Thank you to our friends at Cornish Pirates for Wolls match report and Simon Bryant for the photo featured. Well done from all at Sports Pulse for qualifying for the semi-final.Cornish Pirates 21-20 Bedford Blues
RFU Championship Play-Offs Round 5
Sunday 15th April 2012
Woll's Match Report
And then there were Two.
But not before another nail-biter at a sunny Mennaye, that saw the Pirates prevail by a single point only against a Bedford side who could have nicked it.
Not that the hosts and their support will care much, as the win means that the semi-final berth is secured and there will at least be one more home match in May to look forward too.
It also means that Chris Stirling got his wish to finish on a high, before he flies off on a jet plane on Wednesday back to sort the NZRU out; not knowing if he’ll ever come back again. Never say never would be a wise course all round one wonders.
And yet for long periods, this desire seemed a long way off as the visitors took the game to the Cornishmen, with worrying ease. For the first half hour indeed, it was all Blues bar the one important factor; points on the board.
Fly half, Lennard may look back on his contributions with some rue; his two missed penalties, the second a sitter by his standards; proving to ultimately be decisive. In consolation perhaps they had come into the game already guaranteed of their own place in the last four.
To balance things a little, the Pirates defence in the opening period was at times solid and with interest. Particularly it transpired, as the Blues opted to go for the throat when the tee wasn’t producing the goods. On two occasions at least, catch and drive attempts were repelled and with turnover ball to boot.
Eventual Man of the Match, Sam Hill too, put in one stunning tackle as play swung briefly in favour of the home side, with the half entering its final ten minutes. This moment added to the Pirates only spell of domination, that had seen Rimmer go over for the opening score of the afternoon; and Cook a penalty three minutes later to mark his’ Ton-Up’ with some points.
Mention must be made too of Suniula’s assist’s in both of the scores, the centre using his pace and size to great effect on both occasions. Schmidt’s illegal intervention as a try looked very possible prior to the penalty, also handed the initiative further to the hosts. Even so, Lennard still had one final say to send the teams in for a rub down, with only five points separating the two teams.
After the break it was the Pirates who started the liveliest, determined no doubt to make use of their one man advantage.
Seven minutes in, and after the Blues had sent on eight fresh legs; the light at the end of the tunnel shone albeit too briefly. That man Suniula smashed his way through Bedford’s centre field, for a dot down close to the posts which seemed to be the signal for the Pirates to cut loose.
If only. Three minutes later Burke did a similar job on his opposite numbers and in an inst' it was game on once more.
For half an hour more this pattern continued to set up a nervy finish for the Cornishmen.
Cook had added another 3 pointer, but wasn’t allowed any time to settle as this was cancelled out by Lennard by return.
The Full Back then found himself adjudged the villain in Mr Pierce’s eyes and had to spend some time watching from behind the sofa.
Thomas did though manage to settle some tensions just before Rob’s return, with an excellent strike of his own to once again extend the lead to eight. This chance, coming off the back of another fine tackle by Hill just inside the Blues 10m line.
With ten minutes remaining things looked relatively steady enough to allow Paver off for a much needed loo break. But no sooner as the prop had gone off to the relief of his second row, then up stepped Fox to slice his way through under the Pirates posts, to leave it matters to go to the wire.
Not for the first time then it was squeaky bum time for everyone until Barrell finally got caught in possession with the final charge of the game. The relief and the joy was clear to see before the immediate realisation dawned of what was to follow, to conclude proceedings.
Emotions were obviously ramped up but it is the words of the ‘heavy’ who is usually checking for trainers at Hospitality to put feelings most succinctly, “Chris will be leaving with a small piece of that big heart of his, forever Cornish”
There will also be the ever niggling matter of so much unfinished business to attend to; something that will begin next week at Leeds, and continue to who knows when.
Watch this space.
Cornish Pirates
15 R. Cook 14 G. Pointer 13 A. Suniula 12 S. Hill 11 M. Evans
10 C. Thomas 9 G. Cattle (capt) 8 B. Maidment 7 C. Morgan 6 K. Marriott (19 P. Burgess 79mins)
5 M. Smith 4 L. McGlone (18 D. Ewers 70mins) s 3 A. Paver (1 Rimmer 71mins) 2 D. Ward (17 R. Elloway 75mins) 1 C. Rimmer (R. Brits 52mins)
Replacements: un-used 22 T. Kessell, 21 A. Penberthy, 20 T. Cooper
Tries: Rimmer, Suniula
Cons: Cook
Pens: Cook 2, Thomas
Yellow: Cook
Bedford Blues
15 B. Burke 14 H. Schmidt 13 H. Staff 12 I. Vass 11 M. Kohler
10 J. Lennard (22 J. Sharp 68mins) 9 L. Baldwin (21 S. Liebenberg 68mins)
1 N. Steenkamp (17 B. Cooper46 mins) 2 C. Locke (16 N. Cochrane 68mins) 3 P. Boulton (18 R. Reeves 46mins) 4 S. Pailor (20 D. Fox46 mins) 5 M. Howard 6 J. Fisher (19 S. Tomes 46 mins) 7 S. Harding (c) 8 D. Barrell
Replacements: all used
Tries: Burke, Fox
Cons: Lennard, Sharpe
Pens: Lennard 2
Yellow: Schmidt
Match Officials
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistants: Keith Lewis & Darryl Chapman
4th. Official: Clare Daniels
Man of the Match: Sam Hill
Attendance: 2139
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