realistic, but when the pressure
created forced the home team to stray off-side, the settled for reward was a penalty
successfully kicked by fly-half Gareth Steenson.
 | |
A burst into Albion's '22' by centre Vunga Lilo |
The
expected 'Brickfields battle' billing was living up to its pre-match name, but
with the Pirates soon guilty of making too many basic errors and giving away two
penalties which Steenson's opposite number, Ross Laidlaw, slotted to now put the
Devon side ahead. Plymouth Albion's Jannie Bornman led side was now in resurgent
mode, the team and its supporters given a further boost when a third penalty strike
by Laidlaw made it 9-3, with a chance then given to go even further ahead all
but from the restart. Frenchman Nic Sestaret found space to run down the left
touchline in front of the packed main grandstand, him then moving the ball back
inside to find fellow winger Ed Lewsey, whose advance came to a shuddering halt.
A 'tackle' made by Cumming was fairly adjudged illegal by referee Mark Wilson,
the official having no hesitation in pulling a yellow card from his pocket. Luckily,
for the Pirates, Laidlaw missed the resulting easy penalty kick on offer. As
further pressure mounted upon the Pirates, it seemed that the referee's arm was
constantly raised against them, their woes about to worsen still further when
flanker Iva Motusaga now took a familiar path to follow Cumming into the sin-bin. Applying
pressure at what will soon be the new scoreboard corner of the ground, with half-time
approaching Albion surely had every chance to drive the Pirates back over their
line, but they didn't. To their enormous credit, the Cornish visitors defended
magnificently, the effort from just thirteen players certainly giving hope for
the second period. With Cumming returning to the fray for the start of the
last forty, Steenson had an early chance to pull back three points, but his effort
went wide to the right. Nonetheless, it was clear that the Cornish Pirates were
keen to up the tempo, wing Ali Koko getting his first touch of the ball and Fairhurst
lively, working with Senekal, Cowley and Cumming who made the hard yards.  | Albion
rallied briefly, lock Ben Gulliver always to the fore and full-back Emyr Lewis
a potential threat, but it was not long before the Pirates increased the momentum
once more and were duly rewarded when a Steenson penalty made the scoreline 9-6. Playing
with purpose, a lofted kick and chase by full-back Ollie Thomas saw the ball quickly
moved right to left for Lilo to threaten. Steenson also
searched for a gap, backed up by inside centre Nick Buckley whose short punch
breaks up the middle kept the Pirates on the front foot. However,
on each occasion Lewis stayed calm and rifled the ball back upfield to relative
safety. It looked as if the Plymouth had weathered the storm
and would now build for a score of their own, but with Matt Evans carrying and
setting the ball off the back of a scrum, Steenson cleared the danger. The
Pirates held possession for the last five minutes, their control of possession
on a greasy pitch simply superb, matched only by the defensive display of the
their opponents who held on for a not so unexpected hard-earned 'derby' match
victory. | | "Steenson
also searched for a gap, backed up by inside centre Nick Buckley" | |
Defeat
was not in the mindset, a case of taking it on the chin and accepting at least
a bonus point to keep the Pirates fourth in National One.
Cornish
Pirates:
O. Thomas, A. Koko (R. McAtee 51), V. Lilo, N. Buckley,
J. Moore, G. Steenson, E. Fairhurst, M. Evans
I. Motusaga (C. Cracknell 58),
T. Cowley (capt, J. Beardshaw 75), B. Cumming, H. Senekal
D. Seal (S. Heard
68), N. Kemp, A.Paver Replacements (not used): D. Dawidiuk, P. Cook, B.
Tuohy. Yellow cards: Cumming, Motusaga Scorers:- Cornish
Pirates:
Pens: Steenson 2 Plymouth Albion:
E. Lewis, E. Lewsey, A. Cruickshanks, B. Davies, N. Sestaret, R. Laidlaw,
N., Cane, J. Bornman (capt)
B. Stroud, T. Hayes, B. Gulliver, C. Stewart (A.
Kettle 60), S. Barretto, J. Owen, T. Mathias. Replacements (not used): R.
Oxley, S. Zimmerman, C. Lowrie, K. Fisilau, W. Neethling, N. Saumi.
Scorers:-
Pens:
Laidlaw 3
Referee: Mark Wilson (RFU)
Attendance:
6381 |
