Thank you to Woll for the Match report and Brian Tempest for the photo. A big thank you to Woll, Brian, Simon Bryant and all our friends at Cornish Pirates for everything this season. We have enjoyed the journey, like you all, disappointed with the result - but well played Lads. We hopefully will be back for more next season, that is pending a RFU appeal. London Welsh 29 Cornish Pirates 20
RFU Championship Play-Off Final 2nd leg
Wednesday May 30th 2012
Kassam Stadium Oxford
Woll's Match Report
An evening of contrasting fortunes and emotion finally concluded, with as clear a signal to the Men in Blazers as to what must happen next; with regards a simpler, fairer passage between the Championship and the Promised Land.
The presentation ceremony itself didn’t show too well under the darkening evening Oxfordshire sky either, as the vanquished and clearly spent Cornish Pirates were consigned to the background, without as much as a consoling shake of the hands on the podium, before the victorious Welsh Exiles could deservedly take the plaudits.
Things have to change.
And why shouldn’t they? As not for the first time, another feast of Championship rugby had been served up before a national audience which deserves better recognition.
Chasing a 16 point deficit and with several players taking their bow in a Pirates shirt; it was the Cornish side who took the early initiative.
Penberthy’s 4th minute drop goal was just the start required and, although it was cancelled out by Davies three minutes later; the youngster’s surprise inclusion into the starting line-up already seemed to be inspired.
Locke’s appearance in the midfield also made a difference; adding a dimension that the Welsh defence struggled to cope with despite the fact that it was ‘as you were’ at the end of a first quarter that simply flew by. Quite how only traded penalties from Cook and Davies had troubled the scorers may only be solved by a Morse resurrection by Mr Dexter.
Penberthy wove, whilst Burgess threw himself into everything like a man possessed, but still no further reward was forthcoming.
Horror of horrors too as the Welsh finally breached the Pirate 22; but with little effect, as they managed to get turned over, forcing a rapid retreat as Cook checked the Satnav for another long distance run-in.
His progress in pursuit of his own footwork ended abruptly, as did everyone’s reactions bar Evans; the flying wing man heeding Mr Rose’s exaltations to ‘play on’, to gather the pill and race to the line sending the massed ranks of Cornish fans into heaven.
Cook’s conversion was straight down the middle and the scent in the air changed noticeably.
The Londoners tried to respond and saw their cause helped with Locke’s early withdrawal; or so they thought. Their second and only other visit of the half into the Pirates red zone was quashed unceremoniously at scrum time, and erased totally by another good touch finder from Penberthy soon after.
Momentum remained with the Cornishmen until the break, but how they would rue Burgess not backing himself a metre or so more, when another dramatic 60m run seemed destined for glory.
Penberthy too, was mightily close with another 40m drop goal but, with Davies blotting his copybook for the first and only time in the tie on the stroke of halftime; the Pirates it appeared were half way towards their goal.
If only.
After the break, a couple of early Davies pots signalled a change of fortunes from which the Pirates would struggle to prevent overall.
The second in particular must have had some effect on the mind-set, as firstly Doherty found himself under pressure when denied a clear ‘Mark’, and was charged down. Evans briefly rescued the situation but was caught in possession.
The resultant penalty looked to have narrowly missed the right upright as everyone’s body language suggested whilst the TMO took seemingly eons to mull over the decision.
Surprise then when David removed his finger from the earpiece to point back to halfway. It was ‘de ja vu’ all over again and a harsh reminder of similar in last year’s final (1st Leg).
Moments like this can disrupt and inspire in equal and opposite measure, as was to be proven over the next twenty minutes. The Pirates lost their rhythm almost immediately whereas the Exiles seized the initiative back with relish, in a spell that ultimately settled whose shelf would be adorned with a nice new shiny pot.
Former Pirate favourite, Ma’asi joined the fray and found himself instrumental in his former club’s downfall. That he was protecting George’s forthcoming nuptials was soon forgotten, as the hooker found time later for a rampaging run that should have led to more than the butchering it got with men out wide to spare.
It mattered not as the trusty right peg of Davies gave his side the lead on the hour, and Tonga’uhia repeated his Mennaye try scoring exploits leaving no doubt as to who were to be crowned Champions.
Winged but not down and out, the Pirates somehow pulled themselves upright for one last hurrah. Boosted by the fresh legs and bags of enthusiasm of Kessell & McAtee they fought fire with fire and managed to create once again.
With everything being run, they finally managed to engineer a catch-n-drive from about 10m out that waivered at first from some still very fierce Welsh defence; but re-grouped manfully for Storer to go over and give hope of a win on the night.
Cook’s range was spot on and reduced the gap to merely two and with still five to play.
Even this was to be shattered as the Champions elect ended even this slim hope ruthlessly; Moates pouncing on his moment of glory to score out wide and test Davies for one final time. The full back obliged and the celebrations all but began for the ‘form side’ since the Play Offs began.
What happens next remains to be decided of course and will probably un-nerve even the Priory’s reputed Headless Horseman for a while.
For the Pirates however, they can deservedly look forward to a well-earned break and chance to regroup after a season like no other. But for the distractions off the field, who knows what could have been? There is little doubt that it has had its effect and is something that will be rectified.
Mention too for two ex-Pirates bed blocking at the Nuffield Hospital, Messrs’ Berryman & Westren; the latter gaining his unwanted admission the night before the game and much to his own frustration! Get well soon fellahs - there’s work still to be done!
Cornish Pirates
15 R. Cook 14 M. Evans (22 R. McAtee 67mins) 13 G. Pointer 12 D. Locke (21 T. Cooper 28mins) 11 D. Doherty 10 A. Penberthy 9 G. Cattle (capt) (20 T. Kessell 57mins) 1 C. Rimmer (16 R. Storer 67mins) 2 D. Ward (17 R. Elloway 63mins) 3 A. Paver 4 L. McGlone (18 M. Myerscough 57mins) 5 I. Nimmo 6 D. Ewers 7 P. Burgess 8 B. Maidment (19 K. Marriott 50mins)
Replacements: all used
Tries: Evans, Storer
Cons: Cook 2
Pens: Cook
Drops: Penberthy
London Welsh
15 A. Davies 14 J. Ajuwa 13 J. Lewis (22 S. Jewell 66mins) 12 H. Tonga’uiha 11 N. Scott 10 G. Ross 9 R. Lewis (21 J. Moates73 mins) 1 M. Lahiff (17 B. Moss 73mins) 2 D. George (16 V. Ma’asi 54mins) 3 J. Tideswell (18 G. Bateman 66mins) 4 J. Mills (capt) (19 M. Purdy 76mins) 5 M. Corker 6 L. Beach (20 B. Russell 76mins) 7 M. Denbee 8 E. Jackson
Replacements: all used
Tries: Tonga’uhia, Moates
Cons: Davies 2
Pens: Davies 5
Match Officials
Referee: David Rose
Assistants: Steve Leyshon, Chris Sharp
TMO: Steve Savage
Man of the Match: Phil Burgess
Attendance: 3456
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