Cornish Pirates vs Exeter Chiefs – Match Report

Pirates Overpower the Chiefs

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 61 – Exeter Chiefs 14

Welcoming Exeter Chiefs to the Mennaye Field on Friday evening, against a generally young Devon outfit the Cornish Pirates emerged comfortable winners, a try-count of nine to two in their favour confirming their level of dominance.

It was the third and final pre-season game for the home team, and in front of a crowd of just over 2000 the Friday night floodlights helped brighten up their performance.

After warrior-like lock Josh King emerged first from the tunnel, energetically ready to make his 50^th appearance for the club, followed by skipper Alex Everett and mascot Freddy Hunt, when the action began it didn’t take long for the Pirates to open their account. Livewire scrum half Dan Hiscocks was well involved in the build-up that led to Matty Ward scoring at the clubhouse corner, and fly-half Arwel Robson converted well from out wide.

From the restart the Pirates were soon on the attack again, the pressure they created leading to a try-scoring opportunity that was taken when hooker Morgan Nelson scored wide out on the left. Robson once again added the extras.

The Chiefs lost the services of yellow-carded wing Jed Findlay for a spell, and the Pirates duly extended their lead when Nelson, from a catch and drive, burrowed over for his second converted try of the match.

📷The Pirates apply pressure close to Exeter's line. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Line-out ball won by Exeter’s lock forward Alfie Bell, who is dual-registered with the Pirates and was one of eight players in their squad who have worn the Pirates colours, not including Penzance & Newlyn youth team products Oscar Beckerleg and Josh Mann, gave hope of an opening score at the Newlyn gate corner, but it didn’t materialise.

Before halftime the Pirates scored two more converted tries, the first of which dotted down by wing Ben Cambriani was seemingly acknowledged by the heavens, when a flash of lightning and then a roar of thunder echoed above the ground. Happy prop Alfie Petch then scored the final try of the half, with man of the match Robson adding the conversion once more to complete a faultless first half display. Acknowledging what they had witnessed, the home crowd heartily chanted ‘Pirates! Pirates!’ as their team left the field.

On the resumption of play the Chiefs were given a boost when centre Ollie Batson ran 40 metres to score a try at the Penzance posts, which was converted by fly-half Louie Sinclair.

The Pirates response, however, was immediate, as Robson scored and converted his own try, though he was luckless with his seventh conversion attempt after number 8 Tomiwa Agbongbon touched down on the right.

Holding a 47-7 lead, the fifty mark was now in sight, with little time wasted in achieving it as replacement hooker Matt Pritchard scored a try converted by Robson.

📷Happy winger Matty Ward scores a try at the clubhouse corner. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

The Exeter team hit back with a fine converted try from replacement Ollie Miall, but it was all but inevitable that the Cornish Pirates would have the last say, and they did when replacement scrum half Will Rigelsford pinned back his ears and ran in their ninth try of the afternoon. His effort was converted by gifted young replacement fly-half Rory O’Kane who, along with GB Sevens player Marcus Kershaw, was one of two guest players in the home team’s squad.

Speaking after the match, Cornish Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“Looking at the ages of the two teams we expected to be physically dominant, and we were. There were certain pleasing aspects around our structures, with our maul working well and our line-out taking a big step in the right direction.

“The forwards were dominant both in the loose and the scrum and, in the backs, Arwel was a deserved man of the match who dictated direction of play and kicked very well

“I thought our skipper Alex (Everett) showed his normal grunt and determination as a top end Champ player, and on his 50^th appearance Josh (King) once again proved what a consistent workhorse he is.

“Looking ahead to the league, some lads are still to come in and there will be competition for places, plus we’ll continue working on our skill set with an aim to play a good brand of rugby to continue attracting supporters.”

📷The Pirates welcomed back Alex Everett to lead their side. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Cornish Pirates:   15 Arthur Relton 14 Ben Cambriani 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Matty Ward 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Billy Young 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Alfie Petch 4 Josh King 5 Charlie Rice 6 Matt Cannon 7 Alex Everett (captain) 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Matt Pritchard 17 Alessandro Heaney 18 Ollie Andrews 19 Milo Hallam 20 Barney Elderkin 21 Will Rigelsford 22 Iwan Price-Thomas 23 Rory O’Kane 24 Marcus Kershaw.

Exeter Chiefs:   15 Iwan Jenkins 14 Jed Findlay 13 Ollie Bastion 12 Nic Allison 11 Billy Benson 10 Louie Sinclair 9 Will Becconsall (captain); 1 Ethan Burger 2 Louie Gulley 3 Caleb Ashworth 4 Oscar Beckerleg 5 Alfie Bell 6 Charlie Bell 7 Martin Moloney 8 Jack Forsythe.

Replacements:   16 Sol Moody 17 Josh Mann 18 Ben Woodmansey 19 Harry Price 20 Elijah Taylor 21 George Newman 22 Israel Akinrowo 23 Ollie Miall.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: Ward, Nelson (2), Cambriani, Petch, Robson, Agbongbon, Pritchard, Rigelsford; cons: Robson (7), O’Kane.       

Exeter Chiefs – tries: Batson, Miall; cons: Sinclair (2).        

Referee:   Andy Wigley

Assistants:   Iain Kiy & Kevin Williams

‘Tribute’ Man of the Match:   Arwel Robson

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match:   Will Rigelsford

Attendance:   2018

Following Friday’s fixture, the opening league game for the Cornish Pirates in newly named ‘Champ Rugby’, is due to take place at home against Hartpury on Saturday 4^th October (ko 2.30pm). For further information about the club’s fixtures, and indeed reference all things Cornish Pirates, please link to www.cornish-pirates.com

📷Will Rigelsford scores the final try of the evening for the Cornish Pirates. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest