St. Ives vs Pirates Amateurs : Match Report

Photo: Pirates’ fly-half Oscar Marr looks to get his backline moving – Credit: Brian Tempest

Derby Match Win for The ‘Ams’

By Phil Westren

St. Ives 14   Pirates Amateurs 20 

Played at sunny St. Ives on Saturday, this local derby affair in the Counties 1 Tribute Western West league provided the expected competitive contest. It was close, as the scoreline indicates, but having the edge it was the visiting Pirates Amateurs who deserved the spoils.

St. Ives’ fly-half Grant Thirlby opened the scoring with a successful penalty strike, and he would slot two more in the first forty. However, it was pressure applied by the Pirates that led to kick at goal opportunities for their full-back Ben Wragg who, with his reliable boot, slotted four off the tee. Also, with a try scored by wing Rhodri McAtee, it gave the ‘Ams’ a 17-9 haltime lead.

Photo: Pirates’ centre Harris Eddy is about to hand off a St. Ives defender.- Credit: Brian Tempest

In fine conditions one expected the game to open and flow in the second period, but for one reason and another this just didn’t materialise. An early try scored by home scrum-half James Marsden narrowed the deficit, and there was a fifth well struck penalty by Wragg, but after that the scoring surprisingly dried up, as the Pirates held out for their deserved victory.

Commenting after the game, Pirates Amateurs’ head coach Murray Westren said:

“This was an excellent derby match win away from home. We played some great rugby in the first half, when we felt very much on top.

“In the second half, however, the game lost its flow, becoming very stop start and disjointed, so it was of credit to the boys that they thankfully showed an admirable amount of maturity to see the game out.”

Photo: Centre Morgan Holman tries to break clear for the Pirates.- Credit: Brian Tempest

St. Ives:   15 Jacob Ninnes 14 Billy Bassett 13 Adam Harris 12 Dan-Rhys Evans 11 Matty Turton 10 Grant Thirlby 9 James Marsden; 1 James Curnow 2 Liam McFadden 3 Hayden King 4 Rob Farley 5 Will Perkin 6 Joe Lucas 7 Sean Stevens 8 Chris Warren.

Replacements:   16 Levi Webster 17 Teilo Jenkins 18 Jimmy Stevens.

Pirates Amateurs:  15 Ben Wragg 14 Rhodri McAtee 13 Morgan Holman 12 Harris Eddy 11 Jake Hole 10 Oscar Marr 9 Sam Carter; 1 Dylan Arthur 2 Ted Hocking 3 Dave Penrose 4 Toby Osborne 5 Ben Martin 6 Stan Somers (captain) 7 Sam Carroll 8 Archie Pilcher.

Replacements:  16 Joe Best 17 Charlie Dalkins 18 John Tyler.

Scorers:

St. Ives – try: James Marsden; pens: Grant Thirlby (3).

Pirates Amateurs – try: Rhodri McAtee; pens: Ben Wragg (4).

(For their next league game the Pirates Amateurs are at home to Kingsbridge this coming Saturday – ko 3pm)

Photo: Maul time energy is exerted by both teams at sunny St. Ives. – Credit: Brian Tempest