Penzance & Newlyn vs Tiverton – Match Report

‘Tivvy’ Effort Frustrates the Pirates

By Phil Westren

Penzance & Newlyn 18 – Tiverton 24

This was a game that the Pirates could well have won if it was not for Tiverton’s dogged performance in defence. Indeed, the home side was held up over the line on at least three occasions, which ultimately proved more than a little frustrating.

On an afternoon when the weather was much improved than what might have been expected, it was the Pirates who opened the scoring with less than two minutes on the clock. Firstly, attacking down the left, after the advance was taken up by their determined pack of forwards, it was hooker Kenny Jones who scored an unconverted try at the old Western National corner.

It was a case of so far, so good. However, Tiverton pulled three points back when, after making their first visit inside the Pirates’ ‘22’, fly-half Callum Stone slotted a penalty kick on offer from the left of the Penzance posts.

📷Both packs slog it out at the Mennaye Field. - Photo Credit: Brian Tempest

Strong ball carriers already impressing in this encounter were lock Ben Martin, for the Pirates, and his opposite number Jonny ‘The Fridge’ Fairclough for Tiverton, who were now settling into the match. Indeed, the Devon side would soon take the lead when space was created for centre George Whiting to fire out a pass to enable wing Toby Matthews to score a converted try and the clubhouse corner.  

From the restart, man of the match Joe Best ran powerfully for the Pirates, as would his fellow prop Dec Prowse, and from a penalty award and a successful strike by fly-half Rhys Brownfield three points were pulled back.

On the touchline Tiverton’s coach Jon Hill, who is head coach at Exeter College, and has previously enjoyed levels of success with Exmouth and the Cornish All Blacks, would have expected this seventh versus second Regional 2 South West match to be close, likewise Pirates’ head coach Murray Westren. For good reasons they were both right – it was keeping to script.

📷Pirates' wing Ben Wragg strives to break clear. - Photo Credit: Brian Tempest

With backs and forwards well involved, the Pirates soon regained the lead when Best powered over at the Newlyn posts. Full-back Sam Cahill added the extras and hopes were high that they would then register a third try, but it didn’t materialise, as didn’t an attempted penalty kick by Cahill that unluckily rebounded off one of the Newlyn posts.

In the build to halftime Tiverton regained the lead when centre Callum Findlay scored a converted try to the left of the Penzance posts, whilst the penalty count against the home outfit, not only rose, but the ball was also spilled when a try appeared to have been scored.

So, with a 15-17 scoreline at the break, the likely outcome was still too close to call, but with the Pirates cause suffering a 10-minute blow when early in the second period centre Oscar Marr was shown a yellow card by exchange referee Chrissy Clark from the Oxford Society.

📷Lock Nick Nowell wins clean line-out ball for the Pirates. - Photo Credit: Brian Tempest

As the shadows lengthened in the afternoon sun, on three occasions the Pirates were frustrating held up over the line, but there was considerable praise too for the defensive effort displayed by the visitors.

A final try of the afternoon was scored wide out left by Tiverton wing Josh Vanstone. Stone added a fine conversion and there was now nine points separating the two sides, but still time for the Pirates to get something out of the match. A win was not impossible, and they did fight to nearing the end, before at the very last Brownfield’s sudden drop goal at least gave the team a losing bonus point.

Speaking after the match, Penzance & Newlyn’s head coach Murray Westren said:

“Tiverton arrived second in the league for good reason. They are a strong, experienced, and well coached outfit, but we pushed them close, which is pleasing. However, having put in several similar performances we now need to learn from such games and ultimately take ours up a level.”

📷Man of the match Joe Best receives his award from Jack Nicholas. - Photo Credit: Brian Tempest

Penzance & Newlyn:   15 Sam Cahill 14 Ben Wragg 13 Josh Semmens 12 Oscar Marr 11 Cal Gardner 10 Rhys Brownfield 9 Ben Durrant; 1 Dec Prowse 2 Kenny Jones 3 Joe Best 4 Ben Martin 5 Jamie Eddy 6 Tom Hutton 7 Sam Carroll 8 Stan Somers (captain).

Replacements (all used):   16 Ben Taylor 17 James Lambourn 18 Joey Norways.

Yellow card:   Marr.

Tiverton:   15 Ben Bingham 14 Toby Matthews 13 George Whiting 12 Callum Findlay 11 Josh Vanstone 10 Callum Stone 9 Adam Howell; 1 Ben Blake 2 Reece Lyons 3 Will Norton 4 Jonny Fairclough 5 Matt Hague (captain) 6 Tom Stevens 7 Ben Vickery 8 Joe Webber.

Replacements (all used):   16 Lewis Manning 17 Ben Ladd 18 Gabriel MacDonald.

Scorers:

Penzance & Newlyn – tries: Jones, Best; con: Cahill; pen:  Brownfield; drop goal: Brownfield.

Tiverton – tries: Matthews, Findlay, Vanstone: cons: Stone (3)                       pen: Stone.

Man of the Match:   Joe Best.

Referee:   Chrissy Clark (Oxford Society).

(There was better luck for the Pirates 2^nd team who, travelling  to play Bude II, had a comfortable 69-0 win.)

📷Photo Credit: Brian Tempest

📷Man of the match Joe Best takes on a solid Tiverton defence. - Photo Credit: Brian Tempest