Thank you to our friends at the Pirates for the match report and photo's.Esher 30-36 Cornish Pirates
RFU Championship Round 18
Molesey Road Esher
Saturday 14th January 2012
Phil Westren's Match Report
The Cornish Pirates expected a tough examination against a revived Esher side at Molesey Road on Saturday, and that's exactly how things turned out. Showing character to maintain a desire to achieve victory, however, it was wing David Doherty's 73rd minute try, his second in the match, that proved crucial.
If there were any Cornish Pirates supporters about who doubted that the much improved 'EEEs' side would be a threat, then they were quickly forced into a rethink. Esher's fly-half Mark Atkinson opened the scoring with successful penalty kicked in just the first minute, and with tries from talented winger Charlie Walker and lock Matthew Symons, both converted by Atkinson, the home side opened up a 17-0 lead with just a quarter of the game gone.
The Pirates, needless to say, just had to respond, and they did with two tries scored within the space of just four minutes. Industrious prop Paul Andrew crossed for their opening score and the second came from the experienced Chris Morgan who had not long replaced injured flanker Charlie Walker-Blair. Full-back Rob Cook added both conversions and at 17-14 the Pirates were back in touch as the half-hour mark approached. Confirming a sudden resurgence it was not long before the visitors nudged ahead with an unconverted try scored by wing David Doherty, only for Esher to regain the lead before the break when Atkinson's second penalty of the match made it 20-19.
Reflecting on the first half, the Pirates could feel pretty satisfied that they had recovered so well, and there was also the bonus of witnessing two youngsters, fly-half Aaron Penberthy and hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie, beginning to settle in nicely in their first Championship 'starts'.
Tom Cooper replaced centre Grant Pointer all but from the start of the second half, and with Andrew again looking lively and making a couple of fine tackles, applied early pressure saw the Pirates gifted a penalty, duly slotted by Cook.
Back in the lead provided extra encouragement, but only briefly, as Esher secured possession and built the phases with pace and purpose from the restart, their advance ending with a try scored by full-back Ross Chisholm. The conversion to follow was not easy, and Atkinson's effort missed from wide out.
Two more replacements now entering the fray for the Pirates were lock Laurie McGlone and hooker Dave Ward. Big 'Lozza' was making a welcome return to action, soon though to be interrupted, for as Esher built for another score he was unfortunately shown a yellow card by referee Mr. Tutty.
Of no surprise the 'EEEs' quickly proceeded to benefit from numerical advantage. Former Pirates lock James Inglis gathered possession for Esher at the line-out, and after the pack drove forward scrum-half Jamie Mackenzie's unconverted try opened up an eight points gap.
Time to worry? Yes. Wait a minute - make that no, as the response from the Pirates was all but immediate, and there great credit to Penberthy who had the confidence to see the opportunity to chip the ball and chase and apply pressure for a well taken try. It was the Cornish side's fourth of the afternoon, a bonus point providing effort, and Cook's conversion also took the Pirates to within a point of their hosts.
There had been frustration for the Pirates at some of the penalty decisions that had gone against them, and they were fortunate that on the hour mark Atkinson missed with a penalty effort from 30 metres out, it a, an undoubted 'cert' that tension would increase still further in the last quarter.
There was credit to the home side whose support play was excellent at times, and played at pace, but the Pirates would mount the pressure after propelling the ball deep into Esher's half.
A shunt from McGlone, following a line-out, took him close, and replacement scrum-half Kessell also made a dart for the line, only for the Pirates to be penalised for 'crossing'.
Esher worked their way up field but were soon pinned back by Cook, and this time the Pirates would take advantage of acquired territory. Good work by Kessell initiated the ball being transferred through the hands for it to eventually find Doherty on the left, and the clinical finisher raced in for the well converted match-winner.
In a frantic final few seconds a kinder bounce of the ball could have allowed Esher's Walker to cross for a second try, and the possibility of a match-winning conversion, but it was not to be.
This had been a thrilling contest, with nine tries scored in a 'Thriller at the Pillar', to make part reference to the Molesey Road ground's previously used name. The 'EEEs' were left with the consolation of two bonus points and feelings of what might have been, whereas the Pirates, with a much changed side and one that included several gifted young guns, had ultimately passed this test admirably.
Esher:
R. Chisholm, P. Mackenzie, T. Cheeseman (capt), A. Cruickshanks, C. Walker
M. Atkinson, J. Mackenzie (A. Garner 69), M. Macfarlane, S. Stitcher, C. Goodman
J. Inglis, M. Symons, W. Collier (R. Nebbett 69), J. Campbell, D. Millard.
Replacements (not used):
S. Renwick, J. Doherty, K. Corrigan, G. Griffiths, N. Little.
Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, M. Evans, G. Pointer (T. Cooper 41), S. Hill, D. Doherty
A. Penberthy, J. Doherty (T. Kessell 64), B. Maidment, C. Walker-Blair (C. Morgan 20), K. Marriott (capt)
M. Smith (L. McGlone 50) I. Nimmo, R. Brits (L. Fairbrother 64), T. Cowan-Dickie (D. Ward 50), P. Andrew (C. Rimmer 56).
Yellow card: McGlone.
Scorers
Esher
Tries: Walker, Symons, Chisholm, Mackenzie
Penalties: Atkinson 2
Conversions: Atkinson 2
Cornish Pirates
Tries: Paul Andrew, David Doherty 2, Chris Morgan, Aaron Penberthy
Penalties:Cook
Conversions: Cook 4
Match officials
Referee: Mr Michael Tutty, Hertfordshire
Referee: Coach: Keith Page, Hampshire
AR 1: Mr Matthew Carley, Kent
AR2: Mr Christopher Seeley, Warwickshire
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