Last week’s column when I waxed lyrical about all things Pirate must have been the proverbial kiss of death, next outing first defeat of the season!
Dawsey came down and worked out a plan to grind out a win and fair play to Albion on their 16-8 win on Saturday at the Brickfields. Missing influential Kiwi’s skipper Blair Cowan and fly-half Jonny Bentley, the Pirates trailed Albion 11-3 at the break with just a Rhys Jones penalty to show for their efforts. Albion scored a second try before Rhodri McAtee scored for the Pirates but that was as close as they would get, and so Albion became the first side to haul down the Pirates’ colours in the league this season.
Next Sunday the Cornish Pirates entertain Bristol. A great shame that former Pirate Bertrand Bédés will not be in the Bristol line up having suffered a ruptured cruciate knee ligament after just eleven minutes of the match against Rotherham. Bertrand we wish you a speedy recovery and hope to see you back playing as soon as possible.
Two good wins for Cornish Clubs in National League 1 on Saturday. The Cornish All Blacks travelled to Monks Lane and got the better of Newbury Blues 25-23. Ryan Westren and Ben Turner (2) got the All Blacks’ tries, with Tony Yapp kicking ten points.
After leading Blaydon by 6-0 at half-time, Redruth scored four second half tries to notch up their second win on the trot by 30-12. Skipper Darren Jacques, Lewis Vinnicombe, Chris Morris and Jamie Semmens all crossed for the Reds with Mark Scrivener adding another ten points with the boot.
In the Tribute Leagues. In South West 1 West, a day that St. Ives will want to forget in a hurry as they travelled back from Newton Abbot having conceded 81 points.
In the Western Counties West; match of the day was between the two unbeaten sides as Kingsbridge entertained Camborne with the home side winning 13-9. Town’s David Mankee kicked three penalties.
Truro had a good win at North Petherton winning 26-15, with tries from Chris Gilbert and Sean Rosewarne. Scott Martin’s boot kicked the other points.
Derby day at Newquay where the Hornets took on Wadebridge Camels. Camels winning 26-16, thanks to four tries from Dan Briskham, Tom O’Donnell, Sam Stone and Ben May, Josh Taylor adding three conversions. For the Hornets, a penalty try converted by Chevy Reed who also kicked three penalties.
Bude lost at Minehead by 22-17, despite scoring three tries through Dave Uglow, Steve Yates and Olly Denford. Denford also added a conversion.
Penryn will have been disappointed to lose at home to Tavistock 26-16. James Mann scored a couple of tries for the Borough with Banks kicking a couple of penalties.
Up in London it was a day off in the leagues so no game for London Cornish.
In the Cornwall & Devon League; St. Austell maintained their fine start with another win this time at Saltash 38-17.
Hayle got to back to winning ways with an 18-17 win at home to Bideford. Stithians maintained their fine run with another win this time at Plymstock by 24-17 with three tries from Nathan Thomas. Liskeard & Looe won at home to Teignmouth by 29-16, whilst Falmouth lost 16-0 at Exeter Saracens.
Bedtime reading at the moment is Steve Tomlin and Dick Straughan’s excellent book PIRATES, PIRATES! It’s a great read and I certainly recomend any rugby enthusiast to get hold of a copy. Once completed I shall review the book on the website.
