For their final pre-season fixture the Cornish Pirates extended a warm welcome to Plymouth Albion, who last visited the Mennaye Field back in April 2015 when in a Championship contest the Pirates emerged 27-16 winners.
The score in this fixture was similarly close, and also very competitive it will have been a useful workout before the real action begins.

Former ‘Pirate’ and nowadays Albion coach Kieran Hallett had named a strong visiting side, with a number of familiar faces in their squad, some of whom featured for Exeter Chiefs against the Pirates last weekend.
For the Cornish Pirates two players about to make their debuts for the club were centre Pete Laverick and replacement prop Billy Keast.

When the teatime action began, the Pirates forced their visitors to defend, with their reward a fourth minute penalty successfully slotted by fly-half Laurence May.

From the restart the home side also found themselves having to defend for a spell. They had lost the services of No. 8 Tom Duncan because of injury, however his replacement, Tom Lawday, would score the game’s opening try soon after a combination of power and pace had taken the Pirates close to Albion’s line.

Further dominance by the Pirates ended with all action prop Marlen Walker soon rumbling over for the team’s second converted try, in a performance that had thus far impressed.

Albion lost the services of fly-half Dan Mugford to the sin bin, and the Pirates were quick to take advantage when Lawday again ruled at close quarters to register his second five-pointer in Pirates colours. It gave the Pirates a convincing 22-0 half-time lead.

Many about expected the Pirates go on and win this one with plenty to spare, but it wasn’t to be. They also lost a player, namely flanker Alex Cheesman, to the naughty boys chair, as the Plymouth side proceeded to dominated almost the whole second half.

Chants of “Albion! Albion!” seemingly boosted the confidence of their players, even after Cornwall winger Robin Wedlake was sadly stretchered off, and admirably keeping a foot on the throttle they forced the Pirates into giving penalties away. Potent passing also led to Albion scoring a fine try when former Pirate Jack Arnott sped in at the scoreboard corner. Albion returnee Mugford, who in recent years has played for London Scottish, Nottingham, and then last season at Sale, converted magnificently from the touchline.

Hopes were that the home team could respond, as the match continued to be competitive. It reminded all about of ‘derby’ matches of old, but it was Hallett’s Albion who had the last say when centre Harvey Skinner deservedly scored their second converted try.

In conclusion, the Pirates have a tough start to the Championship ahead of them, and the competiveness of this game will have done them no harm. And what of Plymouth Albion? Well, a push for honours at the top of National One already looks to be in their reach.

Speaking after the game, Cornish Pirates’ coach Alan Paver said:

We played pretty well in the first half but our overall performance was indifferent. It was a worthy contest to play and learn from, against a physical team that came with the right attitude and impressed.