Pirates Push ‘Super Cup’ Winners Close

By Phil Westren

Saturday saw last season’s delayed Tribute CRFU Super Cup Final played at Polson Bridge, Launceston. Competing teams comprised the host club who were joined by Penzance & Newlyn and Wadebridge Camels, the trio featuring in a tournament whereby three matches of 40 minutes were played over two halves of 20 minutes, with the three teams each playing twice to decide the winner.

Launceston ultimately emerged the deserved winners, though they didn’t have it all their own way. Indeed, after taking a 7-0 lead in the opening game against the Pirates, a determined and powerful early second half response by their opponents painted a different picture. Two unconverted tries through hooker Connor Bick and flanker Sam Carroll saw the Pirates ahead, with the final outcome not surprisingly too difficult to call.

A fortuitous cross field kick led to the home team registering their second converted try to make it 14-10, before the Pirates then applied immense forward pressure, which saw them twice held up over the line. Then, to rub salt in their wounds, a final converted try for Launceston saw them emerge 21-10 winners. That the Pirates were left a little despondent and frustrated was wholly understandable.

Next up was a clash between Wadebridge Camels and Launceston. Like the first game it was competitive throughout, however the home side ‘All Blacks’ were potent when it mattered in recording a 26-0 victory.

In their second and final game at a sunny Polson Bridge, the Pirates won 14-12 to finish runners-up in the competition. John Tyler scored a fine try to which Dan Rhys Evans added the extras, but the Pirates were then put under pressure when losing a man to the sin bin. Keeping their focus, the result did though go the way of the West Cornwall side, 14-12, thanks to a converted try scored by Wes Eddy.

So, Launceston lifted the ‘Super Cup’, but with plaudits to all three sides for the effort and skill on display. The afternoon should prove of benefit to each committed team.

Speaking at the end of a competitive afternoon, Pirates’ head coach Murray Westren said:

“I thought our first game was tough and could have gone either way, it decided by a sucker punch which left a scoreline that didn’t reflect the game.

“Our set piece was pleasing and despite not finishing off one or two opportunities that we created against Launceston, I felt it was a really good performance against a team who, in league terms, play one above us.

“In our second game the effort and fight the lads showed for each other was tremendous. It was close but we pleasingly came out on the right side.”

The selected Penzance & Newlyn side for the game against Launceston was as follows: 15 Oscar Marr 14 Calum Gardner 13 Harris Eddy 12 Josh Semmens 11 Harvey Stone 10 Rhys Brownfield 9 Sam Carter; 1 Kyle Beasley 2 Connor Bick 3 Joe Best 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 Stan Somers 7 Sam Carroll 8 Maleli Naiova.

Replacements: 16 Wes Eddy 17 James Lambourn 18 Dan Rhys Evans.

For the game against Wadebridge the selection was: 15 John Tyler 14 Calum Gardner 13 Harris Eddy 12 Jordan Church 11 Harvey Stone 10 Oscar Marr 9 Dan Rhys Evans; 1 Maleli Naiova 2 Wes Eddy 3 James Lambourn 4 Ben Nicholas 5 Sam Heath 6 Tom Hutton (captain) 7 Eli Williams 8 Sam Carroll.

Replacements: 16 Connor Bick 17 Kyle Beasley 18 Nick Nowell 19 Stan Somers 20 Rhys Brownfield 21 Josh Semmens.

📷Credit: Phil Westren