Ampthill 17 Cornish Pirates 33

As they are about to head into 2025, the five try Cornish Pirates also admirably made it five wins on the trot with this well-earned victory in Bedfordshire.

For what was ahead of the weekend a ninth versus sixth affair in Round 10 of the Championship, the Cornish Pirates made just the two changes in personnel from the side that started in the 19-14 win at home against Doncaster Knights last time out. Matt McNab picked up an injury in that game so Will Trewin switched from full-back to wing, with Iwan Price-Thomas selected in the number 15 shirt, whilst in the pack Josh King was named to partner Lewis Pearson in the second row.

For Cornish Pirates’ flanker Will Gibson, it was his 80^th appearance before departing for Australia, and as for the bench Will Rigelsford was listed as a replacement to provide scrum half cover for the injured Cam Jones.

Yes, ahead of this match the Pirates had achieved a good run of results but, as ever, they were wisely taking nothing for granted. Ampthill can be a tricky place to visit, whilst the Cornish team was also aware that their opponents formed a side blessed with a strong Saracens representation, which made the outcome extra difficult to predict.

After Pirates’ fly-half Bruce Houston kicked the game off on a cold and breezy afternoon, in the fifth minute wing Will Trewin proceeded to make light of the also damp underfoot conditions. Exploiting a gap, he was slick in not wasting an opportunity to burst through and score the game’s opening try, which was converted by Houston.

The early score provided a pleasing start for the Pirates, who soon extended their lead. Centre Charlie McCaig first took an inside pass to cross for an unconverted try (it was his first five pointer for the club), and it was not long after that good play from Price-Thomas, with wing Arthur Relton also involved, saw scrum half Dan Hiscocks score a try to which Houston added the extras.

Well, with a little under a quarter of the game gone, the Pirates were now seeking a fourth try, and a bonus point, which were not long coming when Hiscocks notched up another converted effort – his third in the last two games.

But for a fine break from centre Josh Hallett, a largish home crowd thus far had little to shout about, but that would soon change, and after Ampthill’s skipper Josh Barton, a former Jersey ‘Red’, kicked to the corner, hooker Samson Adejimi broke through an attempted tackle and strolled his way to the line. Barton also added the conversion.

After a kick from home full-back Oran McNulty was charged down, Pirates’ winger Arthur Relton went close, Also, the visitors looked to take advantage following a yellow card shown to Ampthill’s powerful Tongan winger Sione Va’enuku, a player nicknamed the ‘Human Wrecking Ball’.

Seeking to take immediate benefit from numerical advantage, from a penalty award the Pirates chipped the ball to the corner to set an attacking line out just five metres out. Unfortunately, attained possession was though turned over as ‘The Mob’ (the Ampthill team’s nickname) upped their game nearing the end of the first half. However, there would be no further scores, and the Pirates held on to their healthy looking 26-7 lead come the break.

Playing against a team with a strong Saracens representation, the Pirates had every reason to feel satisfied thus far, but they were caught out all but from the start of the second half when a sudden fluid attack saw home wingman Jack Bracken score an unconverted try in the corner. He was one of two sons of former England international Kyran Bracken playing for Ampthill, the other being scrum half Charlie Bracken.

A hope was that the Pirates would regain their focus, and when The Mob were penalised at the breakdown, Houston kicked to the corner. Pressure was applied with lock Josh King, flanker Martin Moloney and hooker Harry Hocking to the fore, but the advance was suddenly thwarted when the ball was knocked on. The hosts had the put in, but the Pirates scrummaged magnificently, and forcing their opponents back won a penalty. A long- range kick at goal attempt was an option taken by Houston, and one worthy in trying to open a 17 points gap, but his effort went just wide of the left post.

Another score for the Pirates was though not long coming, when a well weighted chip over the top was gathered by McCaig who showed strength and determination to dive to the line for another converted try.

A scoreline reading 12-33 provided confidence that the Cornish Pirates would end 2024 deservedly with another win, and they did, despite perhaps being guilty nearing the end of giving too many penalties away and leaking one more unconverted try scored by Ampthill’s replacement prop James Johnston.

Speaking at the end of the match, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle commented:

“Firstly, five wins on the trot is very pleasing and it looks rosy at the end of the year. However, we also know that this league can come back and bite you so we shouldn’t get too carried away.

“Having said that, I think when we had the opportunities we blew Ampthill away in that first 20 minutes, although we didn’t take advantage of the yellow card, so credit to them for again showing they can be dangerous when they are behind and having to chase the game.

“In the second half we defended well for a lengthy spell, and holding pride in that area it was good to see the scoreboard looking quite healthy. There has also been a bit of an evolution in our scrum and lineout play and getting our systems in place, and we did say that we would look at the league table after Christmas. As it stands, we are now all but in touch of the top four, where is where we want to be, although there is still a long way to go.”

Ampthill:   15 Oran McNulty (22 Evan Mitchell, 40) 14 Jack Bracken 13 Josh Hallett 12 Fraser Strachan 11 Sione Va’enuku (23 Mason Cullen, 63) 10 Josh Barton (captain) 9 Charlie Bracken; 1 Harrison Courtney (17 Richard Barrington, 56) 2 Samson Adejimi (16 James Isaacs, 56) 3 Harvey Beaton (18 James Johnston, 56) 4 Kaden Pearce-Paul 5 Max Eke (19 Arthur Thomas, 40) 6 Charles Rylands 7 Reggie Hammick (20 Karl Main, 63; 21 Rory Morgan, 65) 8 Lekima Ravuvu.

Yellow card:   11 Sione Va’enuku (34)

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Arthur Relton 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Harry Yates (23 Chester Ribbons, 63; 22 Robin Wedlake, 71) 11 Will Trewin 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Will Rigelsford, 73); 1 Billy Young (17 Oisin Michel, 63) 2 Harry Hocking (16 Sol Moody, 71) 3 Alfie Petch 4 Josh King 5 Lewis Pearson (19 Matt Cannon, 71) 6 Martin Moloney 7 Will Gibson (20 Tomi Agbongbon, 45) 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Replacement (not used):   18 Jay Tyack.

Scorers:

Ampthill – tries: 2 Samson Adejimi (31) 14 Jack Bracken (42) 18 James Johnston (76); con: 10 Josh Barton (31).

Cornish Pirates – tries: 11 Will Trewin (05) 13 Charlie McCaig (12, 56) 9 Dan Hiscocks (18, 24); cons:  10 Bruce Houston (06, 18, 25, 56).

Referee:   Hamish Grant

Assistants:   Ben Simpson & Simon Park

Attendance:   1225