Cornish Pirates vs Richmond – Match Report

Not Perfect but Pirates Make It a High Five

By Phil Westren

Cornish Pirates 28 – Richmond 19

Making it impressively five ‘Champ’ bonus point wins for the Pirates on the trot, and in the process holding on to fourth place in the league table, watching RFU CEO Bill Sweeney likely enjoyed much of the rugby on offer, as inevitably did an enthusiastic home crowd.

Following their 52-0 win against Cambridge two weeks previously, for this fourth versus tenth in the league affair the Cornish Pirates starting XV showed several changes. There were returns for prop Alfie Petch, and flanker Jack Forsythe, whilst Max Norey, who has arrived at the Mennaye Field on loan from Exeter Chiefs and has made 19 appearances for the Pirates in the past, was selected at hooker. Another ‘Chief’, Zack Wimbush, who quite literally made a big impact as a replacement for the Pirates against Cambridge, was unavailable on this occasion, but two players pleasingly recovered from injury and declared fit to take places on the bench were backrower Rory Suttor and centre Chester Ribbons.

Leading ‘The Mond’ out first, to give Richmond their nickname, was former ‘Pirate’ Alex Schwarz who made 107 appearances for the club before his move to London at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. Also, in the scrum-half’s side was another familiar face in hooker Harry Hocking, a Cornishman who departed the Pirates in the last close season having worn the shirt on 31 occasions.

After Richmond kicked the game off playing towards Newlyn, they were quickly forced on the defensive as a flying start for the Pirates saw centre Harry Yates make a trademark burst before offloading the ball to his skipper, zippy scrum-half Dan Hiscocks, who scored at the posts, Fly-half Louie Sinclair then stepped forward to land the conversion, which was all but a formality.

Making it a super start, the Pirates were soon on the scoresheet again, when Forsythe added the game’s second try following a catch and drive on the left. To kick the conversion from out wide was anything but easy, but Sinclair struck his attempt perfectly.

A thought, even at this early stage, was that the Pirates would likely secure a dominant victory. However, to their credit Richmond responded to show that they too were up for the contest, with skipper Schwarz getting his backline moving, and centre Ronnie Du Randt abrasive with ball in hand. Earning a penalty award, the inevitable catch and drive opportunity arose after the ball had been kicked to the Newlyn gate corner, and it was hooker Hocking who, on his return to the Mennaye, emerged a happy try-scorer. Centre Callum Grieve added the extras.

The visitors might well have been finding their feet, but it was the Pirates who got on the scoresheet next with a second converted try for Hiscocks. Were their opponents daunted? The answer was ‘No’, as before the break a spirited passage of play ended with wing Greg Kitson (son of Rob) gathering a lengthy pass and making to the line at the old Western National corner. Although the conversion attempt missed, and the halftime scoreline read 21-12, ‘The Mond’ had made it clear that an interesting second period was very much on the cards.

During the interval an important message recorded by the Cornish Pirates in relation to ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence’ was shown, the message by players stating ‘We don’t ignore it. We don’t excuse it. We call it out’ is strong one that on the club’s social media has brought an incredibly supportive response.

When the rugby action returned, the Pirates suffered a setback as flanker Forsythe had to leave the field injured. Also, Richmond proceeded to play with a still heightened level of confidence, with backs and forwards playing well. Suddenly catching the eye among their able pack was No 8 Sam Pim, son of former Leinster favourite Chris Pim, and it was his run and offload to supporting flanker Luke Frost that ended with the latter scoring a converted try at the posts.

With the score now reading 21-19, the outcome was anything but certain and it all somewhat different to the start of the match. There was also another setback for the Pirates when they lost lock Alfie Bell to the sin bin.

📷A happy Harry Yates scores the Pirates bonus point providing fourth and final try. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Richmond applied considerable pressure on the Pirates, who thankfully defended well, although the penalty-count against them mounted. Fortunately, from a Pirates perspective, Richmond’s Grieve was luckless with kick at goal attempts which narrowly missed, and following good work on the ground by always busy flanker Josh King it was a final try of the match, gleefully scored wide out left by Yates, that helped deliver the 28-19 victory. Faultless off the tee, Sinclair had also kicked his fourth from four conversion attempts to also deny Richmond a losing bonus point, which many will have felt they deserved.

At the end of the match Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle was a little relieved, as he commented:

“It was a little frustrating because we were quick out of the blocks and started so very well, looking clinical and dangerous before losing the momentum we created. 

“But for our late try the second half was all Richmond’s. Every time we defended well, we just couldn’t get hold of possession, and I think that we played our get of jail card today.

“It was one of those games when we’ll have to take a deep breath and watch it back, but we must also give credit to Richmond who have been promoted together and are cohesive.

“Ultimately, of course, despite not being so good performance wise today, we are though happy with the outcome and the set of wins achieved, although realistic to know that with some really tough games ahead we will need to be a lot better.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Matty Ward 13 Harry Yates 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Ben Cambriani 10 Louie Sinclair 9 Dan Hiscocks (captain); 1 Billy Young 2 Max Norey 3 Alfie Petch 4 Charlie Rice 5 Alfie Bell 6 Josh King 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:  16 Matt Pritchard 17 Alessandro Heaney 18 Ollie Andrews 19 Milo Hallam 20 Rory Suttor 23 Chester Ribbons (used); 21 Will Rigelsford 22 Angus Mawson (not used).

Yellow card:   5 Alfie Bell.

Richmond:   15 Connor Slevin 14 Chidera Obonna 13 Ronnie Du Randt 12 Callum Grieve 11 Greg Kitson 10 Jason Baggott 9 Alex Schwarz (captain); 1 Barnaby Vaughan 2 Harry Hocking 3 Luke Spring 4 Jake Monson 5 George Nugent 6 Luke Frost 7 Xavier Hastings 8 Sam Pim.

Replacements:   16 Will Goffey 17 Chris Freeman 18 Jimmy Litchfield 19 Ethan Benson 20 Miles Wakeling 21 Freddie Charles 22 Lewis Dennett 23 Sam Dardis.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: Hiscocks (2), Forsythe, Yates; cons: 10 Sinclair (4).

Richmond – tries:  Hocking, Kitson, Frost; cons: Grieve (2).

Referee:   Ben Simpson

Assistants:   Iain Kiy & Simon Adams

‘Tribute’ Man of the Match:   Alfie Petch

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match:  Harry Yates

Attendance:   1722

(The Cornish Pirates are next in action against Worcester this coming Saturday 6^th December – ko 3pm, whilst their next home game is versus Bedford Blues on Friday 12^th December – ko 7.30pm)

📷Pirates' skipper Dan Hiscocks is about to score the first of his two tries in the match. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest