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| Pirates Leapfrog Donny In 13-Try
Thriller | Match
Sponsor - Laurence Associates | | | | | | Cornish
Pirates 63 Doncaster Knights 36
Sunday March 23rd 2008 Report
Phil Westren |
It was
said pre-match that the 'Rec' at Camborne was the sporting place to be last Sunday,
and so it proved, the crowd gathered witnessing a truly spectacular game of rugby
- one that the archives will record as being of the classics in the club's history.
With Easter early this year, there was always the
risk that the weather could anything but springlike, which was certainly the case
on a bitterly cold and breezy afternoon. However, on-field events were always
likely to be somewhat warmer, with both teams fired up for this fifth versus fourth
contest in the league, there a chance for the Pirates to leapfrog their Yorkshire
opponents and also complete a season's 'double', having won 16-12 at Doncaster's
Castle Park ground last November. The extra competitive
'edge' expected from this match was there from the very start, supporters torn
in the opening seconds between watching either the somewhat lively on-ball or
off-ball action. Playing with the elements, a judgement
on what advantage the wind was to give was witnessed just two minutes into the
game when Doncaster's fly-half Mark Woodrow, who is the second highest points
scorer in the league behind Gareth Steenson, comfortably slotted a penalty from
all of 10 metres inside his own half. If that score stunned
the crowd, then they were silenced again just two minutes later when wing Donovan
Van Vuuren breezed over for a converted try of the left. All
about were already asking how many points advantage the elements would give the
visitors in the first half, it also interesting to see how the Pirates would react.
Well, it was positive, as accustomed of late, even though they lost the services
of scrum-half Ed Fairhurst with an apparent shoulder injury, him replaced by Rhodri
McAtee. Former 'Pirate' Wes Davies, playing at full-back
for the Knights, made a try-saving tackle at the scoreboard corner on wing Vunga
Lilo, it following a a fine pick up and pass from lock Bruce Cumming, but with
pressure maintained and a penalty awarded, from the chosen catch and drive skipper
Tim Cowley then powered over for the Pirates first try of the afternoon. |  | Tim
Cowley powered over for the Pirates first try of the afternoon |
The
conversion attempt was not easy, and Steenson was unlucky to see his effort shave
the post. A
second successful penalty strike from Woodrow made it 5-11, before the Pirates
responded magnificently once more. Taking full advantage
of the penalty count now in their favour, they swiftly worked their way upfield,
before a burst from a lively McAtee saw the ball transferred through the hands
of Cumming and hooker Rob Elloway, and then lock Heino Senekal who, with a combination
of sheer determination, raw strength and pace (!), carried the ball successfully
to the line. The mighty Namibian's effort will surely be
a leading candidate for a try of the season, and Steenson duly added the extras.
|  | The
mighty Namibian's effort will be a leading candidate for try of the season |
From
the restart, however, the Pirates were penalised under their posts, giving Woodrow
the opportunity to nudge the Yorkshire team back in front. Sadly,
and out of character from the person known in the past, Wes Davies was then adjudged
to have head-butted McAtee, giving referee Mr. Doyle little option but to red
card the offender. Steenson kicked the resulting penalty, but just before the
break Woodrow was similarly on target to make it 15-17. It
had been an intriguing first period, with there now every chance that the Pirates
would proceed to win the match, although doubts were cast when Doncaster flanker
David Griffiths was controversially awarded a converted try at the start of the
second half. It
was important for the Pirates to score next, with prayers duly answered when centre
Paul Devlin ran twenty metres without a finger laid on him, his unconverted try
taking his tally into double figures as the club's leading try-grabber for the
season. When the next score came, it a try finished off
in style by wing Jimmy Moore on the left, there were plaudits also for Senekal
who had originally snaffled the prize of possession back on halfway. Steenson
duly converted, as he did a try joyously scored by prop Dan Seal on the right,
it following another well-worked catch and drive. |  | | | A
try joyously scored by Dan Seal |
Having
opened a ten points gap, better was to come, full-back Adryan Winnan setting up
Lilo for a another converted score Doncaster reminded everyone
that the game was not over just yet when combative hooker Steve Boden forced his
way over, his effort this time converted by replacement Cerith Rees, before a
snap drop goal for Steenson from all of 50 metres immediately put a home stamp
back on proceedings. Both sides, and the Pirates in particular,
had defied the weather conditions by taking every possible percentage of advantage
from the elements. Lilo and Moore went on to make it a brace
of tries each, with Steenson converting both, before Doncaster conjured up their
bonus point fourth try scored by replacement prop Toma Toke. Fittingly
the last points of the match, taking the total scored in the game to 99, went
to man of the match Steenson, him this time a try-scorer who was understandably
forgiven for missing the conversion!. As the final whistle
sounded, the reaction of the crowd made it clear that they had watched a quite
incredible game of rugby, it beyond belief that such quality play could have been
witnessed in the conditions. Leapfrogging Donny was naturally an added bonus,
with it also remembered that the Pirates still remain unbeaten after seven matches
now played between the two teams.
Cornish
Pirates:
A. Winnan, V. Lilo, P. Devlin (O. Thomas 72), S. Winn, J.
Moore, G. Steenson
E. Fairhurst (R. McAtee 10), T. Cowley (capt - S. Betty
77), I. Motusaga
C. Cracknell (M. Evans 67), B. Cumming, H. Senekal, D. Seal
(S. Heard 65), R. Elloway
(D. Dawidiuk 60), P. Cook (A. Paver 49). Scorers:-
Tries:
Lilo, Moore (2), Lilo (2), Cowley, Senekal, Devlin, Seal, Steenson
Cons: Steenson
6
Pens Steenson 1
Drops Steenson 1
Doncaster:
W. Davies, P. Bailey, B. Hunt, S. Davey, D. Van Vuuren, M. Woodrow (C. Rees 58)
B. Jones, C. Planchant, S. Grainger (T. Luke 33-37, A. Carter h/t), D. Griffiths
G. Kenworthy (capt), L. Gross (L. Fa'aose), N. Tau (T. Davies 58)
S. Boden
(B. Phillips 72), R. List (T. Toke 75). Red card: W. Davies.
Scorers:-
Try:
: Van Vuuren, Griffiths, Boden, Toke
Con: Woodrow, Rees
Pen: Woodrow 4
Referee:
JP Doyle (RFU)
Touch Judges: Steve Leyshon & Fred Spong Man
of the Match: Gareth Steenson Attendance: 2,860
Match
Day Sponsor: Laurence Associates Match Ball Sponsor: Cornwall
Crane Services
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