Cornish Pirates vs London Scottish – Match Report

A Bounce Back Bonus Point Win

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 43 – London Scottish 12

Following their disappointing 44-12 loss away to Doncaster Knights the previous weekend, the Cornish Pirates were naturally pleased with this bounce back win versus London Scottish.

Because of certain damages suffered at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, during recent storms, for their second consecutive home match the Pirates again played at Camborne RFC, where they have been made sportingly welcome.

The Cornish side made several changes for what ahead of the weekend was a ninth versus thirteenth clash in the ‘Champ’, including naming Angus Mawson at full back. A young Australian, he had previously made one appearance for the club as a replacement, besides experiencing valuable game time on loan at Redruth.

Also gifted starts were fly half Louie Sinclair, wing Ben Cambriani, and flanker Luke Ratcliff, whilst for brave and talented scrum-half Dan Hiscocks the match proudly marked his 50^th appearance for the Pirates, which is quite an achievement in less than two seasons.

Having showed early dominance at scrum time in the clubhouse corner, and then swiftly moving the ball from left to right, it was Mawson who hit the line at pace to make it a dream start. Sinclair also added the extra two points.

Early home team dominance continued when lock Josh King showed accustomed determination and power to force London Scottish on the back foot, and after play was ultimately taken to the line it was he who also stretched to score a second converted try.

Catch and drive opportunities were back on the menu this week, as were the try-scoring exploits of hooker Sol Moody. Adding to four tries registered in the win at the ‘Rec’ against Ampthill two weeks previously, he totted up three more, the second of which, besides being converted by Sinclair, was also the team’s bonus point providing fourth try.

The visitors had briefly showed touches of spirited play, including through their full-back Will Talbot-Davies, a former Wales international, and their skipper Matt Wilkinson. However, breaking the Pirates down seemed all but an impossible task, and it was of no surprise when halftime arrived with the score reading 31-0.

Neither side were over happy when play resumed, as London Scottish first lost the services of their fly-half Fraser Honey, who has played for Cornwall in the past, and the Pirates were then reduced to 14 men for ten minutes following the sinbinning of flanker Radcliff.

Wing Noah Ferdinand, an ever present for the exiles team in recent years, threatened on occasions with his running, but it was former Glasgow Warriors’ centre Robbie McCallum who took advantage of space to score his team’s first try of the game, which was one converted by replacement Harry Sheppard.

For the Pirates, after replacement Arwel Robson had run nearly ninety metres in a luckless effort to score wide out left, it was another man off the bench, Rory Suttor, who next made a touchdown.

A final Pirates try, converted by Robson, was scored following a gut busting and determined run by their captain Alex Everett, whilst the last say, despite their hefty defeat, went the way of London Scottish when, following a great effort from their replacement prop Tam Lindsay, it was number 8 Tom Marshall who scored what was but a consolation try.

A last London Scottish victory away to the Cornish Pirates was back in September 2014, when they won 30-19. So, to take a quote from TV’s ‘The Apprentice’ – “The search goes on!”

Commenting at the end of Sunday’s game, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“I thought we had a real strong first half performance when we enjoyed a lot of possession and managed it well to maintain momentum. It showed the boys are learning, and on the hoof as well. Our scrum was strong, our maul very effective, and with work put in we are getting better at line-out time.

“At fly-half, Louie Sinclair showed what a good young prospect he is, and making his first start for us I thought Angus Mawson looked comfortable at the back, showing his aerial skills and kicking well out of hand. As for Sol (Moody), as a young and destructive ball carrier he was once again in fine try-scoring form.

“Looking ahead there are players we will be welcoming back from injury, including the likes of Buster Rice and Jack Forsythe, and after a long layoff John Stevens is not far away.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Angus Mawson 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Ben Cambriani 10 Louie Sinclair 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Alessandro Heaney 2 Sol Moody 3 Alfie Petch 4 Milo Hallam 5 Josh King 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Luke Ratcliff 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements (all used):   16 Matt Pritchard 17 James French 18 Ben Woodmansey 19 Matt Cannon 20 Rory Suttor 21 Will Rigelsford 22 Arwel Robson 23 Harry Yates.

Yellow card:   Ratcliff.

London Scottish:   15 Will Talbot-Davies 14 Noah Ferdinand 13 Alec Lloyd-Seed 12 Robbie McCallum 11 Guy Rogers 10 Fraser Honey 9 Stephen Kerins; 1 Will Prior 2 Harry Clayton 3 Osman Dimen 4 Matt Wilkinson (captain) 5 Theo Vukasinovic 6 Jake Spurway 7 Lewis Barrett 8 Tom Marshall.

Replacements (all used):   16 Jack Wright 17 Tam Lindsay 18 Austin Hay 19 Vaughan Bentley 20 Vereimi Qorowale 21 Murray Redpath 22 Harry Sheppard 23 Matt Gribbon.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: Moody (3), Mawson, King, Suttor, Everett; cons: 10 Sinclair (3), Robson.

London Scottish – tries: McCallum, Marshall; cons: Sheppard.

Referee:   Dan Jones

Attendance:   1176

Tribute ‘Man of the Match’:   Milo Hallam

Thatchers ‘Try of the Match’:   Angus Mawson

📷Pirates' hooker Sol Moody jumps for joy as he celebrates scoring seven tries at Camborne in just two games. - Photo Credit: Brian Tempest