Pirates Make It 3 Out Of 3

By Phil Westren

Penzance & Newlyn 29 Sherborne 22

Playing their third Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West league game of the season, the Pirates of Penzance & Newlyn made it a pleasing three wins on the trot.

Wing Dan Rhys Evans led the side out to mark his 100th game for the club, whilst stalwart lock Ben Martin looked forward to making his 150th appearance. Also, wearing the number ‘10’ shirt was the experienced Kyle Moyle, who was one of 14 squad members to have started their rugby in the club’s youth section.

Despite the Pirates taking an early lead when hooker Connor Bick twice powered over the line in the scoreboard corner, with his second try converted by Evans, the visitors hit back when slick handling and running led to their first try of the afternoon, scored at the Newlyn gate corner by wing Brad Mulholland.

Nicknamed ‘The Dorset All Blacks’, there was a sense that the visitors would make this a closely fought contest but, after they fumbled a kick in their own half, from a soon resulting line-out Bick secured his hat-trick.

Sherborne did though show their true credentials once more before the break. Replacement Sky Foster first ran in a try converted by Mulholland, and then there was a penalty kicked by their skipper Hopkins which narrowed the score to 17-15.

Needing a good opening to the second half, the Pirates created just that. Starting a truly impressive driving maul from over 20 metres out, it ended with lock Nick Nowell a happy try-scorer.

The driving maul had proved a potent weapon, as was again the case when Bick scored his fourth impressive try of the contest, which was converted by Evans.

Suddenly, though, a run of errors halted the Pirates cause, and a converted try scored by Sherborne’s No. 8, Toby O’Loughlin, made it a nail-biting end to what had proved to be a fine and ultimately close contest.

Speaking after the game, Pirates’ head coach Murray Westren said:

“This was a very good win for us, in many ways the most pleasing so far this season as the game was in the balance for long periods.

“I thought Sherborne were excellent and we came out on the right side of a proper contest.

“Our maul functioned really well again, which is an area where the guys are doing a great job, and we are now looking forward to back-to-back home games and another chance to hopefully play in front of a good crowd at The Mennaye.”

Penzance & Newlyn: 15 Cadan Thomas 14 Dan Rhys Evans 13 Callum Walsh 12 Harris Eddy 11 Calum Gardner 10 Kyle Moyle 9 Sam Carter; 1 Kye Beasley 2 Connor Bick 3 Joe Best 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 Stan Somers (captain) 7 Sam Carroll 8 John Stevens.

Replacements: 16 James Lambourn 17 Wes Eddy 18 Tom Hutton.

Sherborne: 15 Chris Reed 14 Brad Mulholland 13 Seb Saunders 12 Henry Heggarty 11 Cawley Maynard 10 Rhodri Hopkins (captain); 9 Harry Whigham; 1 Lewis Davis 2 Logan Jarvie 3 Oscar Whittaker 4 Jake Stickley 5 Henry Nias 6 Will Holloway 7 Aaron Cole 8 Toby O’Loughlin.

Replacements: 16 Archie Whittaker 17 Cam Small 18 Sky Foster.

Scorers:

Penzance & Newlyn – tries: Bick (4), Nowell; cons: Evans (2)

Sherborne – tries: Mulholland, Foster, O’Loughlin; cons: Mulholland, Hopkins; pen: Hopkins.

📷Dan Rhys Evans, who at the end of the game was presented with his 100 games tie by Pirates' President Phil Westren. Also pictured right is club Chairman Peter Whyte.