Thanks to Ben Woolatt for the match report and Brian Tempest for the pictures. More details regarding the Pirates, can be found at www.cornish-pirates.com
Leeds Carnegie 14 Cornish Pirates 13
RFU Championship Round 14
Headingly Carnegie Stadium
Sunday 11 December 2011
Match Report From Ben Woollatt
On a cold mid-December afternoon in Yorkshire, Leeds Carnegie hosted the Cornish Pirates at their Headingley stadium keen to get revenge for having been beaten 52-10 at the Mennaye Field in September.
With the stage set for a close contest, Leeds started proceedings playing towards the West stand, but it was the Pirates who would show encouraging early dominance at scrummage time.
The first scoring opportunity also came from the visitors when Miles Dorrian made a break through the Leeds defence. His chip and chase was almost gathered by wing Rhodri McAtee but the ball bounced dead before anyone could ground it.
Following a messy line-out the home side was able to surge forward, nearly creating a try for winger Peter Lucock who broke through a couple of tackles. A penalty was signalled to Leeds, and seeing no other opportunities their young fly-half, Joe Ford, slotted a neat seventh minute drop goal to give his side a 3-0 lead.
Home lock Sean Hohneck claimed the restart but Ford went from hero to villain as his clearance kick went straight out on the full. This gave the Cornishmen a chance to regroup and they worked their way to within five metres of the whitewash.
The phases were good and momentum was starting to build with a series of pick and go drives leading ever closer to the try line. These drives were reminiscent of the Cup game in February 2007 and in exactly the same area of the pitch, but the result was different this time. A knock on, and then some naughtiness by the front row denying the Pirates a repeat of that particular success.
Leeds suffered a wobble at the resulting line-out and the Pirates were again able to break into the '22' after a strong run by flanker Kyle Marriott.
With the phases built once more the hosts were forced to defend and to their credit made some huge tackles to repel ball carriers. The referee, however, awarded a penalty to the Pirates and full-back Rob Cook made no mistake to level the scores at 3-all.
The key moment of the half came just after the 20 minute mark, as another Pirates attack led to wing David Doherty chasing a kick through. Unfortunately for Leeds, Michael Stephenson tackled Doherty before he had the ball, earning the experienced winger a trip to the sin-bin and the Cornish side a penalty try which was converted by Cook.
Joyous one moment, the Pirates then committed the ultimate sin in rugby by conceding a penalty straight after scoring. Full-back Tommy Bell made no mistake to reduce the gap to four points with 15 minutes to go until half time.
Despite the numbers advantage, things didn’t get any better for the Cornish side, as finding themselves in their own 22 and trying to play their way out of trouble they were caught holding on. Handed the chance with a penalty to close the gap to 9-10, Bell happily and successfully obliged.
Some order was restored, however, when with only five minutes of the half remaining the Leeds pack found reverse gear to gift Cook his second penalty and give the Pirates a 13-9 half-time lead.
After the break and with the game so close, it was felt that the next score would be crucial, and with a direct approach the hosts started to make ground against the previously unbreakable Cornish wall. Indeed, forcing their way into the '22' they were awarded a penalty as a Pirate defender crept offside, but Bell's kick drifted wide to provide a sigh of relief to travelling supporters.
This setback did little to stem the home side’s spirit, as agai
n they smashed their way forward, with such as Stephenson, replacement Scott Barrow and Lucock making ground against the tacklers. Luckily for the Pirates, Carnegie's centre Iain Thornley was penalised for not releasing and the lines could be cleared.
A try looked 'on' as Leeds responded to apply pressure once more, only for the chance to go begging when the ball spilled forward.
Controversy was next around the corner, when Leeds were awarded a penalty 35 metres out from the Pirates line, right in front of the posts. The kick went up, the flags went up............but it was not awarded. Referee Mr. Dean Richards had over-ruled his assistants as he was sure that the ball had sailed outside of the posts. This was met with great displeasure from the home support and was perhaps the catalyst for the final quarter of the game.
The Pirates, seemingly buoyed by the various misfortunes of Leeds, went on the attack in an attempt to put the game beyond doubt. Their edge at scrum time continued as they were given a penalty after another Leeds infringement, but the hosts were let off the hook when Cook's lengthy effort fell just short.
Into the final 15 minutes saw Leeds dominate generally, but with the Pirates defence also looking sound as they restricted their opponents solely to small lateral gains.
A few turnovers won at the breakdown by skipper Chris Morgan and Marriott gave hope that the Pirates could hold on, but Leeds then built a telling momentum which culminated in Leeds taking advantage of a Pirates knock-on for Stephenson to make amends for his sin binning by wriggling over in the corner. Bell missed the conversion but clock clicking to a conclusion Leeds were 14-13 ahead.
The Pirates response was positive and from phase after phase they gained some ground, until Dorrian finally pulled the trigger from 45 metres out with a dropped goal attempt. Although his effort missed there was still time, but sadly not enough, and when had Ford the chance to belt the ball into touch the home celebrations began.
All credit to Leeds who have clearly regrouped since their pasting at Penzance in September. Their immense physicality appeared the most visible difference, led by Hohneck, who was a nuisance throughout.
For the Pirates, who are now fifth in the table, a losing bonus point was a consolation, as they now look forward to Sunday's British & Irish Cup encounter at home to Cross Keys, kick off 2pm.
Scorers:
Leeds
Tries: Stephenson
Penalties: Bell 2
Drop-goals: Ford
Cornish Pirates :
Tries: Penalty
Penalties: Cook 2
Conversions:Cook
Leeds Carnegie
15 T. Bell 14 M. Stephenson 13 I. Thornley 12 J. Barker (S. Barrow 40)
11 P. Lucock 10 J. Ford 9 C. Hampson (D. White 70)
1 M. MacDonald 2 A. Titterrell (capt, S. Freer 71) 3 K. Palma-Newport
4 D. Hemingway (R. Beck 71) 5 S. Hohneck 6. R. Burrows
7 J. Rowan 8 D. Paul (C. Walker 71).
Replacements (not used): C. Zeiss ,M. Mustafa.
Cornish Pirates :
15 R. Cook 14 R. McAtee (G. Pointer 52) 13 D. Locke 12 S. Hill 11 D. Doherty
10 M. Dorrian 9 T. Kessell (J. Doherty 78)
8 B. Maidment (P. Burgess 66) 7 C. Morgan (capt) 6 K. Marriott 5
I. Nimmo 4 L. McGlone (M. Smith 80) 3 A. Paver (R. Brits 78)
2 R. Elloway (D. Ward 52) 1 R. Storer (P. Andrew 58)
Referee: Dean Richards
Attendance: 2568
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