Thank you to Woll for the match report, Brian Tempest for the photo and all our friends at the Pirates for supplying the report. www.cornish-pirates.comBristol 37 Cornish Pirates 33
RFU Championship Round 11
The Memorial Ground
Woll's Match Report
The contest had been billed as the game of the Championship so far, and few would doubt such an accolade as time was finally called by Mr Rose, with the Pirates desperately trying to sneak it at the end of a 70 point thriller.
That they had been under the cosh for the last twenty minutes and seen a thoroughly deserved 16 point cushion evaporate, only added further salt to the wounds. The Memorial hoodoo continues therefore, and the chance to record only the club's second win at the venue will have to wait a little longer. The Play Offs perhaps? Now that has a ring to it n'est pas?
Either way, the pain of knowing that the platform had been put in place with ample evidence of their own credentials having been on show for the first hour will hurt. Severely. But it may be just the trigger needed to add further incentive to push even harder for the Dream to be realised, now that the Sportiva Kernow seems now at last to be on the horizon.
And yet only a short time earlier as Kessell scampered over for his side's fifth try of the contest, the Cornishmen appeared to be on the verge of a famous win. In the west the sunset and skyline looked magnificent and suddenly we believed.
They'd been a brief show of Bristol strength in the first half for some ten minutes or so; triggered as it was by a huge hit on Locke by former Pirate; Fatialofa; that seemed to be the spark the home side needed; having been totally outplayed in the first ten and down to Suniula's first Pirate try that had stunned in the opening minute.
The centre then went on to score himself and backed up by the trusty boot of Roberts, pulled the hosts back from their early straits and into a narrow three point lead as the game moved into its second quarter.
It wasn't to last. With Burgess and Marriott continuing to cut huge holes in the Bristol defence the Pirates weathered the storm well and forced their way back into contention once more. Pressure built and home prop Hobson cracked first as another strong Pirates maul surged towards the line. His indiscretion cost him a ten minute spell with his feet up as a result of Sir's fumble in the pocket for the requisite yellow card, and the visitors exploited this numbers deficiency ruthlessly.
That man Ward was the first to benefit as he jinked his way through in front of the Family Enclosure. Whilst The Doc had the crowd on its feet as half time approached, as he first created some space just inside the Bristol half; and then switched on the after burners to leave his opponents for dust to score in the opposite corner. A special try and the best of the game.
Cook quietly added the extras each time and at the break then it was 21-10 and looking rather rosy.
This feeling continued into the second period as the Pirates picked up from they'd left off. Cook missed a chance to add three straightaway; but as Ward wriggled through for his second dot down minutes later after some patient build up play; the bonus point was in the bag. And a return to the top beckoned as Cook's fourth conversion screwed in between the uprights.
Home Skipper Grieve however lead by example and quickly responded with a try close to the posts to give what seemed like a flicker of hope. Until that was Kessell cancelled that out almost immediately following a deft show and go by Morgan, to surely restore order.
If only. identical tries by Merriman and Goodridge sliced the Pirates defence in two and with Roberts seemingly kicking everything from Filton and further afield; a repeat of their epic comeback at home to London Welsh looked eminently do-able.
Even Compton and Nimmo's contre-temps couldn't prevent the blue hooped wave of belief from completing the task. As Mr Rose only wrapped some knuckles and threatened a no supper sanction if it should repeat itself.
It didn't. Thus Roberts' final pot at the posts with less than five to play ensured the Pirates would only grab the honours subject to a sixth touchdown. Despite one final flourish this wasn't to be and that sick feeling wasn't to receive a cure this time.
Two points and a fourth spot will have to suffice as we enter the return fixture phase of Stage 1. It may have been nice to switch the emphasis away from jumping through hoops, but there is still a way to go before the braying can begin from Duchy's high points just yet. I somehow suspect that yer man Stirling has this in hand and we all know that as bitter as this may taste right now; nothing short of total commitment both on and off the pitch should be expected....
Cornish Pirates
15 R. Cook 14 G. Pointer 13 D. Locke 12 A. Suniula 11 D. Doherty
10 C. Thomas (22 M. Evans 33mins) 9 G. Cattle (capt)(21 T. Kessell 53mins)
8 K. Marriott (20 B. Cowan 60mins) 7 P. Burgess 6 C. Morgan (19 C. Walker-Blair 71mins) 5 I. Nimmo 4 L. McGlone 3 C. Rimmer (18 P. Andrew 57mins) 2 D. Ward 1 R. Storer (16 A. Paver 37mins)
Replacements: un-used 17 R. Elloway
Tries: Suniula, Ward 2, Doherty, Kessell
Cons: Cook 4
Bristol
15 S. Marsden 14 J. Tovey 13 F. Otto 12 J. Fatialofa 11 J. Goodridge
10 T. Roberts 9 T. Slater (21 R. Tipuna 48mins) 1 M. Irish (17 D. Crompton 41mins) 2 R. Lawrence (16 J. Harris-Wright HT) 3 J. Hobson 4 M. Sambucetti (19 J. Ovens 48mins) 5 R. Winters 6 I. Grieve (c) 7 J. Merriman (20 M. Mama 71mins)
8 D. Montagu (18 W. Thompson 27-37 mins)
Replacements: un-used 18 W. Thompson, 22 M. Davies
Tries: Fatialofa, Grieve, Merriman, Goodridge
Cons: Roberts 4
Pens: Roberts 3
Yellow: Hobson
Match Officials
Referee: David Rose
Assistants: Richard John Kelly, James Minards
4th Official: Andy Weymouth
Assessor: Ashley Reay
Attendance: 6044
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