| Steenson Boots Pirates To victory At Polson | ||||||||
| Cornish All Blacks 12 Cornish Pirates
26 A spirited second-half comeback by the Cornish All Blacks, playing their first ever match in National 1, gave the Cornish Pirates and their supporters a Polson fright before skipper Tim Cowley's converted try secured a deserved win in the last quarter.
Much hard work had been done by the home club to impress off the field, this the chance on their historic day to impress equally on it, their fly-half Stuart Alred just failing with a penalty kick in the third minute which would have given them a start wanted. In response, the Pirates were soon clinically lethal, Cowley starting a counter attack and linking with full-back Adryan Winnan who sent wing Brian Tuohy on a run that ended with a try at the clubhouse corner. The visiting supporters, who outnumbered the home faithful on the day, were joyous, especially after fly-half Gareth Steenson comfortably slotted the not so easy conversion.
The All Blacks appeared a little nervous at the start of the game, but tidy at the line-out and with hooker Owen Hambly also running with confidence, home spirits were soon raised. In perfect conditions, a penalty kicked by Steenson in the eighteenth minute put the Pirates further ahead, and with Cowley and props Peter Cook and Dan Seal soon applying extra pressure in the loose, it looked like the All Blacks were about to leak still more points A try-saving tackle by Matt Jess, who was one of six former Pirates in the Launceston team's squad, prevented his opposition wing Rhodri McAtee from scoring in the left corner. However, with the Pirates dominant, and lock Bruce Cumming a potent ball-carrying force, sufficent pressure was created for Steenson to be gifted three more penalty chances before the interval, all which he struck perfectly, the last from just inside his own half giving the Pirates a healthy 19-0 lead.
The buzz around the ground was that a platform had been created from where the Pirates would likely win by a very comfortable margin, but nobody informed the All Blacks of the script. Yes, their first scrum of the second period was all but demolished, but after shoring it up they came strongly into the game for the very first time. Full-back Andy Birkett dummied and dashed his way down the left, a position soon set in familiar try-scoring territory down the slope. Gifted a penalty, a kick to touch for a catch and drive was the chosen option, it a wise one taken when No. 8 Dave Kimberley recorded their first points in National 1, the effort worthily converted by Alred. Surely the Pirates would respond and take back the initiative - but no - the All Blacks now matching them and playing with confidence. Alred missed a difficult penalty chance, but their overall enterprise was rewarded when replacement centre Ryan Westren made a dash with his first touch of the ball, off-loading a pass to Jess who ran, chipped ahead and followed up for a super try. The conversion from Alred missed, but if the All Blacks gave no more away, then at 12-19 they would at least have a bonus point.
As it panned out, there was still time for both teams to score again, a try at the posts by Cowley, after good approach work by flanker Iva Motusaga, providing the killer blow. Steenson,who had all afternoon been in superlative kicking form - again, added the extras.
The Cornish All Blacks were left to surely gain collective confidence from their efforts, whilst the Cornish Pirates, who deserved their win, knew that they could play much better, and will have to this coming Sunday at home against Northampton Saints. It's a challenge not to be missed, and one that the Pirates are bound to be up for. Cornish All Blacks Cornish Pirates Scorers:- Referee - Lyr Apgeraint-Roberts
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