In the wake of their outstanding 46-14 points home win against Coventry the previous weekend, the Cornish Pirates followed up that result with another pleasing Championship victory against Doncaster Knights on Sunday. Pleasing, yes, and deservedly so, because it was also their fourth league win on the trot.

Underfoot conditions at the Mennaye Field and a strong wind made it anything but easy for the players, in what was a sixth versus seventh contest in Round 9 of the Championship. Also, it being Christmas, and the team’s last home game in 2024, a good-sized crowd was present.

Changes in the Cornish Pirates starting line-up from the one that ran out against Coventry included a fit again Harry Yates named to partner Charlie McCaig in the centre. As for the forwards, Alfie Petch, who made 23 appearances for the Cornish Pirates when dual registered with Exeter Chiefs in 2021-22, was selected at tight-head prop. Celebrating his 25th birthday during the weekend, he has arrived back at the Mennaye Field on a short–term loan from Gloucester. The one other starting change saw Matt Cannon selected alongside Lewis Pearson in the second row, whilst listed among the replacements was prop Craig Williams who, to provide extra injury cover at present, is on loan from Redruth. A highly respected and experienced performer, aged 38, he has also played for Cornwall and, in the past, for England Counties.

For Cornish Pirates’ flanker Will Gibson, it was his last home game before soon departing for Australia, so just ahead of making his 79th appearance he led the team out for supporters to acknowledge his contribution and performances made in the team’s colours.

Action underway, play was immediately lively, and there were hopes of an early score for the Pirates when an impressive driving maul ate up yardage deep into their opponents’ half. To their credit, however, Doncaster took play up field and were unlucky not to score an opening try. Hooker George Roberts provided the threat, but after a deft pass and then chasing a kick into the old Western National corner, he almost cruelly knocked the ball on.

For a spell, the Pirates were guilty of giving too many penalties away, but without ‘Donny’ taking advantage, and thanks to efficient prop Billy Young and lock Matt Cannon they took play to halfway.

Donny strived to work the ball to their former England winger Semesa Rokoduguni, but to no real avail when, out of the blue, the Pirates suddenly set up a try-scoring attack. Centre Charlie McCaig initially carried well before passing to wing Matt McNab, who then appeared to unselfishly offload to supporting wing Arthur Relton. A player who appears at times to fly, he sped to the line and turned to score a try nearer the posts to which fly-half Bruce Houston added the extras. The try was nearly a half hour coming, but it immediately gave the home crowd a lift.

In the minutes to halftime the Pirates lost the services of lock Lewis Pearson to the sin bin, but with a continued full on defensive effort they admirably kept the Knights at bay.

So, defence and one fine score had seen the Pirates hold on to a narrow lead, which they were undoubtedly keen to build on when play resumed. Houston was luckless with a penalty effort on a day when the wind made a lottery of attempts at goal. However, after good work at the breakdown by Young, and then a fine penalty kick to touch by Houston, a second score was not long coming. Strong running wing Matt McNab went very close wide on the left, but keeping possession, it was a try scored by now back in the action Pearson that extended the team’s lead.

Soon after the restart a third Pirates try was conjured up when, following clever play down the right by players including full-back Will Trewin and Relton, it was man of the match scrum-half Dan Hiscocks who joyously scored a converted try at the Newlyn posts.

Although 19-0 looked a healthy lead on such a day, it was perhaps a little too early to feel fully confident, and wisely so, especially after Doncaster’s skipper Ben Murphy was identified as the scorer of a try at the scoreboard corner. Fly-half Russell Bennett, their top points scorer last season and a former Jersey ‘Red’, slotted his conversion well.

There was just a tad of tension now about the ground, which was considerably added to when former ‘Pirate’ Maliq Holden, playing on the wing, ran to the posts for another converted try. To the Pirates credit, however, after emptying their bench they held firm in the remaining time.

At the sound of the referee’s final whistle, home supporters were keen to celebrate another fine win, whilst the visiting Yorkshire side had to settle for a losing bonus point.

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

“Recording our fourth win on the trot, I think it was a real gritty performance, and I was really proud of the effort.

“The wind was tricky to manage and made it very difficult, but I thought our halfbacks handled that well, as we did the pressure they put upon us.

“The tries we scored were also good, created well by the players and with some really sharp finishing, and although there were a couple of late lapses it was a still a win that I think we fully deserved. To their credit the boys have worked hard, and with an increase in confidence they are beginning to get their reward.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin 14 Arthur Relton 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Harry Yates 11 Matt McNab (23 Iwan Price-Thomas, 63) 10 Bruce Houston (22 Iwan Jenkins, 63) 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Cam Jones, 68); 1 Billy Young (17 Oisin Michel, 66) 2 Harry Hocking (16 Sol Moody, 66) 3 Alfie Petch (18 Craig Williams, 66) 4 Matt Cannon (19 Josh King, 51) 5 Lewis Pearson 6 Martin Moloney (20 Tomi Agbongbon, 71) 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Yellow card:   5 Lewis Pearson (34).

Doncaster Knights:   15 Telusa Veainu 14 Semesa Rokoduguni (23 Will Parry, 32) 13 Zach Kerr 12 Connor Edwards 11 Maliq Holden 10 Russell Bennett 9 Alex Dolly (22 Ollie Fox, 63); 1 Andrew Turner (17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 41) 2 George Roberts (16 Fred Davies, 47) 3 Joe Jones (18 Lewis Thiede, 71) 4 Ben Murphy (captain) 5 Adam Hopkinson (19 Josh Williams, 66) 6 Thom Smith 7 Rhys Tait (21 Archie Smeaton, 57) 8 Morgan Strong (20 Arthur Green, 57).

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: 14 Arthur Relton (29) 5 Lewis Pearson (50) 9 Dan Hiscocks (53); cons: 10 Bruce Houston (30, 54).

Doncaster Knights – tries: 4 Ben Murphy (65) 11 Maliq Holden (74): cons: 10 Russell Bennett (65, 74).

Referee:   Richard Gordon

Assistants:   Veryan Boscawen & Kevin Williams

‘Tribute’ Man of the Match:   Dan Hiscocks

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match:   Arthur Relton

Attendance:   1766