Gloucester Rugby 36 Cornish Pirates 28

Playing their second Premiership Cup match of the season, although the Cornish Pirates followed their hefty 68-7 defeat at home to Exeter Chiefs with another loss in the competition, it was not without showing considerable spirit, as a narrow five to four try-count in the home team’s favour indicates.

For the Cornish side it was a first time visit to Kingsholm, to play a team that had secured a hard-fought 31-26 bonus point victory away to Hartpury in their Cup opener the previous weekend.

The Pirates side showed several changes in their starting line-up from the one that ran out against Exeter Chiefs. In the backs Will Trewin was named at full-back, Robin Wedlake made a return on the wing, Cam Jones was selected at scrum half, and in the absence of an injured Joe Elderkin it was Harry Yates, making his first competitive match for the club, who partnered Tom Georgiou in the centre. As for the forwards, from the off, hooker Harry Hocking had Billy Young and James French as his propping pair, whilst on the bench former Ireland under 20s prop Oisin Michel who, like centre Harry Yates, had made three appearances in pre-season friendlies, similarly awaited his first competitive appearance for the Pirates.

Gloucester formed a different prospect for the Pirates as opposed to what was faced versus Exeter Chiefs, because their overall selection, often in keeping with this stage of the competition, was not their strongest, albeit it still one comprising truly gifted players. For the committed and developing Pirates, having conceded 10 tries against Devon’s finest, there would surely be no repeat, in what was expected to be a far more evenly matched contest. We would see.

After taking in the atmosphere of running out at Kingsholm, and then following a minute’s silence to mark annual remembrance to those who have fallen in conflict, it was the home ‘Cherry & Whites’ who kicked the game off and proceeded to hold the initial edge at scrum time. However, an early defensive set by the Pirates impressed, no doubt pleasing the coaches, as did their and the game’s opening score.

With a tap and go, skipper Hugh Bokenham was eager for his side to play with intent, Cam Jones looked to snipe, Harry Yates carried with purpose and, following several penalty awards, it was flanker Will Gibson who made it over the line for the game’s opening try, to which fly-half Bruce Houston added the extra two points.

Gloucester would hit back when Ollie Thorley, who always posed a danger in the match and has been capped by England, came off his wing and ran sharply to a score a try converted by former England under 20s fly-half Rory Taylor.

Shortly after the restart, following pressure applied by the Pirates it was the familiar figure of prop Alfie Petch, who made 23 appearances for the Pirates back in 2021/22 and has joined Gloucester from Biarritz, who was suddenly shown a yellow card. Hopes were high that the Pirates would benefit from numerical advantage, but in what was proving an evenly contested affair, it was not to be.

After the Pirates perhaps squandered a couple of scoring opportunities, they were given a lift when first Bokenham stopped Thorley in his tracks, and then former Pirates hooker Morgan Nelson was hit hard by lock Eoin O’Connor, before being soon after driven into touch.

Approaching halftime, it was an unconverted try from centre Max Knight that gave the Cherry & Whites a 12-7 lead at the break, and with supporters having witnessed a fully competitive first forty, much of the same was expected when play resumed.

Looking for a good start to the second half, the Pirates duly obliged, when flanker Josh King scored the team’s second converted try of the match, which put the Pirates back in the lead.

Gloucester looked to immediately respond and went very close to scoring. Replacement Jack Clement was though denied when held up by some superb Pirates defence, which was rewarded with a goal line drop out.

The crowd was now well warmed up, and play would become a little feisty, whilst this contest clearly still appeared to have the ingredients to go to the wire. Having thought that one moment, it was a view perhaps forgiven shortly after, as in short time Gloucester scored tries through centre Morgan Adderly-Jones and Nelson, both of which were converted by Taylor.

Pirates’ replacement hooker Sol Moody’s first try for the club, which was converted by Houston, reduced the deficit, before any perceived advantage was cancelled out when Gloucester wing Jack Reeves’ converted score reopened a 12 points gap.

