 |
| On A Bleak Sunday In December | Match
Sponsor Skinners Brewery | | | On
a bleak early Sunday in December, supporters gathered at the 'Rec' surely knew
that any realistic chance of witnessing a display of open running rugby was all
but a dream. As it worked out, those who thought that were right, though they
could be forgiven the frustration felt when any glimmer of expanse was stifled
through the game plan implemented by the visitors. However,
after a first half that could only be described as being a non-event, there was
at least a pick up for the home faithful in the second half, it a period when
the Cornish Pirates conjured up two fine tries to ultimately emerge deserved winners. For
the Cornish Pirates, there were a number of pluses going into this match, them
in a position to welcome back several players from injury, a couple of whom were
immediately gifted places in a starting line-up that showed five changes in total
from the side that ran out at the Brickfields the previous weekend. The
two itching at the bit to go were centre Steve Winn, who was injured early in
the match against Exeter Chiefs a month ago, and flanker Stan McKeen. It was Canadian
international Stan's first game of the season, him cruelly troubled with an Achilles
injury which forced him to miss playing for his country in the Rugby World Cup.
 | Other
changes saw Chris Cracknell selected at open-side ahead of Iva Motusaga, Joe Beardshaw
replacing Bruce Cumming at lock, and Sam Heard starting at tight-head prop in
place of Dan Seal. In the absence of Tim Cowley, prop Alan
Paver captained the side, one which also included former Moseley star Ollie Thomas
at full-back. | | MOTM
Chris Cracknell | |
At
kick-off time the pitch looked immaculate, but it did not take long before the
area of the field at the clubhouse corner started to show the effects of wear
and tear as Moseley took control of possession and encamped themselves in happily
acquired territory for lengthy spells Nine minutes into
the game the visitors had an opportunity to take a lead when the Pirates were
caught off-side in front of the posts, but the penalty strike from fly-half Greg
Macdonald missed - it a day when no kick at goal could be deemed a formality.
As
the half developed the Pirates had limited possession, with there just the occasional
lift given when scrum-half Ed Fairhurst showed a willingness to pep up the action.
One rare snipe into the Moseley half raised hopes, with support given by McKeen,
but a knock-on at the '22' line dashed any hope of a home score. Before
and when half-time eventually arrived, the crowd let their feelings be heard with
chants of 'boring, boring' directed at the opposition. Having paid good money,
one could perhaps understand their understandable frustration, but in a way there
was also a slight touch of admiration in the way 'Mose' had implemented their
pre-planned, scrooge-like approach. They had given away
nothing, them troddling off to the changing rooms no doubt more than happy with
their performance, one dominated by bringing forward runners into narrow channels
to the sides of rucks and mauls - not pretty, but it certainly effective.
 | Words
of a song say 'things can only get better', and they certainly did for the Pirates
and their supporters just four minutes into the second period. Gifted
a penalty a few metres inside Moseley's half, Gareth Steenson quick-tapped the
ball for it to soon reach the hands of Vunga Lilo who stretched his legs to go
clear for a touchdown at the scoreboard corner. It was
the Tongan international's first try for the Pirates, one to which Steenson also
added the extras with a super conversion into the wind. | | Vunga
Lilo's First Try For The Pirates | |
The
Pirates looked to hit back immediately, there certainly no lack of effort, with
man of the match flanker Chris Cracknell setting the example. Making a telling
burst in midfield, his off-load at the breakdown saw the ball quickly moved right
then left, with Lilo backing himself to make the line. Arms
about were raised in hope that he had notched his second try of the game, but
referee Mr. David Rose indicated that the ball was held up.  | Still
laying siege at the clubhouse corner, and with the crowd noisy in anticipation
that this really was try-time once more, the Pirates soon delivered. Following
a strong carry by lock Heino Senekal, industriously busy replacement flanker Iva
Motusaga stretched himself to cross the line. Steenson missed the conversion but
later added a penalty to put the Pirates deservedly 15-7 up. | | "Busy
replacement flanker Iva Motusaga" | |
Right
at the end, Moseley looked like they might snatch a try that would at least earn
them a bonus point, one that had they strived so laboriously hard to get, but
it was not to be. Needing to be alert, replacement wing
Rhodri McAtee chased back and kicked the ball to safety, that play followed by
the sound of the final whistle.
Cornish
Pirates:
15 O. Thomas (R. McAtee 70), 14 J. Moore, 13 V. Lilo, 12 S.
Winn (P. Devlin 70), 11 A. Koko
10 G. Steenson, 9 E. Fairhurst, 8 M. Evans,
7 C. Cracknell, 6 S. McKeen (I. Motusaga 49)
5 J. Beardshaw, 4 H. Senekal,
3 S. Heard (D. Seal 61), 2 N. Kemp (D. Dawidiuk 61)
1 A. Paver (capt). Replacements
(not used): P. Cook. S. Hobson. Moseley:
15
O. Winter (M. Williams 72), 14 C. Sharples, 13 A. Binns, 12 P. Cox, 11 N. Bressington
10 G. Macdonald, 9 J. Ireland (G. Taylor 70), 8 M. Evans, 7 O. Atkinson, 6 N.
Mason (capt)
5 D. Tuohy, 4 R. Bignall, 3 T. Sigley (N. Bayliss 61), 2 A. Caves
(R. McMillan 72)
1 N. Williams (B. Buxton h/t). Replacements (not used):
R. Stott, D. Williams. Referee: David Rose (RFU) Tough
Judges: Nigel Higginson & Mark Summerhayes Man of the Match: Chris Cracknell Attendance:
2,275
 |  | 'Betty'
Stoggs From Match Sponsor
Skinners Brewery | Skinners
Cornish
Pirates Ale |
|
| |
