Cornish Pirates 17 Plymouth Albion 17 - Match Report

Despite a 2 - 1 try count in their favour, the Pirates could have no argument with the final result, as Plymouth Albion put their recent poor run of results behind them to sufficiently lift their collective effort against a lack-lustre Cornish side that on the day could consider themselves lucky to have scraped a draw.

The Pirates got off to a perfect start, when in the very first minute centre Paul Devlin gratefully snaffled loose possession just in side Albion's '22'. Wing Rhodri McAtee then immediately popped up to lend support, before jinking his way and running in a try at the posts which was converted by fly-half Gareth Steenson.

Such a score surely boded well, but no, as the visitors not only hit back with a penalty kicked by fly-half Ross Laidlaw, but also dominated possession and on-field events.

No. 8 Kyle Marriott and Pirate-to-be flanker Jannie Bornman were certainly impressing, and although Laidlaw missed two relatively simple penalty chances, he made no mistake slotting a second of the afternoon which was gifted him in the twenty-third minute .Looking out of sorts, the Pirates cause looked to be further hampered when flanker Chris Cracknell was yellow-carded. However, despite Albion endeavouring to confound their critics and play with a degree of flair, the Devon side could not conjure up a try before the interval, which arrived with the Pirates still somehow 7-6 up.

"Pirate-to-be flanker Jannie Bornman"

Try-less in the first period, Albion at last got their due reward early in the second half, there a certain irony when Borman was identified as the scorer. The conversion from Laidlaw missed, but the visitors were now 11-7 ahead.

Home supporters were somewhat frustrated, but their team looked to respond through the efforts of prop Alan Paver, who now skippered the side in the absence of an injured Tim Cowley who was replaced during the half-time break by Matt Evans.

Full-back Adryan Winnan also gave a display of skill and endeavour to give the Pirates some go forward, momentum maintained which pressurised Plymouth Albion to give a penalty chance to the Pirates. Steenson stepped up quickly to make light of the kick on offer, although he was then called upon to repeat the action, thankfully successfully, because the referee had not been in a position to signal clearance for his initial strike to have been taken.

Laidlaw soon responded to kick his third penalty of the afternoon after Pirates centre Steve Winn was adjudged to have made a high tackle, with it not long before the Pirates were worryingly on the defensive once more. However, some quality play off the back of a scrummage involving Evans and scrum-half Richard Bolt then enabled wing Vunga Lilo to at last get his hands on the ball and run all but from '22' to '22'.

Holding acquired territorial advantage deep into Albion's half, Evans and Lilo were again involved, along with busy lock Bruce Cumming, and when the ball was transferred swiftly to the right, McAtee stretched to score at the scoreboard corner. It was a another well-taken converted try by the back to form magician who provided a welcome spark and is clearly back to his best. With the scoreline now reading 17-14, it looked as if the tide had turned in favour of the Cornish Pirates, with more good play from McAtee, now playing at scrum-half, Cumming and Winn raising hopes of another score. Sadly it did not materialise, Albion managing to regroup and finish the half stronger with another penalty kicked by Laidlaw which levelled the scores.

"McAtee stretched to score at the scoreboard corner"

Right at the very end Steenson had a difficult chance to win the match for the Pirates, but his kick was held up in the wind, the match ending in a rare and somehow disappointing draw.

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Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan, R. McAtee, P. Devlin, S. Winn, V. Lilo, G. Steenson, R. Bolt (B. Tuohy 63), T. Cowley (capt - M. Evans h/t), I. Motusaga, C. Cracknell, B. Cumming, H. Senekal, D. Seal (S. Heard 57), R. Elloway, A. Paver.

Replacements (not used): P. Cook, D. Dawidiuk, S. Betty, O. Thomas.

Yellow card: C. Cracknell.

Scorers:-
Tries: : McAtee 2
Cons: Steenson 2
Pens Steenson 1

Plymouth Albion: :
N. Saumi, D. Ritchie (E. Lewsey 65), A. Cruickshanks, K. Fisilau, N. Sestaret, R. Laidlaw, N. Cane (E. Lewis 72) , K. Marriott, M. Denbee, J. Bornman, K. Marriott, T. Hayes (capt), C. Stewart (C. Lowrie 75), S. Zimmerman, J. Owen

Replacements (not used): D. Hawkes, G. Evans, G. Dawe, B. Stroud.

Scorers:-
Try: Bornman
Pen: Laidlaw 4

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Referee: Rowan Kitt (RFU)

Man of the Match: Rhodri McAtee

Attendance: 4,876

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Match Day Sponsor: Midas Construction / Ocean BMW

Match Ball Sponsor: ROK

Mascot: Jacob Engelfield