Caldy 3 Cornish Pirates 22

Well, despite ‘Storm Darragh’ seemingly doing its best to prevent any rugby being played, the hardy sportsman on the Wirral, as per those from Cornwall, were not going to be put off by harsh winter elements thrown at them. Two years ago, it was snow – this time it was the extreme wind.

In December 2022, the Pirates had lost 15-14 at Caldy’s Paton Field ground, but this time around, in Round 7 of the Championship, they won 22-3, thus also recording a league win for a second week running.

Travelling north, despite the Wirral-based side being at the foot of the Championship league table, the visiting Pirates expected a likely closely fought encounter at the Paton Field, but, as the final scoreline suggests, that is not how it worked out, as thanks to a particularly good second half performance the Cornish side won with more than a little to spare.

Changes in the Cornish Pirates starting line-up from the one that faced Chinnor the previous weekend were all in the forwards. Billy Young, Harry Hocking and Jay Tyack formed the front-row union, and Matt Cannon partnered Charlie Rice in the second rank. For full-back Will Trewin, the game proudly marked his 50^th appearance for the club.

A familiar figure on the bench was that of second row/back row player Lewis Pearson. On a short-term loan from Exeter Chiefs, he had in the past made 11 appearances for the Cornish Pirates when dual registered from the Devon club. Also named among the replacements was Chiefs’ centre Chester Ribbons who, dual-registered with the Pirates, looked forward to making his first appearance for the club.

Facing early pressure from the off, with the wind on their backs the Cornish Pirates responded to clear the ball up field from where wing Arthur Relton suddenly dashed in to score at the posts. Fly-half Bruce Houston added the conversion to make a satisfying start.

Both sides battled it out evenly for a spell, but with handling inevitably making difficult in the windy conditions. Then, from a penalty award, Houston’s successful kick at goal put the Pirates into double figures.

The wind was never going to ease, so credit to both teams for coping best can, with the Ravers (Caldy’s nickname) soon after unlucky not to register their first points of the match when the Pirates denied former Worcester scrum half Ollie Wynn from scoring.

Approaching halftime, Houston endeavoured to extend the Pirates lead with a long-range penalty strike, and although not making the target it was nonetheless worth the effort.

Featuring for the Ravers was former England under 20s centre Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, son of one time Pirates favourite and ex Tongan international Viliami Ma’asi, and as per the start of the game his side applied further pressure at the end of the first forty. The Pirates admirably managed to weather the storm, however, to arrive at the break with a deserved 10-nil points advantage.

Into the second half, the question was could the Pirates hold onto their lead? In remaining time, they would of course find out. As for Caldy their aim was to use the wind for benefit and to also dominate at scrum time. A familiar face in their pack was 22 stone plus lock Joe Sproston, a former Doncaster Knights prop forward.

The Pirates strived to keep play controlled and tight, but when Caldy won a penalty some 40 metres out it was Welsh fly-half Lewis Barker who saw his effort sail clean through the posts.

It was important now to see how the Pirates would respond, and the answer was positively. Following a catch and drive, the team’s second try of the match, which was unconverted, was scored by determined as ever hooker Harry Hocking. But, just a few minutes later, it got even better when power and a pacey intervention from the backs ended with Relton scoring again at the sticks. It was his fourth try in the last two games, and Houston this time added the extra two points.

Entering the last quarter, a bonus point achieving fourth try was surely in sight. In ideal terms it would happen, but in what proved a bit of a stalemate last quarter, there would be no more scores. Never mind, the 22-3 points victory was one to worthy savour, a second league win on the trot providing satisfaction for several good reasons, and the words ‘Storm Darragh’ ones that will be remembered even with a tinge of fondness. Okay, just a tinge!

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

“I felt the game was one of two halves, playing with the wind on our backs in the first half and then playing directly into it in the second, which made it a tricky one.

“Despite holding advantage at halftime, there was little to smile about to be honest. We had been a little bit impatient in defence and our collision game wasn’t where it was against Chinnor, though I have to say that our reaction and performance in the second half was the best in such difficult conditions we have played this season, as our game plan worked, and our fitness came through.

“Looking back to last week’s victory it was a win to get the monkey off our back. We didn’t play particularly well but we showed a lot of heart, whereas today, especially in the second half, we again showed the heart but with detail as well, and it made a difference.

“As for Caldy, they are desperate for win themselves, and with a big pack will have been licking their lips with the weather conditions. Thankfully, we managed to negate the power they had in the scrum and with a decreased penalty count we were ultimately able to impose our game on them.”

Regarding inevitable worries as to whether the game would be played, Gavin said:

“We had big concerns and looked at possible contingency plans, including staying overnight and playing on Sunday should the wind decrease, which would save us having to do the travel again.

“It’s obviously a great expense to travel as far up as the Wirral, and there’s also obviously the time and effort as well. Caldy were though exceptional with their communication, the pitch was in good nick, but it was just the potential danger of the wind.”

Caldy:   15 Michael Barlow 14 Nick Royle (22 Matt Kilcourse, 68) 13 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (23 Joe Bedlow, 40) 12 Connor Wilkinson 11 Michael Cartmill (100th appearance)10 Lewis Barker 9 Ollie Wynn (21 Joe Murray, 64) ; 1 Adam Aigbokhae (17 Nathan Rushton, 60) 2 Matt Gallagher (16 Ollie Hearn, 60) 3 Monty Weatherby (18 Ryan Higginson, 60) 4 Freddie Stevenson (19 Will Riley, 48) 5 Joe Sproston) 6 Sam Olyott 7 Tristan Woodman (20 Callum Ridgway, 64) 8 JJ Dickinson (captain).

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin 14 Arthur Relton (22 Iwan Price-Thomas, 71) 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Harry Yates (23 Chester Ribbons, 70) 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Cam Jones (21 Dan Hiscocks, 55); 1 Billy Young (17 Oisin Michel, 78) 2 Harry Hocking (16 Sol Moody, 75) 3 Jay Tyack (18 James French, 16) 4 Charlie Rice (19 Lewis Pearson, 55) 5 Matt Cannon 6 Josh King (20 Tomi Agbongbon, 66) 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Yellow card:   5 Matt Cannon (26).

Scorers:

Caldy – pen: 10 Lewis Barker (46).

Cornish Pirates – tries: 14 Arthur Relton (06, 61) 2 Harry Hocking (59);

cons: 10 Bruce Houston (07, 62); pen: 10 Bruce Houston (30).

Referee:   Jonathan Cook

Assistants:   Jason Garrick & Simon Park

Attendance:   324