Returning to Premiership Cup action, on a fine winter’s evening the Cornish Pirates were revved up and raring to impress against the might of visiting Gloucester Rugby, and it showed, as staying in the fight they right to the end pushed their Premiership opponents close.

This was a 4th versus 2nd contest in Pool E of the competition, with it remembered that the Cornish Pirates had also performed well before suffering a narrow 36-28 loss in the away leg at Kingsholm last November.

Changes in the home team’s starting line-up from the one that ran out at Ealing Trailfinders the previous weekend, saw Tom Georgiou named in the centre in place of the unavailable Charlie McCaig. At tight-head prop Ollie Andrews, an impressive try-scoring replacement against the Trailfinders, was selected to make his first start in a Pirates shirt, and lock Matt Cannon, who was unable to play against his parent club, partnered Alfie Bell in the second row. The one other change was in the back row where Lucas Dorrell, on a short–term loan from Exeter Chiefs was selected, whilst Irish prop Tom Connolly, who has been associated with Leinster, and is similarly on loan, was named on the bench.

The Gloucester side, revisiting the Mennaye for the first time in 51 years, was a mix of experienced performers, including such as big-bearded Fiji international number 8 Albert Tuisue, and several internationals who have represented their country at under 20s level. Also featuring was prop Alfie Petch who has recently been on loan to the Cornish Pirates.

Playing towards the Newlyn end of the ground, it was the visitors who kicked the game off and were quick to open their account. Applying a short period of sustained pressure, it resulted in flanker Danny Eite scoring the game’s opening try at the old Western National corner. Full-back George Barton, a homegrown Gloucester boy, added the extras.

The Pirates were quick to respond, with skipper and man of the match Hugh Bokenham displaying power and pace as he shrugged of opponents. A score wasn’t immediate but edging ever near to the line it was lock Matt Cannon who drove over from short range. Fly-half Iwan Jenkins was luckless with the conversion attempt.

Gloucester strived to apply further pressure at the Newlyn gate corner, with steam arising in the glow of the floodlights as both packs battled it out. Thankfully, the Pirates survived any immediate threat with scrum half Dan Hiscocks kicking well out of hand and the Pirates quick to chase. Neither team would score again in the first forty, but the atmosphere was electric, and home supporters showed thus far appreciation to their team when referee Mr, Wood, who was making his first ever visit to the Mennaye Field, blew his whistle to signal halftime.

Back to the match action, it was just six minutes into the second half when Eite scored his second try for the ‘Cherry & Whites’, with Barton once again adding the extra two points.

A few errors were not helping the Pirates cause, which led to occasional scoring opportunities not being taken, for which they would pay around the hour mark when Barton touched down on the right. He was off target with his conversion attempt but made no mistake just a couple of minutes later after centre Will Butler, who made a handful of appearances for the Pirates in 2021/22, suddenly gained possession and ran some 40 metres to the Penzance posts.

Making changes off the bench, the Pirates looked invigorated into the last quarter. The pitch had been soft and slippery, and fresh legs were clearly sought, and from a driving maul it was replacement hooker Harry Hocking who scored a try wide out on the left which was well converted by replacement Bruce Houston.

If the Pirates could again trouble the scoreboard operator, then a grandstand finish was surely on the cards, and although it didn’t come immediately a third try did materialise. The scorer from a tap and go, his first in a Pirates’ shirt, was replacement delighted flanker Tomi Agbongbon. Houston was again on target the conversion.  

There was now just four minutes left on the clock, with levels of tension and excitement heightened in equal measure, as were recorded decibel levels as to the top of their voices, supporters chanted ‘Pirates! Pirates!’

There was still time to perhaps at least grab a draw, but there would be no more scores as the Pirates settled for achieving a losing bonus point. Supporters, though, very much appreciated and were pleased with what they had seen. After so many years of amazing financial support given by Sir Richard ‘Dicky’ Evans, and following Thursday’s press conference, members of the new ownership consortium were also no doubt understandably upbeat.

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

“I thought we bounced back very well from a physical encounter against the Trailfinders last week. There were a lot of positives that came out in terms of our kick game and the kick chase element, and our breakdown and physicality.

“We have had a lot of movement and changes these past couple of weeks, which is challenging, and you naturally have to hand it to Gloucester. They put us under a lot of pressure, and displaying theirPremiership attacking brand they were at times able to stretch us.

“Having said that, there was credit due our boys whostuck in the fight to the end and, with new faces, connected very well and showed a lot of character.

“The pitch was heavy, so the fresh legs introduced in the second half

made a difference, and we overall maintained a good level of discipline and managed to stick to our game plan against a quality Gloucester team. I thought we did well to push them close, although the final scoreline likely overall reflected the game.

Gavin added:

“The atmosphere about the ground was great, with everyone seemingly buoyed by the news on Thursday announcing the formation of a new ownership consortium. You could feel that a sense of stability was being created, and it showed one hundred per cent.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas (22 Bruce Houston, 61) 14 Arthur Relton 13 Tom Georgiou 12 Joe Elderkin (23 Harry Yates, 56) 11 Will Trewin 10 Iwan Jenkins 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Cam Jones, 61); 1 Billy Young (17 James French, 56) 2 Sol Moody (16 Harry Hocking, 61) 3 Ollie Andrews (18 Tom Connolly, 51) 4 Alfie Bell (19 Fintan Coleman, 51) 5 Matt Cannon 6 Josh King 7 Lucas Dorrell (20 Tomi Agbongbon, 47) 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Gloucester Rugby:  15 George Barton 14 Ioan Jones13 Louis Hillman-Cooper 12 Will Butler 11 Jake Morris 10 Charlie Atkinson 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Archie McArthur 2 Seb Blake (captain) 3 Alfie Petch 4 Freddie Clarke 5 Cam Jordan 6 Danny Eite 7 Jack Gilbert 8 Albert Tuisue.

Replacements (all used):   16 George Knowles 17 Aristot Benz-Salomon 18 Jono Benz-Salomon, 19 Jayden Wrottesley 20 Caio James 21 Rio Ebanks 22 Morgan Adderley-Jones 23 Jack Cotgreave.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: 5 Matt Cannon (06) 16 Harry Hocking (65) 20 Tomi Agbongbon (75); cons: 22 Bruce Houston (66, 76).                

Gloucester Rugby – tries: 6 Danny Eite (3, 46) 15 George Barton (58) 12 Will Butler (61); cons: 15 George Barton (4, 47, 62).

Referee:   Ben Wood

Assistants:   James Milliner-Woodcock & Kevin Williams

Attendance:   2779

‘Tribute’ Player of the Match:   Hugh Bokenham  

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match:   Matt Cannon