Ten tries at the Mennaye as Penzance & Newlyn open their season

Ten tries to one. On a sunny September afternoon at the Mennaye Field last Saturday (26 September), the Pirates made the most of a clean slate, and full-back Dan Rhys Evans walked off with the man of the match award.

By Phil Westren

Penzance & Newlyn 62 Teignmouth 7

Playing their opening game in this season’s Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West league, the Pirates of Penzance & Newlyn got off to a great start to their campaign, with an impressive ten to one try count in their favour.

In perfect conditions at the Mennaye Field a first score came in just the third minute, when young wing Callum Walsh dashed in for an unconverted try at the Newlyn Gate corner. Two more tries soon followed through livewire scrum half Sam Carter. Scored to the left of the Newlyn posts, fly-half Rhys Brownfield slotted both conversions.

In their set and broken play the Pirates impressed, with skipper Stan Somers and player/coach John Stevens influential. Then, approaching the half hour mark, a fine piece of individual play by Walsh saw him run over half the length of the field to once again score wide out left.

It then appeared as if ‘The Teigns’ were settling into the match, their effort and determination rewarded when a try scored at the Penzance posts by fly-half Faolan Lidstone was converted by full-back Kai Clayton. Any sudden euphoria for the Devon side was soon though vanquished, as following some excellent approach work between Pirates’ backs and forwards, it was Stevens who powered over for a converted score that made it 31-7 at the break.

The home crowd were very much enjoying the rugby on display, as they would when the Pirates added another 31 points to their tally in the second forty. Underlining their dominance, in order tries were scored by man of the match full-back Dan Rhys Evans, wing Harvey Stone, replacement Wes Eddy, Brownfield, and finally Eddy again. Brownfield converted three to make the final score 62-7.

📷Action from the game on a lovely September afternoon, with the new stand at the Mennaye Field in the background. Credit: Phil Westren

What the head coach said

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

“This match proved a great start to our league campaign. After a long pre-season and a clean slate, you never know where you are, but we had showed a strong foundation to our game.

“We played some really good rugby at times, and such a performance will hopefully stand us in good stead for tougher challenges ahead.”

The teams

Penzance & Newlyn: 15 Dan Rhys Evans 14 Callum Walsh 13 Harris Eddy 12 Josh Semmens 11 Harvey Stone 10 Rhys Brownfield 9 Sam Carter; 1 Maleli Naiova 2 Connor Bick 3 Joe Best 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 Stan Somers (captain) 7 Sam Carroll 8 John Stevens.

Replacements: 16 Dylan Arthur 17 Wes Eddy 18 Cadan Thomas.

Teignmouth: 15 Kai Clayton 14 Fin Pitman 13 Luke Atkinson 12 Jordan Hellier 11 Ashton Clarke 10 Faolan Lidstone 9 Dan Woolnough; 1 Joe Brookfield 2 Pete Parsons 3 Jai Simmons 4 Dan Hayward 5 Jake Evetts 6 Finlay Stewart 7 Jake Allison 8 Pete Bilham (captain).

Replacements: 16 Jack Henderson 17 Archie Baker 18 Isaac Flewers.

Scorers

Penzance & Newlyn – tries: Walsh (2), Carter (2), Wes Eddy (2), Stevens, Evans, Stone, Brownfield; cons: Brownfield (6).

Teignmouth – try: Lidstone; con: Clayton.

Man of the Match: Dan Rhys Evans.

📷Pirates' full back Dan Rhys Evans receiving his man of the match award from Jack Nicholas