Cornish Pirates vs Coventry: Match Report

Published On: 15 December 2024Last Updated: 15 December 2024By CornishStuff

Photo: Full-back Will Trewin was making his 51st appearance for the Cornish Pirates. – Credit: Brian Tempest

Outstanding Pirates Topple League Leaders

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 46 – Coventry 14

This was surely a result that nobody will have forecast. Yes, the Cornish Pirates have shown considerable development with a much-changed squad of recent, but winning this encounter by such a margin against a team that arrived unbeaten at the top of the table was surely expecting too much. To their credit, however, a gifted, spirited and very much together group of players felt otherwise, and it showed. In the process, the Pirates also emphatically outscored their opponents by seven tries to two.

Changes in the Cornish Pirates starting XV from the one that ran out at Caldy the previous weekend saw Chester Ribbons selected in the 12 shirt, Dan Hiscocks named at scrum half, and James French at tight-head prop. Two players on short term loans from Exeter Chiefs were lock/backrower Lewis Pearson, who had been a replacement in the win against Caldy, and backrower Martin Moloney who was making his debut for the Pirates.

Photo: Wing Matt McNab scores a try at the old Western National corner. – Credit: Brian Tempest

After Will Trewin made his 50^th appearance for the club at Caldy, just before kick-off home supporters now had the opportunity to acknowledge the full-back reaching his milestone. These things are important, and due applause was given.

Playing towards Newlyn, post kick-off the Pirates certainly had the better of the opening exchanges. The line-out appeared to be functioning well, and building play close to Coventry’s line an early score looked likely, only for the ball to be knocked on close to the Newlyn posts.

Coventry cleared any danger, but it was not long before the home side took play deep inside their opponent’s half once more. The outcome? It would be the game’s opening try, scored by lock Charlie ‘Buster’ Rice and converted by fly-half Bruce Houston.

There was a brief delay when Coventry’s tight-head prop Matt Johnson, who in the past couple of seasons made 46 appearances for the Pirates, had to be replaced, and 7-0 quickly became 14-0 when Pirates’ flanker Will Gibson scored a converted try. Then, to add to visiting woes, their former Jersey Reds scrum-half Will Lane was yellow-carded.

Paying against 14 men gave the Pirates extra incentive, not that they needed any, but taking advantage anyway they proceeded to score an unconverted try. Good play from skipper Hugh Bokenham provided initial influence, and when the ball ultimately reached the hands of wing Matt McNab, he raced to score at the old Western National corner.

Photo: Forwards Hugh Bokenham, Will Gibson and Lewis Pearson apply pressure on Coventry defender. – Credit: Brian Tempest

Coventry looked to respond when wing James Martin threatened at the scoreboard corner. However, after the Pirates regained possession it was Trewin who would tear off down the right wing and kick ahead. Holding territory, a penalty kick opportunity from some 43 metres came the way of Houston, whose effort missed to the left of the posts, but a bonus point fourth try was not long coming. It was a second for McNab, again wide out left, after a deft nudge from Houston and then pass from centre Charlie McCaig.

A late surge by Coventry did bring benefit when Aussie full-back Liam Richman scored and converted his own try, as the Midlanders at last showed a little more of what they were capable of. The points also acted as a reminder to the Pirates that the outcome of this encounter was not a forgone conclusion and there was still work to do.

Coventry looked to further test their hosts at the start of the second forty, but the Pirates were up for the task. It was perhaps early days to consider a man of the match, though the efforts of each individual in the home outfit, and perhaps even naming the team itself, could be a consideration.

A magnificent kick from Trewin saw the Pirates apply considerable pressure upon their opponents, and when the team’s fifth try came it was scored by debutant Moloney, who broke clear to race some 30 plus metres to the line. Houston also slotted the conversion.

Approaching the hour mark, the impressive Richman scored and added the extras to his second try of the match, but it was the Pirates who then cemented their overall control.

Houston kicked a penalty and now entering proceedings was replacement scrum-half Cam Jones. Dan Hiscocks had played very well with his awareness and slick passing, but now it was Jones’ opportunity, and one immediately taken when he seemingly left three defenders in his wake to score at the clubhouse corner.

Keen to add still further to their tally, the Pirates did just that, when nearing the end of what was a sensational team performance replacement hooker Sol Moody showed strength and determination to score a final converted try.

Photo: Flanker Martin Moloney is about to score on debut for the Cornish Pirates. – Credit: Brian Tempest

Incredibly, the visitors were striving to achieve a first win in Cornwall against the Pirates since they emerged 27-13 victors from a pre-season friendly against Penzance & Newlyn in August 1998, but they were thwarted once more. Arriving with high hopes of holding on to top spot in the Championship, Coventry have now dropped to second, whilst the Cornish Pirates remain in sixth place.

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

“I think a performance has been building, but in all honesty although we were four ties up in the first half, I didn’t think we played particularly well. Having said that our maul and line-out functioned today and, although we’ve still got a bit of a battle in the scrum, our energy was good, we were physical, and the intent was there as well.

“As I have said before, we have been working hard behind the scenes, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer, although a performance like today does boost our confidence. Also, we remember that we were one score from beating Ealing and just one score from beating Bedford, so we haven’t been a million miles away.

“I thought our two recent loan boys from Exeter Chiefs (Lewis Pearson and Martin Moloney) played very well, as did all the lads across the board, with our skipper Hugh Bokenham, Mr. Consistency, setting the right example.

“Seeing and hearing the crowd being a bit more vocal was great, as was the weather. The pitch was also looking good, which enabled us to play bit, as we now look forward to getting ready to welcome Doncaster Knight to the Mennaye next Sunday.”

Cornish Pirates: 15 Will Trewin (22 Iwan Price-Thomas, 72) 14 Arthur Relton 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Chester Ribbons 11 Matt McNab (23 Robin Wedlake, 72) 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Cam Jones, 68); 1 Billy Young (17 Oisin Michel, 55) 2 Harry Hocking (16 Sol Moody, 59) 3 James French (18 Jay Tyack, 39) 4 Charlie Rice (19 Matt Cannon, 63) 5 Lewis Pearson 6 Martin Moloney 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain; 20 Josh King, 74).

Coventry: 15 Liam Richman 14 David Opoku (22 Charlie Robson, 52) 13 Ryan Hutler 12 Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti 11 James Martin 10 Tommy Mathews 9 Will Lane (21, Josh Barton, 50); 1 Toby Trinder (17 Jevaughn Warren, 55) 2 Jordon Poole (captain;16 Will Biggs, 55) 3 Matt Johnson (18 Eliot Salt, 15) 4 James Tyas 5 Obinna Nkwocha (19 Dan Green, 64) 6 Tom Ball 7 Aaron Hinkley (20 Chester Owen, 50) 8 Senitiki Nayalo (23 Daniel Okeke, 55).

Yellow card: 9 Will Lane (19)

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: 12 Charlie Rice (12) 7 Will Gibson (16) 11 Matt McNab (22, 31) 6 Martin Moloney (54) 21 Cam Jones (71) 16 Sol Moody, 74); cons: 10 Bruce Houston (13, 17, 55, 76) pen: 10 Bruce Houston (70).

Coventry – tries: 15 Liam Richman (38, 57) cons: 15 Liam Richman (39, 58)

Referee: George Selwood

Assistants: James Cornell & Simon Adams

‘Tribute’ Man of the Match: Lewis Pearson

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match: Matt McNab (his first try)

Attendance: 1555