Penzance & Newlyn vs Ivybridge – Match Report

Perfect Response from The Pirates

By Phil Westren

Penzance & Newlyn 48 – Ivybridge 7

Frustratingly beaten 34-32 away to North Petherton the previous weekend, the Pirates of Penzance & Newlyn made the perfect response at their Mennaye Field home on Saturday.

This was a seventh versus third encounter in Regional 2 SW, in which a tough examination was expected against the experienced visiting ‘Bridgers’ who, founded 50 years ago, were relegated from Regional 1 SW at the end of last season and are clearly keen to bounce back up. Indeed, they arrived at the Mennaye Field on the back of 46-26 win against Crediton at their Cross-in-Hand ground the previous Saturday.

Playing towards Penzance, the Pirates opened their account in the fifth minute when, following a midfield advance, fly-half Richard Brownfield moved the ball left to enable full-back Ben Wragg to cross at the scoreboard corner. On a gloriously sunny but breezy afternoon Brownfield was unable to add the extras.

The determination in the home team faces and with ball in hand was already evident, typified by prop Joe Best and his fellow forwards. Backs too played with purpose and it was centre Oscar Marr, who has also played at both scrum half and fly half already this season, who scored a second unconverted try of the afternoon.

Following a good touch find by the visitors into the old Western National corner, and with penalties also awarded them, the Pirates were forced to defend. This they did well, besides also impressing at scrum time when play was taken to halfway.

A third try for the Pirates, this time converted by Brownfield, was scored by their number 8 and skipper Stan Somers who, leading by example, was a deserved man of the match.

At this stage it was hoped that lessons from the previous week had been learnt, although there was just a slight worry when Ivybridge scored a try through hooker Owen Garner, which was converted by fly-half Harry Newman-Wild. As we know, the Pirates needed not to have felt troubled, and to underline the view their fourth bonus point providing fourth try was scored to the right off the posts by Best.

A 22-7 lead at the break was pleasing, as was the converted try scored early in the second half by Wragg. This was followed by two more converted tries scored by wing Cal Gardner and flanker James Lambourn, before Somers touched down his second to bring matters to an end.

Making his senior debut for the Pirates was replacement wing Callum Walsh, which is an honour achieved by certain other members of the Walsh clan.

Penzance & Newlyn’s head coach Murray Westren, who was a happy man at the final whistle, commented:

“Our loss at North Petherton was frustratingly disappointing, so this was a game when the lads needed to show some real character, and they did just that.

“Playing in this higher league our performances have perhaps been a little up and down, and it is certainly important that we learn along the way. Hopefully, this performance was part of our learning curve for the good, as it showed just what we can do even when making a number of changes.”

Penzance & Newlyn:   15 Ben Wragg 14 Jack Keogh 13 Harris Eddy 12 Oscar Marr 11 Cal Gardner 10 Richard Brownfield 9 Ben Durrant; 1 Dylan Arthur 2 Kenny Jones 3 Joe Best 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 James Lambourn 7 Sam Carroll 8 Stan Somers (captain).

Replacements:   Ben Taylor 17 Dec Prowse 18 Callum Walsh.

Ivybridge:   15 Charlie Teague 14 James Cantin 13 Angus Harris 12 Adam Lilley 11 Owen Alp 10 Harry Newman-Wild 9 Charlie Moody; 1 Rhone Aguisanda 2 Owen Garner 3 Matt Finn (captain) 4 Dan Gloyns 5 Jack Skinner 6 Matt Skeemer 7 Owen Williams 8 Joe Owen.

Replacements:   16 Leo Spencer 17 Louie Ward 18 Tean Cross.

Scorers:

Penzance & Newlyn – tries: Wragg (2), Somers (2), Marr, Best, Gardner, Lambourn; cons: Brownfield (4).

Ivybridge – try: Garner; con: Newman-Wild.

Pictured are happy ‘Pirate’ coaches Murray Westren and John Stevens.

(Penzance & Newlyn are next in action away to Okehampton this coming Saturday the 1^st November) 

📷'Pictured are happy 'Pirate' coaches Murray Westren and John Stevens