Cornish Pirates Vs Ampthill : Match Report

Published On: 19 May 2025Last Updated: 19 May 2025By CornishStuff

📷 Matt Cannon carried strongly throughout. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Spirited Fight Back Earns Reward

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 38 – Ampthill 33

At home again following their 26-17 result against Hartpury seven days earlier, in this fourth versus eighth Championship clash the Cornish Pirates made it six league wins on the trot after mounting a spirited comeback against a very able Ampthill team.

📷The match marked Matt McNab’s 50th appearance for the Cornish Pirates - and running out ahead of kick-off with him was his happy 2-year-old nephew Zak. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Although the Pirates won well, 33-17, against the Bedfordshire side away in December, they were rightly taking nothing for granted, noting that their opponents lost only narrowly, 36-33, in their local derby encounter at home against the strong Bedford team the previous weekend.

About to make his 50^th appearance for the Cornish Pirates, wing Matt McNab led a home team out that showed no changes, including on the bench, from last time out.

The opening exchanges were evenly contested, before controlled forward play resulted in a try for the Pirates scored by lock Josh King. Fly-half Bruce Houston added the conversion.

Ampthill’s response, however, was similar, as it was not long before their own number ‘5’, Kaden Pearce-Paul – not the only ‘Saracen’ in their ranks – who crashed over for a try converted by full back Josh Barton.

Midway through the half, a successful penalty strike from former Jersey ‘Red’ Barton nudged the visitors in front, which they soon added to when, after some slick passing by their livewire backs, it was their South African winger Byron Sharwood who ran from near halfway to score a spectacular try. Barton once again added the extras and followed up with two penalties to make is 7-23.

With halftime fast approaching there was a feeling the Pirates just had, and needed, to score next. Thankfully, they did. Pressure was applied deep in the Newlyn half, and perseverance ultimately paid off when Jack Forsythe crossed for a converted try. Then, after a not for the first time bullocking run by his fellow flanker Matt Cannon, it was hard-working prop Billy Young who scored another try magnificently converted by Houston.

As the halftime whistle sounded, the atmosphere about the sunny Mennaye Field ground had somewhat heightened. The score read 21-23, but the Pirates had admirably fought their way back. A belter of a second forty was surely on the cards.

When Ampthill got things underway, it was obvious that Pirates’ skipper Alex Everett was charged up and ready, as he gathered and carried the ball with full ferocity and determination. Shortly after, as if duly adding to his day of celebration, it was McNab who scored the team’s fourth and bonus point providing try, which the faultless Houston also converted.

📷Alex Everett - always keen to lead from the front. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Ampthill would hit back to level matters with a try scored by their former New Zealand under 20s hooker Rhys Marshall, before Josh King’s second converted try in the match saw the Pirates back in front. Houston was again on target for the extra two points, before an importantly successful penalty then opened a 10-point lead.

📷Josh King, with ball, celebrates scoring his second try in the match. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

There was credit to Ampthill for nearing the end securing two points from the match, when not only did Fijian replacement Lekima Ravuvu score their fourth try, but the final 38-33 scoreline also gave them a losing bonus point.

Commenting after the game, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“It was a game well contested by both teams, and albeit it a little scrappy at times it was one, and especially the outcome, that our supporters enjoyed.

“When we went behind it was important that some of the boys put their hands up, and the back row especially played very well. I thought Matt Cannon carried strongly, Jack Forsythe was everywhere, and Alex Everett, as ever, led from the front.

“It was at times a little frustrating, when our execution was not at its best, but the effort was always there, and we live and learn before what will be a step-up next week away to Doncaster.”

Cornish Pirates: 15 Will Trewin (22 Iwan Jenkins, 69) 14 Robin Wedlake (23 Harry Yates, 55) 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Will Rigelsford, 73); 1 Billy Young (17 Jenson Boughton, 79) 2 Matt Pritchard (16 Harry Hocking, 55) 3 James French (18 Ben Woodmansey, 23) 4 Charlie Rice (19 Fintan Coleman, 70) 5 Josh King 6 Matt Cannon 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Alex Everett (captain; 20 Tomiwa Agbongbon, 79).

`Ampthill: 15 Josh Barton (23 Evan Mitchell, 56) 14 Mason Cullen 13 Sione Va’enuku 12 Fraser Strachan (captain) 11 Byron Sharwood 10 Luke Davidson 9 Rory Morgan (22 Roan Frostwick, 68); 1 Harrison Courtney (17 James Flynn, 60) 2 Rhys Marshall (16 James Isaacs, 65) 3 James Johnston (18 Dom Hardman, 68) 4 Aidan King (21Jake Parkinson, 78) 5 Kaden Pearce-Paul (19 Kennedy Sylvester, 62) 6 Olamide Sodeke 7 Charles Rylands (20 Lekima Ravuvu, 60) 8 Valentino Mapapalangi.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: 5 Josh King (07, 63) 7 Jack Forsythe (37) 1 Billy Young (40) 11 Matt McNab (46); cons: 10 Bruce Houston (07, 37, 40, 46, 63); pen: 10 Bruce Houston (68).

Ampthill – tries: 5 Kaden Pearce-Paul (19) 11 Byron Sharwood (22) 2 Rhys Marshall (54) 20 Lekima Ravuvu; cons: 15 Josh Barton (11, 22); pens: 15 Josh Barton (20, 29, 33).

Referee: Dan Jones

Assistants: Jonathan Healy & Kevin Williams

Attendance: 1518

‘Tribute’ Man of the match: Jack Forsythe

‘Thatchers’ Try of the match: Billy Young