Having recorded two fine ‘Champ’ wins on the trot, the Cornish Pirates were keen to extend their run to three when they welcomed ‘The Archers’ from Nottingham to Cornwall on Saturday.

Not just keen, their hopes were also delivered from this eighth versus seventh Round 18 fixture in the ‘Champ’, and following damage inflicted last month by ‘Storm Goretti’ it was extra pleasing to see that the completion of certain required works had permitted the contest to take place at the Mennaye Field, Penzance. It really was a case of ‘hats off’ to everyone whose efforts enabled this to happen.

Pirates’ team news showed three changes in their starting XV from the previous weekend. In the backs Matty Ward started on the left wing, and in the forwards James French and Ben Woodmansey were the two named props. For the latter it was his first start in a Cornish Pirates shirt. As for the bench, promising young winger Finn Love was named. On loan from Camborne, and this month having made his 1st team debut for the ‘Cherry & Whites’, he has been a member of  the Truro College academy system here in Cornwall and the Exeter Chiefs Academy.

Kick-off was at the earlier time of 12 noon, which was a decision that gave supporters the opportunity to watch the England versus Ireland ‘Six Nations’ match afterwards.

Match underway at the ‘Mennaye’, this was a game where the wet conditions were likely to play a part, with the slippery pitch making it anything but ideal conditions – and muddy shirts guaranteed.

Playing towards Newlyn it was the visitors who scored first when, following a drive to the corner wide out right, the ball was then swiftly moved left. Reaching the hands of Exeter-born fly-half Gwyn Parks, he was immediately alert to chip a kick into space, which enabled Army winger Luke Rokomoce to pounce for an unconverted try scored at the old Western National corner.

When settling into the game and making their response, it was Pirates’ man of the match skipper Alex Everett who led the charge. Also, shortly after, following full-back Angus Mawson kicking a joyous 50-22 into Nottingham’s ‘22’ on the right, from a line-out it enabled hooker Sol Moody to find the hands of lock Josh King who scored the team’s first five-pointer of the afternoon, to which fly-half Louie Sinclair added the extras.

Despite the weather both sides showed their capabilities. Scrum-half Will Yarnell was lively for Nottingham, and of several powerful ball carriers their lock Will Ramply stood out. As for the Pirates, on his first start for the team young Ben Woodmansey was showing up well propping against experienced Samoan international Aniseko Sio, and a second try would see the Pirates next extend their lead. Adding to his impressive tally, it was hooker Moody who touched down his twelfth try of the season.

Pirates’ wingers Arthur Relton and Matty Ward, along with number 8 Tomi Agbongbon, looked hungry for action, and it was the latter who scored what would prove the team’s final try of the afternoon. Taking off on an explosive diagonal run, it was a score similar to one witnessed when he got on the scoresheet at Caldy the previous week..

Considering the weather, when in such conditions bonus point tries are more difficult to come by, the Pirates nonetheless surely felt that acquiring one was on the cards. Although halftime arrived with the score still reading 17-5, their hopes had to be high in the second forty, but as it worked out the Cornish side would score no more.

The second half was keenly fought, and the match became especially interesting after the lively Rokomoce once again got on the try-scoring sheet for Nottingham. Parks also slotted the conversion to make it 17-12, thus leaving it with everything to play for.

Nearing the end, penalty decisions aplenty were going the way of the visitors, and it looked as if there was every chance they would snatch a dramatic win. No need to worry, they didn’t, as the spirited Pirates defended heroically to a man, and in the process held out for a victory that sees them leapfrog their opponents into seventh place.

Commenting at the end of the game, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“It was a mighty contest with the conditions playing their part but I do just though feel that we deserved the win. There was credit to the lads for the great character they showed at the end, and it would have been gutting if the result went the other way.

“Nottingham looked dangerous, but we played some really good rugby in the first half, although we missed out on some early pressure applied at the start of the second forty when we could perhaps have put the game to bed. You are always in danger then, because if you leak one score the opposition are back in it, and all it takes is to concede a penalty in the middle of the field and the picture suddenly changes.

“Good aspects in our play included the set piece, our defence, and the collective determination, but we could have managed that middle third a little better and we were ultimately a little disappointed not to get a four try bonus point.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Angus Mawson 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Harry Yates 11 Matty Ward 10 Louie Sinclair 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 James French 2 Sol Moody 3 Ben Woodmansey 4 Milo Hallam 5 Josh King 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Luke Ratcliff 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Morgan Nelson 17 Billy Young 18 Alfie Petch 19 Matt Cannon 20 Rory Suttor 22 Arwel Robson (used); 21 Will Rigelsford 23 Finn Love (not used).

Nottingham:   15 Harry Simpson 14 David Williams 13 Kegan Christian-Goss 12 Jack Stapley 11 Luke Rokomoce 10 Gwyn Parks 9 Will Yarnell; 1 Aniseko Sio 2 Jack Dickinson 3 Dan Richardson 4 Will Ramply 5 Jay Ecclesfield 6 Sam Green 7 Michael Green 8 James Cherry.

Replacements:   16 Arthur Allen 17 Oscar Stott 18 Mink Scharink 19 Tommy Hamilton 20 Michael Etete 21 Jacob Wright 22 Joshua Goodwin 23 Harry Graham.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: King, Moody, Agbongbon; con: Sinclair.

Nottingham – tries: Rokomoce (2); con: Parks.

Referee:   Charlie Gayther

Tribute ‘Man of the Match’:   Alex Everett

Thatchers ‘Try of the Match’:   Tomi Agbongbon

Attendance:   1215