Cornish Pirates climb to fourth after six-try win at Rotherham

By Phil Westren

Rotherham Titans 21 Cornish Pirates 40

Following their excellent 48-24 Elior Champ Rugby win at home to Chinnor last time out, and after a welcome week off, in Round six of the competition the Cornish Pirates travelled ‘Up North’ on Sunday to face Rotherham Titans. Importantly, in recording their first win on the road this season, and with a bonus point, they also move up to fourth in the league table.

Promoted back to the level after eight years at the end of last season, the Titans, whose Director of Rugby is former Pirates’ coach Harvey Biljon, have been quick to find their feet and were expected to provide tough opposition for what ahead of the weekend was a fourth versus sixth in the league clash.

One change in the backs for the Cornish Pirates saw a welcome return to fitness for Chester Ribbons, whilst in the forwards fit again Milo Hallam was selected to partner Josh King in the second row and Morgan Nelson was named as the starting hooker.

Grey and drizzle at Clifton Lane

Reports were of a sunny and blue sky back in Penzance, which was different to the grey and drizzle in Yorkshire when Pirates’ fly-half Arwel Robson kicked the game off. Also, of general interest, among several changes about Clifton Lane the pitch has been turned ninety degrees.

Former Pirates’ scrum half ‘JB’ Bruzulier was one to watch in the home side, and he was quick to display his cloud-seeking kicks out of hand. His side also opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour when, following a penalty award, fly-half Russell Bennett posted the ball left to touch. From the resultant line-out hooker Morgan Veness found the hands of flanker John Okafor and, in a blink of an eye, the team’s former rugby league man, No. 8 Callum Bustin, opened the scoring with a try that centre Lloyd Hayes converted.

📷Pirates' skipper Alex Everett in his usual determined mode. Credit: Brian Tempest

Pirates take control

To take a lead was one that the Titans deserved. However, getting more into the game the Pirates would respond with Ribbons to the fore and wing Arthur Relton then spotting space to take advantage of, which he did to score a try at the posts to which Robson added the extra two points to draw the scores level.

The Pirates were now much sharper, with skipper Alex Everett setting his usual example and Relton once again showing his pace and running skills. Forwards Hugh Bokenham and Alfie Petch were making their mark and when attacking close to the posts it was Robson who scored and converted his own try.

Near the end of the half the Titans threatened, but without any joy, and to complete the first half scoring patience for the Pirates was pleasingly rewarded. Bokenham was the man to ultimately apply the necessary downward pressure for a converted try scored to the right of the posts, and at the break the scoreline read 21-7 in favour of the Pirates.

📷Wing Henry Palmer is on his way to scoring one of the Pirates' six tries. Credit: Brian Tempest

The second forty

At the start of the second forty it was obvious, and understandably so, that the Titans sought to score next. The Pirates, however, had other ideas, and it was a super break and run from wing Henry Palmer that ended with a wriggle that enabled him to register a converted try.

A response by the Titans saw full-back Isaac Shaw run brilliantly into the Pirates’ ‘22’, and close to the line it was hard-working prop Zac Nearchou who scored a converted try.

Scrum time was going well for the Pirates, as was their line-out and driving maul. Second rower Josh King was putting in a man of the match performance and it was hooker Morgan Nelson who next scored for the Cornish side.

Wing Ben Cambriani, who featured for the Pirates last year, took his opportunity to cross the line for the Titans third try, to which Hayes again added the extras, but in no mood to lose this encounter it was Pirates’ replacement hooker Matt Pritchard who scored after a controlled 10 metres drive to the line. Replacement Angus Mawson’s conversion attempt was also successful for the final score to read 21-40 in favour of the much-pleased Pirates.

What Gavin Cattle said

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

“I’m really chuffed with the way the boys stuck to task, and after a long journey our energy levels were impressive.

“The conditions were not easy, and we were aware of their scrum half JB Bruzulier’s box kicking, but we dealt with things well and our response tactically was really pleasing.

“Our intent this week was to play through for the space to open up and having come through the first block of games we were looking to add to our game, which is something we’ll continue to do.”

The teams

Rotherham Titans: 15 Isaac Shaw 14 Jackson Barling 13 Lloyd Hayes 12 Ali Mgijima 11 Ben Cambriani 10 Russell Bennett 9 JB Bruzulier; 1 Zac Nearchou 2 Morgan Veness 3 Corrie Barrett 4 Curran Maguire 5 Frankie Gascoigne 6 John Okafor 7 Travis Gordon (captain) 8 Callum Bustin.

Replacements: 16 Dewald Kotze 17 Zach Toerien 18 Tom Bairstow 19 Louis Guthrie 20 Harry Stone 21 Lekima Ravuvu 22 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti 23 Mitchell Lacey-Babalolo.

Cornish Pirates: 15 Will Becconsall 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Harry Ascherl 11 Henry Palmer 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Alessandro Heaney 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Alfie Petch 4 Milo Hallam 5 Josh King 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Hugh Bokenham.

Replacements: 16 Matt Pritchard 17 Jamie Clark 18 Oscar Dimen 19 Matt Cannon 20 Tomi Agbongbon 21 Angus Mawson 22 Joe Elderkin 23 Josh Radcliffe.

Scorers

Rotherham Titans – tries: Bustin, Nearchou, Cambriani; cons: Hayes (3).

Cornish Pirates – tries: Relton, Robson, Bokenham, Palmer, Nelson, Pritchard; cons: Robson (4), Mawson.

Referee: Charlie Gayther.

Man of the Match: Josh King.

📷Arwel Robson scores a try for the Pirates at the posts. Credit: Brian Tempest