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Defence was not an option at the Mennaye Field – as both the Cornish Pirates and Rotherham Titans produced a 15 try frenzy, that will lead to some interesting video analysis come Tuesday morning. Judging by Alan Paver’s post match demeanour – although happy for his young charges finally getting off the mark, with their first win of the league season – things will liable be not for faint-hearted!
For the neutral, this must have been a feast and on such a pleasant autumn afternoon. Ideal they would have thought for a display of open, running rugby. And then some. For the committed supporter – from either camp – there were a mixture of emotions to absorb.
How often can you feel apprehensive about the final outcome, when your side score with abandon – but have to wait until there are over 60 points on the board and Sir prepares to blow his whistle one final time? On the flip side, there will not be many occasions where your team run in seven tries away from home – having only rattled in three in three outing previously – and only come way with a single point?
Quite.
And yet with only 12 minutes passed, the Pirates were steaming towards their four-try bonus point courtesy of scores from Laverick, O’Meara & Moyle. They were seemingly on fire and un-touchable and capable of racking up some serious points tally.
A warning had been issued in response though somewhere in between this frenetic opening. Titans’ full back Thomas had seared his way through the Pirates defensive line – and unleashed Welsh 7’s scrum half, Rhodri Davies for the first of his trio. His speed and eye for a gap that shouldn’t have existed were to prove to be a thorn in the Pirates’ ambitions all afternoon. Well at least until eight minutes left, when his withdrawal drew visible relief in home ranks.
By half time and both sides had racked up a league point each, as five more scores had the scorekeepers seriously considering whether they had enough numbers to play with.
The Pirates lead by ten (38-28), following tries for Cowan-Dickie and a peach by Moyle, after a great run by Toby May. His namesake Laurence meanwhile, was racking up points from the tee – as the fly half successfully landed five conversions and a penalty.
Rotherham meanwhile continued to prosper. A penalty try – which saw Pirates scrum half rest for ten, for his high tackle on Davies – and a fourth on the stroke of half time by Tom Williams, kept them in touch.
The madness continued after the break in continuing tit-for-tat fashion.
Cowan-Dickie profited from Walker’s bulldozer impersonation. Davies countered before the celebrations could be finished.
The Pirates surge again – and skipper de Battista buries himself into the catch & drive to out maul the forwards. Davies snipes again for his hat-trick – and then Cole reduces the gap to only five!
Nine minutes remain and tension levels are on overload, until Dean Richards trots under the posts to award a penalty try – and surely a decisive score for the Pirates?
It proves to be – to much relief from the home support. A feeling probably magnified as Davies’ afternoon is done.
Cargill’s penalty with the last kick of the match gave the scoreline a more comfortable look. It wasn’t. Please show me to a darkened room and somewhere to lie down – after such an entertaining game!
Referee:
Dean Richards
AR1:
Greg Garner
AR2:
Nick Marshall
No:4:
James Milliner
Assessor:
Sam Collins
15
Toby May
14
Alex O'Meara
13
Pete Laverick
( 22
Dan Koster)
53
12
Nicolas De Battista
11
Kyle Moyle
10
Laurence May
( 21
Will Cargill)
72
9
Alex Day
( 20
MIke Pope)
63
1
Marlen Walker
( 17
Billy Keast)
63
2
Tom Cowan-Dickie
( 16
James Fish)
76
3
Christian Judge
4
Rupert Cooper
( 19
Toby Freeman)
63
5
Josh Caulfield
6
Dan Lee
( 18
Tom Duncan)
40
7
Matt Bolwell
8
Tom Lawday
16
James Fish
17
Billy Keast
18
Tom Duncan
19
Toby Freeman
20
Mike Pope
21
Will Cargill
22
Dan Koster
Pete Laverick
2
Alex O'Meara
5
Kyle Moyle
12
Tom Cowan-Dickie
21
Kyle Moyle
38
Tom Cowan-Dickie
43
Nicolas De Battista
53
Penalty Try
71
Laurence May
3
Laurence May
6
Laurence May
13
Laurence May
22
Laurence May
39
Laurence May
44
Laurence May
33
Will Cargill
80
Alex Day
18
15
Will Thomas
14
Jake Henry
( 24
Drew Cheshire)
76
13
Luke Peters
12
Joe Baker
11
Ben Foley
10
Lee Millar
( 21
Caolan Ryan)
53
9
Rhodri Davies
( 22
Fransisco Viera)
72
1
Tom Williams
( 17
Toby Williams)
50
2
Jonny Muphy
( 16
Luke Cole)
18
3
Matt Sheilds
( 18
Andrew Foster)
65
4
James Lasis
( 19
Tom Burns)
53
5
Byron Hodge
6
Adam Peters
7
Tom Calladine
8
Dan Grange
16
Luke Cole
17
Toby Williams
18
Andrew Foster
19
Tom Burns
21
Caolan Ryan
22
Fransisco Viera
24
Drew Cheshire
Rhodri Davies
7
Penalty Try
18
Luke Peters
24
Tom Williams
40
Rhodri Davies
47
Rhodri Davies
54
Luke Cole
62
Lee Millar
8
Lee Millar
25
Lee Millar
40
Lee Millar
48
Caolan Ryan
63