CORNISH PIRATES 46 – 7 PLYMOUTH ALBION
This was a Christmas Cracker of a game, with the result sending the majority of the 5,654 spectators back home rejoicing. Seven tries scored in a 46-7 stuffing that the fans have waited a long, long time to enjoy.
Whilst full-back Rob Cook continues to enhance his growing reputation amongst the Pirates’ faithful, his 21 point contrubution was a major factor in the win, it was as ever the pack that laid the foundations to this superbe win, with that old warhorse, prop Alan Paver along with his mates in the front row Ryan Storer and hooker Dave Ward getting that decisive edge up front. Paves deservedly got the man-of-the-match award on behalf of his magnificent pack.
With the Pirates leading 14-0 thanks to tries from Chris Morgan and Aisea Havili, what a great juggle to baffle the Albion cover, Albion threw everything at the Pirates’ pack. A series of scrums down in the Pirates 22 seemed to go on for ever. Surely the Albion juggernaut would somehow force their way over, but no! The Pirates’ pack held them, matched them and in the end bettered them. When the Pirates got a penalty to reieve the pressure it was Albion whose top blew. Then when the Pirates got up field and scored a third try from Cook just after to make it 21-0 the major physcological battle of the day had been won.
Soon after half-time Cook kicked a penalty and scored his second try to secure the bonus point. With skipper Gavin Cattle, Blair Cowan and Jonny Bentley all adding scores to leave backs coach Harvey Biljon a happy man at the final whistle. “I’m absolutley delighted, if we were looking for a late Christmas present I think we got it today.
“It’s been all about our preparation, we knew there were going to be interuptions for Christmas but all credit to the players for staying focused the way they did.
“If you look at the game, the performance from the forwards and the backs, the way we moulded them together was great for the team.
“Hopefully we can build on this and it gives us a little bit of confidence and momentum going into what is undoubtedly going to be a very tough game on Friday at Bristol.”
Bill Sobey’s WMN match report can be found in the link
Graham Dawe’s view of events from the Plymouth Evening Herald
Boxing Day saw the traditional fixtures played with Camborne hosting their old foes from Redruth. A close game saw the Reds defeat the Cherry & Whites 12-5, with Tom Duncan and Nick Simmons scoring tries for the Reds, Adam Hosking kicking a conversion. For Camborne Sam Matavesi scored a try.
At the Memorial Ground, Penryn defeated Falmouth 31-3 with Darren Pellow scoring a hat-trick of tries for the Borough with James Mann and Dave Pascoe scoring the other tries, Pascoe kicked three conversions, whilst Jack Brown kicked an early penalty for Falmouth.
St. Ives defeated Hayle at Alexandra Road 38-0.
With the Pirates facing Championship leaders Bristol on New Year’s Day the big game on Saturday is at Redruth as Launceston visit the Rec for a no holds barred Cornish Derby in National League 1. It promises to ” The Match of the Day” in Cornwall. Will Nigel Hambly be smiling or will Jon Hill dance his jig on the touch line ??
I wish “One & All” a very Happy New Year, Bledhen Nowyth Da!