Thank you to Phil Western for the match report and Brian Tempest for the photo and all at www.cornish-pirates.comLondon Welsh 17 Cornish Pirates 17
RFU Championship Round 9
Old Deer Park
Saturday 29th October
Phil Westren's Match Report
Departing Richmond beaten on their last two visits to Old Deer Park, and therefore having extra reason to strive for victory there on Saturday, the Pirates had to ultimately settle for a draw against the 'Dragons'.
Conditions in west London were dry but breezy, with the Pirates playing towards the Pagoda end of the ground with an advantage of the wind on their backs for the first forty.
The game had a positive air about it at the start, with it apparent that both sides were keen to play with enterprise. For the Pirates, hooker Rob Elloway once again showed a willingness to carry the ball to make good yardage, but there was an early setback when lock Mike Myerscough was injured and had to depart a Pirates pack that appeared to have the edge on their opponents.
Showing up well in the home eight was No. 8 Ed Jackson, who started this game as the division's top try-scorer this season, and with London Welsh getting on the front foot a penalty chance at goal was created. Former Scotland fly-half Gordon Ross, who was skippering the Exiles side, stepped up to take the kick on offer, but into the wind it fell just short.
Midway through the first half it was the turn of the home side's pack to be forced into making a change when former Pirates favourite Viliami Ma'asi replaced injured home hooker Dan George.
With a score in this match surely due, one was created by the visitors. Kicking for touch when a penalty was awarded the Pirates pack took control and after nudging their way ever closer to the London Welsh line the ball was released for Jonny Bentley to spot a gap and then run and stretch to score. Playing only his second appearance of the season, lack of game time appeared of no hindrance to the gifted fly-half and his try was converted by full-back Rob Cook.
The Pirates looked the better team as the clock ticked to half-time, with backs and forwards fully committed and the side suitably cajoled by skipper Gavin Cattle, and they extended their lead with another fine piece of play by Bentley whose cross field kick was gathered by wing Grant Pointer to run in try again converted by Cook.
To their credit, London Welsh refused to lower their heads and with a kick to the corner and then opting for a scrum following a penalty awarded, Jackson controlled the ball well for scrum-half Rob Lewis to break a tackle and score to the left of the posts. Ross looked to add two more points with a conversion but it bounced back infield and the interval arrived with the scoreline reading 5-14.
Keen to take advantage of the wind, Ross missed with a long-range penalty attempt early in the second half, and there was some frustration in the home side's ranks when errors at crucial times hindered their endeavour.
On the hour mark, Ross punished the Pirates with a successful penalty strike after replacement flanker Chris Morgan was yellow-carded by Monsieur Marchat, but when a London Welsh player was penalised for making a late tackle soon after the restart, Cook opened up a nine points gap once more.
Could the Pirates hold on an secure the victory sought? Unfortunately the answer would be no, as former Plymouth Albion man, replacement fly-half Alex Davies, punished Pirates errors, as in the space of just over six minutes he fired three penalties through the post to level the scores.
There was still time left for the Pirates to recover and win this game, and Cook had an opportunity with a late penalty attempt from wide out on the left, which on this day missed.
For the statisticians out there, it's the first season since league rugby was introduced back in 1987 that the Pirates have recorded three draws on their playing record, and it only just two months into the campaign. However, knowing that it was going to be a stern challenge at 'ODP', and anything but a walk in the park, a good number of supporters would likely have settled for two points before the match.
London Welsh:
E. Thrower, W. Hurrell, H. Tonga’uiha, S. Whatling, J. Lewis, G. Ross (capt, A. Davies 65)
R. Lewis (J. Moates 65), E. Jackson, M. Denbee, L. Beach, M. Purdy
A. Brown, B. Moss (G. Bateman 68), D. George (V. Ma'asi 22), S. Pittman.
Replacements (not used) : M. Corker, B. Russell, A. Smith.
Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, G. Pointer, D. Locke, A. Suniula, D. Doherty,
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), B. Maidment, P. Burgess, B. Cowan (C. Morgan 56)
I. Nimmo, M. Myerscough (L. McGlone 10), R. Brits (R. Storer 71), R. Elloway (D. Ward 56), C. Rimmer.
Replacements (not used): T. Kessell, C. Thomas, S. Hill.
Yellow card: Morgan
Scorers:-
London Welsh
Tries: Lewis
Penalties:: Ross, Davies 3
Cornish Pirates
Tries: Bentley, Pointer
Conversions: Cook 2
Penalties: Cook
Referee: Cedric Marchat (FFR)
Attendance: 1,749
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