Into the last few minutes, good play from Pirates’ replacement scrum half Dan Hiscocks led to Moody being on hand to score his second and the teams fourth converted try, that brought the Pirates to within just five points of their hosts. If the score stayed at 33-28 then the Pirates would at least get two points from the match, but there was in fact still a little time left for them to perhaps score again and snatch victory. It was cruelly not to be, as after Taylor missed a long-range penalty attempt to put eight points between the teams, he then made no mistake with an immediate penalty attempt that followed from in front of the posts.

Speaking at the end of what proved an enthralling contest, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver said:

“I think Gloucester’s balance for the side was probably about right for the competition and it gave us an opportunity to go out and play some rugby. It was competitive from start to finish and our lads will be proud of what they did out there. That said, there were a couple of errors in the game which we were disappointed with and there were things that we need to practice and keep working on.

“After our game against Exeter, it was a soul-searching week for us, and we just wanted to make sure that we got the energy right to put in a good performance. We were in the game throughout, but it was just those small little things, and at the end of the day it wasn’t quite enough to get over the line.

“They had good quality Premiership players who we want to face on the pitch and our young guys need to be exposed t, and overall I think the balance of the two sides was about right. It made for good competition, even though in fairness they did just enough to win the game.

Looking ahead, Alan also commented:

“For us we have identified three key areas where we want to learn from these Cup encounters. Never forget that set-piece is king, that you have to launch from lineout and have a stable scrum, that you have to pressure opposition lineout and scrum, and you just have to nail the basics of your game.

“When we return to the league, we are also aware that there will be pressure on us to start winning games, even if it’s winning ugly. Yes, we have done it before, but that doesn’t mean you are entitled to win again, because we’ll have to work hard to achieve our aims.”

Finally, looking back again on the match against Gloucester, Alan said:

“I would like to thank all our supporters who travelled and could be heard, because it made it a special day for our players in front of a big crowd. We could really hear their voices on the pitch.”

Gloucester:   15 Ioan Jones 14 Ollie Thorley 13 Morgan Adderly-Jones 12 Max Knight 11 Jack Reeves 10 Rory Taylor 9 Charlie Chapman; 1 Archie McArthur (17 Aristot Benz-Salomon, 52) 2 Morgan Nelson (16 Gareth Blackmore, 72) 3 Alfie Petch (18 Jono Ben Salomon, 52) 4 Freddie Clarke 5 Danny Eite (21 George Knowles, 75) 6 Deian Gwynne 7 Caio James (18 Jono Ben Salomon, 30; 7 Caio James, 36; 19 Jack Clement, 50) 8 Harry Taylor (captain; 20 Lewis Ludlow, 66).

Replacements (not used):  22 Harry Gipson 23 Iwan Glynn.

Yellow cards:   3 Alfie Petch (26) 4 Freddie Clarke (76).

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin (22 Iwan Price-Thomas, 66) 14 Robin Wedlake 13 Tom Georgiou (23 Charlie McCaig, 49) 12 Harry Yates 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Cam Jones (21 Dan Hiscocks, 71); 1 Billy Young (17 Oisin Michel, 54) 2 Harry Hocking (16 Sol Moody, 54) 3 James French (18 Ollie Andrews, 54) 4 Charlie Rice 5 Eoin O’Connor (19 Matt Cannon, 70) 6 Josh King (20 Tomi Agbongbon, 61) 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Scorers:

Gloucester – tries: 14 Ollie Thorley (23) 12 Max Knight (12) 13 Morgan Adderly-Jones (56) 2 Morgan Nelson (60) 11 Jack Reeves (11);                cons: 10 Rory Taylor (23, 56, 61, 69); pen: 10 Rory Taylor (79).

Cornish Pirates – tries: 7 Will Gibson (15) 6 Josh King (50) 16 Sol Moody (66, 76); cons: 10 Bruce Houston (16, 51, 67, 77).

Referee:   Andy Wigley

Assistants:   Charlie Gayther & Holly Wood

Attendance:   8394

(The Cornish Pirates are next in action on Saturday 23^rd November, when for their third Premiership Cup game in Pool E they will play Hartpury away – kick-off at 2.30pm)