Bill Hooper’s Cornish Roundup

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!

Rob Cook is fast making a name for himself with the Pirates’ faithful this season. The former Nuneaton player kicked an injury time conversion at Billesley Common to complete the Pirates second half recovery from 19-0 down at half-time to take the spoils 20-19!

It couldn’t have started worse for the Pirates at Moseley as within 30 seconds of the kick-off fly-half Jonny Bentley had a kick charged down at Moseley had an opening try. Four penalties from Tristan Roberts without reply put the homeside in the driving seat at half-time.

Fired up from the half-time team talk from skipper Gavin Cattle the Pirates set about clawing back the deficit, with Rhodri McAtee scoring the first Pirates’ try, Cook’s conversion plus a couple of penalties left the visitors trailing by six points with still a quarter of the match to play. However time ticked on and the Pirates were still six points adrift as time added on was being played, until Nick Jackson found his way over to set up Cook’s trump card of a boot conversion. Click on the link to read Mark Stevens’ report from the Western Morning News

Mixed results in National League 1, the Cornish All Blacks enjoyed a fine win over visitors Blaydon at Polson winning 34-3 with tries from hooker Darren Semmens centre Mal Roberts, lock Ben Hilton and winger Kerion Lewitt. Tony Yapp converted all four tries plus two conversions. A result which keeps Launceston just behind the top three Esher, London Scottish and Cambridge.

Redruth made the trip to Northumberland losing 32-15 to Tynedale. Redruth did score three tries through Lewis Vinnicombe skipper Darren Jacques and Kiwi Mark Bright, but in the end a game from which they ended up with nothing to show.

In the Tribute regional league in South West 1 West, St. Ives defeated Chosen Hill Former Pupils 33-22 at Alexandra Road in a tempestous game. Four tries for the Hakes from Ashley Weston, Andy Skinner, Tom Outram and a penalty-try award. Ian Morgan’s boot adding the other points.

In Western Counties West, Camborne’s lead at the top has been cut to a point as they were held 11-11 by Truro at St. Clements. Truro led 11-5 at half-time thanks to a try from Mark Lea and two Scott Martin penalties to a try for Camborne from lock Jonny Griffiths. In the second half Dave Mankee kicked two penalties to earn his side a share of the spoils.

The other Cornish derby saw Wadebridge Camels defeat Bude 12-0 at the Molesworth Field. Camels scored a couple of tries from Cam Lees and Ian Boyling, with Josh Taylor adding a conversion.

Penryn had a good win at home against Minehead Barbarians 20-3. Two of the Borough’s four tries were scored by the Mann brothers James and Chris, with Darren Pellow and Sam Harrison scoring the other two.

Newquay lost at Okehampton 21-6 with the Hornets points coming from the boot of Sam Cullen.

Up in London in London 2 SW, London Cornish defeated Bognor 13-8 to record their 5th straight win. Read Dickon Moon’s report here.

In the Cornwall & Devon League, St. Austell lost at Tregorrick 11-9 against un-beaten league leaders Wellington. Falmouth had a good win at the Rec 17-0 against OPM’s, whilst at Moorlands Hayle won the Cornish derby 13-12 against Saltash. The games involving Liskeard & Looe and Stithians were called off.

The date and venue for this season’s Tamar Cup has been announced by the Cornwall RFU. The match will be played on Sunday 7th March at St. Ives. Kick-Off time to be confirmed.

Cornwall’s two home fixtures in the U.20 County Championship have also been announced. On Sunday 7th February they face Gloucestershire at Launceston, then on Sunday 14th March they play Devon at Penryn. Both matches kick-off at 2-30pm. The Away game against Somerset is on Sunday 28th February venue to be confirmed.