Close game in this south west derby. Thank you to Cornish Pirates and woll for the match report and Brian Tempest for providing the pictures. www.cornish-pirates.comPlymouth Albion 16 Cornish Pirates 20
RFU Championship Round 5
Brickfields
Saturday 1st October
Woll's Match Report
Normal associations with a Pirates-Albion derby of a forwards orientated mud-fest, were blown completely out of the water as the first day of October delivered the kind of conditions one would normally relish at Lords in July!
Signal then for a feast of running rugby rather than an arm wrestle you’d imagine?
Well, for the first twenty minutes or so it certainly appeared a real possibility, as the Pirates bombarded their hosts from all angles; lead chiefly by the once again impressive Maidment making his first start.
Cooper too threatened twice, as surely the floodgates would open once the Albion lines had been breached for the first time.
It was a surprise then that it took until the 22 nd minute when Maidment opened things up off the back of a scrum, gifting Cattle the chance to dip his shoulder from close in. Pointer slotted the extras to add to his earlier penalty and it looked all systems go for the visitors. A solitary penalty from home full back Love, being the only sign of resistance to this mark. 10-3
But then this Le Champs de Briques as they would say from much further south, and the source of the unseasonable climes that a near 3000 crowd were basking under. That wise old sage Dawes normally finds something against the Pirates too; a statement written in stone though definitely not granite.
Thus, a side littered with half a dozen teenagers in its ranks, but guided manfully by ample numbers of wiser heads; no doubt economical with the truth in some cases as to actual ages; dug deep into their reserves to finish the half with the edge and a three point lead to boot.
Love doubled his tally quickly, before 18 year old debutant, Slade, atoned for his earlier error that had led to the Pirate’s try, to bedazzle his opponents and score one himself on the half hour. The score coming perhaps notably, around the point when Bentley’s participation ended and the ensuing re-shuffle disrupting the obvious flow.
Not that Love cared a jot, as his conversion rubbed it in further. The full back however having to wait until after the break to double his side’s advantage, after missing the chance to so do just before.
Ceiron Thomas however had by then found his range and taken on the returning from injury Kiwi’s reins with some aplomb.
His penalty ten minutes into the second period steadied any nerves there may have been, even if a chance to level three minutes later went begging.
Ex Plymouth man, Marriott, was beginning to show up too, as the fat boys from both sides stepped in, making their presence felt in typical Derby Match fashion.
The complexion of the game understandably altered, as gradually the Pirates ground their way back into contention. Albion’s forays forward lessened as a consequence to the point where, with ten minutes remaining and the visitors defence holding strong, the outcome looked increasingly heading in their favour. Despite the hosts hanging on to a slender 13-16 lead.
True, Pointer may have considered himself fortunate not to incur the officials wrath for a high challenge on Love. But then it hadn’t been that sort of game and this may have influenced the decision to allow the centre to remain on the pitch.
It mattered little then as, with less than ten minutes to go, the Pirates forwards created an ultimately match winning platform wide right in the Albion 22. Quick hands across the full width of the pitch did the rest, allowing Doherty to ghost through; seemingly un-opposed.
Thomas completed a satisfactory afternoon personally with his touchline conversion, leaving only Cattle to end things moments later with a kick that bizarrely went dead, but with no time for a way back.
Pirates High Performance Manager, Chris Stirling, was understandably content with the four points, but was quick to describe the overall performance as “scratchy”. Either way he, and all the travelling fans from across the Tamar, have seen this all before. “Over the Moon” it is then.
Cornish Pirates
15 D. Doherty 14 R. McAtee 13 G. Pointer 12 T. Cooper (21 S. Hill 65mins) 11 W. Davies 10 J. Bentley (22 C. Thomas 30mins) 9 G. Cattle (cpt) 8 B. Maidment (19 C. Morgan 59mins) 7 C. Walker-Blair (17 R. Elloway 65mins) 6 K. Marriott 5 M. Smith (18 I. Nimmo 50mins) 4 L. McGlone 3 R. Brits (C. Rimmer 52mins) 2 D. Ward 1 C. Rimmer (16 P. Andrew ht)
Replacements: un-used T. Kessell
Tries: Cattle, Doherty
Cons: Pointer, Thomas
Pens: Pointer, Thomas
Plymouth Albion
15 J. Love 14 M. McGrath 13 B. Armitage (17 J. Nowell 73mins) 12 K. Fisilau 11 T. Lewis 10 H. Slade 9 R. Cushion (16 D. Farnham 73mins) 1 D. Morton 2 G. Evans 3 R. Dugard (19 R. Hopkins 52mins) 4 D. Collier 5 A. Lockley 6 S-M. Stephen (21 S. Hocking 6mins) 7 W. Sprangle 8 J. Tyas.
Replacements: un-used J. Harris, D. McGregor, M. Lee.
Tries: Slade
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Match Officials
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistants: Thomas Davies, Richard Parker-Sedgemore
Attendance: 2850
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