Thank you to Cornish Pirates for the post. To Phil Western for the match report and Brian Tempest for the photo.Leeds Carnegie 42 Cornish Pirates 25
RFU Championship Play-Offs Round 6
Headingley Stadium
Saturday 21st April
Phil Westren's Match Report
Pirates Complete Play-Offs As They Focus On The Semis
In what was described pre-match as a 'no pressure' game, the Cornish Pirates having secured their semi-final place in the RFU Championship following their narrow 21-20 points victory at home to Bedford Blues the previous weekend, provided an opportunity in this final Pool B play-offs fixture to give certain personnel both game time and the chance to stake a claim for a shirt in the 'semis'.
As for Leeds Carnegie, who at the start of the season were likely favourites to bounce straight back to the Premiership, this was an emotional last day of the season as a number of players were making their final appearances for the club, including their most experienced performers in the shape of propMike MacDonald, centre Scott Barrow, and wingmen Lee Blackett and Michael Stephenson. Their selection was a strong one.
That the Pirates lost was not a major surprise and the signs were there in the very first minute when Stephenson crossed for a converted try to give the Yorkshire side a 7-0 lead.
With Rob Cook being rested and Ceiron Thomas for the moment on the bench, full-back Grant Pointer pulled three points back with a penalty, only for Bell to strike one of his own and then add the extras to Leeds Carnegie's second try of the match scored by wing Lee Blackett.
The Pirates were 17-3 down with just thirteen minutes on the clock, but midway through the half they scored their first try when good handling by the back line ended with wing Rhodri McAtee crossing out wide. Pointer, who had played his part in creating the try-scoring opportunity with a clever pass, missed with the conversion.
Leeds replied with s second penalty from Bell, but when hooker Rob Elloway crossed for an unconverted try to make it 20-13 come the break, the Pirates were still in range to hopefully make a go of it in the second forty.
Leeds, to their credit, came out full of energy at the start of the second half and in the space of seventeen minutes put the outcome of this match well and truly beyond doubt. Tries from rangy centre Iain Thornley, 'man of the match' flanker Chris Walker, and scrum-half Craig Hampson, were all converted by Bell, who also added a penalty in between for good measure.
To provide some consolation for the Pirates it was a number of their men off the bench who would trouble the scoreboard operator as the game reached its conclusion. Replacement flanker Phil Burgess scored a consolation try after wing David Doherty had pinned back his ears top sprint away in accustomed fashion, and there was a five-pointer also at the very end for replacement Dave Ward, whose effort was converted by Thomas.
Speaking after the game head coach Ian Davies was not too despondent with the result, commenting:
"Accomplishing our aim of reaching the semi-final stage with our win against Bedford Blues, in all honesty everyone knew this was a nothing game and therefore lacked an edge which we know will be back in place when we are fresh and ready to challenge Bristol."
Leeds Carnegie:
S. McColl, L. Blackett (P. Lucock 37), I. Thornley, S. Barrow (J. Davies 65), M. Stephenson, T. Bell, C. Hampson (W. Cliff 65), J. Rowan, C. Walker, R. Beck, S. Hohneck (D. Barrow 20), J. Pendlebury (E. Williamson 56), H. Aulika (M. Mustafa 56), A. Titterell (capt, S. Freer 56), M. MacDonald (H. Aulika 70).
Cornish Pirates:
G. Pointer (S. Hill 71), R. McAtee (J. Doherty 39-40), A. Suniula, T. Cooper, D. Doherty, A. Penberthy (C. Thomas 56), T. Kessell (J. Doherty 55), B. Maidment, K. Marriott (capt, C. Morgan 71), D. Ewers (P. Burgess 56), M. Smith, L. McGlone, R. Brits (C. Rimmer 74), R. Elloway (D. Ward 74), R. Storer.
Yellow card: McGlone.
Scorers:-
Leeds Carnegie
Tries: Stephenson, Blackett, Thornley, Walker, Hampson; cons: Bell (4); pens: Bell 3)
Cornish Pirates
Tries: McAtee, Elloway, Burgess, Ward; con: Thomas; pen: Pointer
Referee: Ross Campbell (RFU)
Attendance: 1,588
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