Playing their final Pool E game in this season’s Premiership Cup, the Cornish Pirates welcomed Hartpury to the Mennaye Field on Saturday and recorded a comfortable victory against a team that had beaten them twice on their home ground this season, 41-26 in the Cup last November and then 34-10 in the league back in January.

Both sides were, in part, below full strength, and especially so the Pirates who were forced to show a raft of changes in their starting line-up from the one that ran out at Sandy Park six days earlier. Indeed, the club had pre-match listed an incredible 17 squad members who were unavailable for selection.

Of those fit and able to play, in the backs Iwan Price-Thomas was selected at full-back in place of Bruce Houston, who returned to his more familiar place at fly-half, where he had Cam Jones as his starting halfback partner. Also, with Matt McNab pleasingly recovered from injury, he was named in the centre alongside Charlie McCaig, who the previous week featured for Exeter Chiefs.

Changes in the pack saw Sol Moody selected at hooker, and backrowers Chris Mills and Barnaby Elderkin making his first starting appearances for the club. Also, included among the replacements, were certain squad players keen for game time, plus hooker Sam Cantwell, aged 23, and 20-year-old fly-half/full-back Louie Sinclair, who have arrived at the Mennaye Field on loan. Aussie Sinclair has played for Sydney University and more recently Royal Wootton Bassett, whilst Finborough-born Sinclair arrived from Exeter Chiefs.

There was credit to the ground staff who had put in the required graft following recent rain, and the extra reward come kick-off time was the arrival of welcome sunshine. Added to this, the Pirates got off to the brightest of starts as the first of their six tries came in just the second minute when McNab, quickly back in full flow, set Price-Thomas in for a try at the posts which was converted by Houston.

Three minutes later, following a storming run by man of the match Matt Cannon, the Pirates scored again through scrum half Jones, who darted in at the clubhouse corner. The conversion attempt from wide out appeared an ask, but Houston struck his kick brilliantly.

Hartpury endeavoured to respond and applied a level of pressure inside the Pirates ‘22’. A cross-field kick by former Edinburgh fly-half Nathan Chamberlain also sought the hands of wing Brad Denty, but it was all to no avail.

There were worries for the Pirates when prop Oisin Michel went to the ground injured, but he was thankfully soon back on his feet before the Pirates scored their third try through hooker Moody. Now, a fourth bonus point providing fourth try was a target. Houston first extended the Pirates lead with a penalty kick and then added a conversion to the sought after try number four, which was scored by wing Will Trewin. Chipping ahead and winning a chase to the scoreboard corner it gave the home side a 29-0 halftime lead.

The crowd had been thoroughly entertained in the first forty, and both Mills and Elderkin (brother of Joe) had played with no lack commitment. As for the visitors, they had appeared a little frustrated and forlorn.

Back to the action, a strong drive to the line ended with Moody scoring his second try of the match, to which Houston added the extras, but it was then noticeable that Hartpury, whose lineout led by skipper Dale Lemon had served them well, were starting to get a little more into the game. Scrum half Stan Underhill went close to darting in for a try at the scoreboard corner, but it was hooker Ethan Hunt who would shortly after power over, with Chamberlain also adding the conversion.

There would, however, be no more points for the Gloucestershire side, although later in the match the Pirates added to their tally when centre McCaig not only chased and touched down Trewin’s excellent nudge to the right of the Newlyn posts, but for good measure was quick to convert to make the final score 43-7.

Although this was the Pirates first win in the competition this season, it was one worthily recorded, for several reasons. The crowd was not the biggest, but those present had thoroughly enjoyed the contest, with everyone expressing praise too to the always welcome referee, Sara Cox, who after the final whistle so commendably signed autographs for both happy youngsters and adults alike.

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

“It had been a patch up week in terms of restrictions in training, but the energy was there from the go, and it was great with all the chopping and changing to see certain players make debuts and gain important game time. To everyone’s credit we looked good and despite losing a bit of continuity in the last quarter it was a pleasingly result.

“Yes, we knew the game was a bit of a dead rubber, but the boys were keen to play with purpose and give a good account of themselves, which they did. They were proud to pull on the shirt, and especially so for those featuring for the club in a competitive game for the first time.”

“Besides the collective there were also some fine individual performers who stood out, such as hardworking wingers Arthur Relton and Will Trewin, Matt Cannon, and Matt McNab who we were delighted to see back in action. 

Gavin added:

“As many will be aware, our injury list has been massive, and it has not been easy, because when it is like this it limits what we can do in training and it’s almost like we can’t afford to pick up another knock. There is, though, a bit of a break before we play again, so hopefully a few bodies will get back to fitness for our focus to then concentrate on what is going to be a relentless period from the end of March to the end of May, when we still have 10 league games to play.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Arthur Relton 13 Matt McNab 12 Charlie McCaig 11 Will Trewin 10 Bruce Houston (22 Louie Sinclair, 60) 9 Cam Jones (21 Will Rigelsford, 60); 1 Oisin Michel (17 Billy Young, 40) 2 Sol Moody (16 Sam Cantwell, 65) 3 James French (18 Ollie Andrews, 40) 4 Alfie Bell 5 Josh King (captain; 19 Milo Hallam, 65) 6 Matt Cannon 7 Barnaby Elderkin 8 Chris Mills.

Replacements (not used):   20 Alex Everett 22 Dan Hiscocks.

Hartpury:   15 Alex Forrester 14 Brad Denty (22 JJ Williams, 65) 13 Robbie Smith 12 Cam Scott (23 Joe Randall, 60) 11 Ollie Holiday 10 Nathan Chamberlain 9 Stan Underhill; 1 James Gibbons (17 Harry Edwards, 48) 2 Ethan Hunt (16 Casey Williams, 65) 3 Alex Gibson (18 Owen Popple, 60) 4 Cam Cobbett (19 Jack Davies, 48) 5 Dale Lemon (captain) 6 Peter Paramore (21 Cam Murray, 48) 7 Sam Lewis 8 Josh Gray (20 Harry Short, 48).

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: 15 Iwan Price-Thomas (2) 9 Cam Jones (5) 2 Sol Moody (15, 42) 11 Will Trewin (27) 12 Charlie McCaig (72); cons: 10 Bruce Houston (2, 5, 27,42) 12 Charlie McCaig (72); pen: 10 Bruce Houston (21).

Hartpury – try: 2 Ethan Hunt (52); con:10 Nathan Chamberlain (52).

Referee:   Sara Cox

Assistants:   Jonathan Healy & Kevin Williams

Attendance:   1005

‘Tribute’ Man of the Match:   Matt Cannon

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match:   Iwan Price-Thomas