Cornish Pirates 57-21 Chinnor | Match Report

With four league games remaining ahead of the play-offs to involve the top six in Elior Champ Rugby this season, in Round 23 the Cornish Pirates welcomed Chinnor to the Mennaye Field on Saturday for an important seventh versus fifth contest. Important, indeed, and one from which the impressively dominant Pirates not only emerged comfortable winners but also moved back up to sixth in the league table.

There were several changes in the Cornish Pirates starting XV from the one that ran out at to Bedford Blues the previous weekend. At full-back there was a return to playing action for Iwan Price-Thomas and, with Harry Yates switching from midfield to wing, Joe Elderkin was named to partner Chester Ribbons in the centre. Scrum half Dan Hiscocks was injured, so Will Becconsall stepped up to take his place for what was his first start in Pirates’ colours. As for the forwards, Morgan Nelson was named at hooker, whilst prop Billy Young and flanker Luke Ratcliff came into the side in place of presently injured duo James French and John Stevens.

A fresh face named on the bench was 24-year-old centre Harry Ascherl, who has played for Bristol Bears in the past and is on loan at present until the end of the season from Exeter Chiefs.

It was remembered that Chinnor, who are coached by former England backrower Nick Easter, won well against the Pirates, 47-10, just before Christmas, so a stern test was expected by the home side, who were though naturally keen to achieve a morale-boosting win.

Light rain showers and strong winds were forecast, and although the wind proved a little bit tricky, on what was ultimately a pleasantly sunny afternoon the expected rain pleasingly held off.

The visitors started well enough, with their long-serving South African former ‘Pirate’ Kieran Goss a threat on the left wing. His early nudge ahead went close to getting a reward at the old Western National corner, at a time when Chinnor’s skipper and scrum half Luke Carter was also busy bringing players into play.

As for an opening score? Well, it went the way of the Pirates after prop Alfie Petch displayed deft handling skills for the ball to be shifted left. Two penalty awards followed and from the second a drive to the line at the scoreboard corner ended with hooker Morgan Nelson applying the necessary pressure for a try well converted by fly-half Arwel Robson.

Chinnor were quick to hit back, and after fly-half Nathan Chamberlain found touch deep on the left to form their own potent catch and drive, it was flanker Will Cave who was later confirmed as a try-scorer. At times making an immediate decision as to who scored is not clear cut. This was such a case. Most about thought it was former Pirates’ flanker Harry Dugmore who scored, whilst others said it was hooker Chris Moore. Surprising for some, a close watch on replay confirmed it was Cave who delivered the goods, with Chamberlain’s conversion levelling matters.

The first quarter was proving both competitive and entertaining, and certainly for Pirates’ supporters when some slick handling witnessed ended with wing Harry Yates making it to the line for an unconverted try scored wide out left.

Man of the match Arwel Robson was already standing out, on this occasion when running with ball in hand, and skipper Alex Everett was once again his usual forceful self. Chinnor also had several eye-catching performers, and none more so than the play of prop Robin Hardwick.

Back in action Pirates’ full-back Iwan Price-Thomas was looking comfortable on his return to playing, as witnessed when he not only finished off a fine move to score at the Penzance posts, but also for good measure wasted no time to add the extras.

The home crowd were enjoying what they were witnessing, and after a break into space by Robson it was a happy Yates who scored his second try before the interval to give the Pirates a 24-7 halftime lead. A four-try bonus point was also in the bag.

With the wind on their backs for the second forty, the Pirates firstly got off to a great start when an attack down the left ended with a try by centre Joe Elderkin, and then it was the turn of wing Arthur Relton and scrum half Will Becconsall who both scored well executed converted tries.

Chinnor replied with a converted score by full-back Freddie Owsley, only for the Pirates to hit the 50 points mark thanks to a converted effort from centre Chester Ribbons.

A third and final converted try for the visitors was registered by wing Grant Hughes, which followed a quick pop-up pass by replacement scrum half Callum Pascoe, and then it was Pirates’ skipper Everett who scored the game’s final try – and his team’s ninth – on what had proved a thoroughly entertaining afternoon. Replacement Angus Mawson duly added the extra two points.

Commenting after the game, happy Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“Obviously, I was really pleased with the performance. We said at the start of the week that it would be like a Cup Final for us and that is the way we approached it. Yes, there is still work to do but importantly we are still in the fight having achieved the outcome sought.

“Chinnor are a dogged side, and they kept striving to come back at us, but recalling that our away defeat against them was one of the lows for us this season the boys were keen to respond, which they did, both with physicality and with our execution, to overall make it a pleasing performance.”

Looking ahead, Gavin added:

“We just need now to maximise points where we can, and with the confidence gained just keep on fighting.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Harry Yates 10 Arwel Robson 9 Will Becconsall; 1 Billy Young 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Alfie Petch 4 Milo Hallam 5 Matt Cannon 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Luke Ratcliff 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Sol Moody 17 Ollie Andrews 18 Ben Woodmansey 19 Rory Suttor 20 Jack Forsythe 21 Will Rigelsford 22 Angus Mawson 23 Harry Ascherl.

Yellow card:   Everett.

Chinnor:   15 Freddie Owsley 14 Grant Hughes 13 Sam Hanks 12 James Bourton 11 Kieran Goss 10 Nathan Chamberlain 9 Luke Carter (captain); 1 Ramaz Rukhadze 2 Chris Moore 3 Robin Hardwick 4 Jamie Campbell 5 Conor Brockschmidt 6 Harry Dugmore 7 Will Cave 8 Isaiah Wharton.

Replacements:   16 Alun Walker 17 Lawson Porter 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout 19 William Ryan 20 Karl Mail 21 Callum Pascoe 22 Joe Brock 23 Scott Hall.

Scorers:  

Cornish Pirates – tries: Yates (2), Nelson, Price-Thomas, Elderkin, Relton, Becconsall, Ribbons, Everett; cons: Robson (4), Price-Thomas, Mawson.

Chinnor – tries: Cave, Owsley, Hughes; cons: Chamberlain (3).

Referee:   Harry Walbaum

Tribute ‘Man of the Match’:   Arwel Robson

Thatchers ‘Try of the Match’:   Arthur Relton

Attendance:   1687