After last Saturday’s televised 52-10 dismantaling of Leeds Carnegie at fortress Mennaye, the Cornish Pirates crossed the Tamar to take on local rivals Plymouth Albion at the Brickfields.And on a scorching October day that would not have looked out of place on the set of the Pirates of the Carribean the Pirates maintained top spot in the RFU Championship with a solid 20-16 win on Devonian soil.
A welcome back in Pirates’ colours for fly-half Jonny Bentley making his first appearence of the season. No Alan Paver in the front row for the Pirates as he has gone on loan to the Exeter Chiefs, coming on at Sandy Park in the 17-13 defeat to Champions Saracens. Good on you Paves.
Skipper Gavin Cattle and full back David Doherty scored the Pirates’ two tries whilist the kicked points were shared by Grant Pointer and Cieron Thomas, who replaced Bentley just after the half-hour mark, with a penalty and conversion each.
England U.18 player Henry Slade scored Albion’s try with full back James Love adding the conversion and three penalties.
Always a satisfying win at the Brickfields and no doubt both teams will have a much changed line up when they meet again at the Brickfields on Wednesday week in the British & Irish Cup. You can read Dick Straughan’s WMN match report in the link here.
Next Sunday the Pirates have a tasty looking encounter at the Mennaye against Bedford Blues with a 3pm kick-off.
National League 2 South saw mixed fortunes for our two Cornish clubs. After the agony of their 14-13 defeat last week at home to Henley Hawks, Redruth travelled to the Forest of Dean to take on Lydney. Never an easy place to get a result, Redruth travelled home with all five league points after a 27-21 win. Redruth scored five tries at Regentsholme. Try scorers were Owen Hambly, Tom Duncan (yet again!), Chris Fuca, Greg Goodfellow and Tom Notman. Brett Rule adding a conversion.
You can read Ed Bawden’s WMN match report in the link here.
Redruth will look to carry on their fine performance at home next Saturday against Hartpury College.
The Cornish All Blacks lost at home to Worthing by 25-24. A fifth defeat out of six starts is not what the Polson faithful would have hoped for this season, and once again it was by a narrow margin. Jake Murphy, Lewis Paterson and Josh Lord scored the All Blacks’ tries with Kieron Lewitt kicking all three conversions and a penalty.
You can read Dick Benson-Gyles WMN match report in the link here.
Next week the Cornish All Blacks travel to Southend who are just ahead of them in the league table.
In Tribute South West 1 West, Camborne enjoyed a fine win at the Rec defeating Thornbury 35-21, scoring five tries through wingers Rob Floyd (2), prop forward John Court, flanker Sam Matavesi and full back Joe Parma. Grant Thirlby kicked the remaining points with two conversions a drop-goal and a penalty.
A tough afternoon for Wadebridge Camels at Astley Park as they went down to Brixham 55-20. Matt Diamond and Sam Stone scored the Camel’s two tries with James Taylor adding both conversions and a couple of penalties, as the Camels turned around 38-20 down. But it was Brixham who kicked on during the second half.
Penryn couldn’t make it two wins on the trot as they also lost in South Devon 32-22 at Sidmouth. Phil Hinchley, Lewis Vague and James Mann scored the Borough’s three tries with Adryan Winnan adding a couple of conversions and a penalty.
In Tribute Western Counties West, St. Austell, who this week welcomed back Matt Shepherd from his brief spell at Redruth, defeated St. Ives 31-8 at Tregorrick. Shepherd was on hand with the boot to convert all four of St. Austell’s tries and a penalty. The tries came from James Earp, Hugh Noott, Paul Winterbottom and Ian Venner. For the Hakes Neil Corin scored a try and Jamie Prisk a penalty.
In the other games involving Cornish clubs Truro lost at Ivybridge 12-0, whilst Bude went down at Wellington 45-29.
Up in London 2 SW, London Cornish enjoyed a fine win over Teddington 23-20. Dickon Moon’s report can be found here.
Pirates Amateurs and Hayle are both setting the pace in Tribute Cornwall & Devon League with five wins from five. The Amateurs latest success came at the Mennaye when they beat Totnes 64-0 scoring ten tries under the hot sun.
Hayle defeated Withycombe 49-10 to maintain second spot just behind the Amateurs on points difference.
Elsewhere in this league, Falmouth lost at Honiton 26-15. Liskeard / Looe lost at Lux Park to Crediton 24-15, whilst Newquay Hornets won the derby game against Veor 32-10.
