Match report | Cornish Pirates 48-24 Chinnor
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In Round 5 of this season’s Elior Champ Rugby campaign, recovering from their 38-14 loss at Bedford Blues the previous weekend, the Cornish Pirates bounced back to ultimately record this convincing victory at home on Saturday against Chinnor.
After former ‘Pirate’ Harry Dugmore led the visitors onto the field, followed soon after by the talismanic figure of Hugh Bokenham who was making his 50th appearance for the Pirates, the match kicked off at the Mennaye Field at the earlier than usual time of 1pm
This was an eighth versus fourth affair in the league, so the Pirates were expecting a tough inspection against ‘The Villagers’, to give Chinnor their nickname.
With certain unavailability there were various changes in the home squad for this encounter. In the backs Will Becconsall was selected at full-back in place of Henry Palmer, who was named on the wing, and Josh Radcliffe moved into the centre to partner Harry Ascherl. Matt Pritchard started at hooker and two players from Exeter Chiefs were among the replacements. Both backs, they were former England under 20s international Ben Coen, who made one appearance for the Pirates last season, and Kiwi Charlie Poynton, an arrival in the week at the Mennaye Field on loan.
On another welcome sunny afternoon, and after both sides tested opposition defences, it was Chinnor who opened the scoring in the eleventh minute. Wing Jack Metcalfe and centre James Bourton combined well and when the ball was moved left it was Kiwi full-back Nick Smith who crossed for a try at the scoreboard corner. Fly-half Liam Richman added the extras.
Midway through the half the Pirates responded to score their opening try, when prop Alessandro Heaney took advantage of a fumble to win a chase and touch down for an unconverted try at the old Western National corner.
Just past the half hour mark, after forceful play from skipper Alex Everett and hooker Matt Pritchard, space was spotted wide out left for the ball to be moved to wing Henry Palmer who sped to the line for a try converted by fly-half Arwel Robson. Then, all but from the restart, Palmer made it a brace with his second converted score.
The Pirates were on fire, with scrum half Dan Hiscocks to the fore. However, former England player Nick Easter‘s Chinnor not only nullified the danger but also reduced the deficit just before halftime thanks to an unconverted try awarded to experienced hooker Alun Walker.
Although 19-12 up, at this stage the outcome for the Pirates was too difficult to predict. Two minutes into the second forty, following a fine run by Becconsall a Robson penalty did extend the home team’s lead, but the Villagers then responded to turn things around to go 24-22 up before the hour mark. Metcalf and Walker were try-scorers, the second of which was converted by Richman.
Now was a test for the Pirates to show their credentials, and with crowd urging them on they did just that. A second try for Heaney, and then one for 50 games man Bokenham, both of which Robson converted, made it 36-24 with ten minutes to go.
Suddenly, the Pirates were in total control, with man of the match Becconsall’s excellent score converted by replacement Ben Coen. The 50 points mark was in focus, and despite Charlie Poynton celebrating his debut with a spectacular try, the match ended just two points short. Of course, it mattered not – as it was job done!
Speaking at the end of the game, much pleased Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle commented:
“For us it was pleasing result, having in that second half showed maturity in terms of game control. Obviously, we boxed quite high up the pitch to stay in the battle, and in a tricky wind, and we importantly pulled the trigger at the right time.
“The disappointing thing from last week was not getting our backs on the ball, but this week we showed we are learning and progressing. I thought Will Becconsall had a cracking game at fullback. People questioned his selection there, but it is a role where he features quite a lot in training, and he is effective there.
“On reflection we have all said that we can be a little bit flat and slow to start, and sometimes that does especially happen when you have travel to contend with, as per last week. But what I would say too is that once we had a couple of days to look at the game it was thought we overplayed our forwards and missed so many opportunities for our backs to have a hand in the match, and that was a disappointing thing.
“We signed the likes of Henry Palmer and Josh Radcliffe to express themselves and they were pleasingly able to today, so it was good that we changed things. Also, once again, the crowd played a part, and with the weather great once more and the reverberation from the stand, the created noise makes a difference.”
Cornish Pirates: 15 Will Becconsall 14 Arthur Relton 13 Josh Radcliffe 12 Harry Ascherl 11 Henry Palmer 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Alessandro Heaney 2 Matt Pritchard 3 Alfie Petch 4 Matt Cannon 5 Josh King 6 Alex Everett (captain) Jack Forsythe 8 Hugh Bokenham.
Replacements: 16 Morgan Nelson 17 Jamie Clark 18 Osman Dimen 19 Tomi Agbongbon 20 Luke Ratcliff 21 Ben Coen 22 Charlie Poynton 23 Finn Love.
Yellow cards: Pritchard and Nelson.
Chinnor: 15 Nick Smith 14 Jack Metcalf 13 James Bourton 12 Tomos Florence 11 Ben Currie 10 Liam Richman 9 Callum Pascoe; 1 Ramaz Rukhadze 2 Alun Walker 3 Rob Hardwick 4 Jamie Campbell 5 Conor-Terrah Brockschmidt 6 Harry Dugmore (captain) 7 Isaiah Wharton 8 Morgan Passman.
Replacements: 16 Luke Thompson 17 Oscar Stott 18 Andy Darlington 19 Scott Hall 20 Josh du Toit 21 Zach Lewis 22 Nathan Chamberlain 23 Will Cave.
Yellow cards: Dugmore and Campbell.
Scorers: Cornish Pirates – tries: Heaney (2), Palmer (2), Bokenham, Becconsall, Poynton; cons: Robson (4), Coen; pen: Robson. Chinnor – tries: Smith, Walker (2), Metcalf; cons: Richman (2).
Referee: Andy Wigley.
Assistants: Henry Lowis & Emmerson Wood.
‘Tribute’ Man of the Match: Will Becconsall.
‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match: Alessandro Heaney (his first try).
Attendance: 1736
