Playing this Round 15 home game in the Championship against Cambridge on Sunday, in glorious sunshine the Cornish Pirates emerged comfortable winners. In the process they also moved up a place to fifth in the league table.

Despite the visitors being presently the basement side in the Championship, the Pirates were taking nothing for granted against the ‘Blood & Sand’ (as Cambridge are nicknamed), remembering that they lost 29-22 in the away fixture played back in October.

There were three changes in the Cornish Pirates’ starting line-up from the one that ran out at Bedford the previous weekend. Wing Arthur Relton and hooker Sol Moody were injured in that match, so their places were filled respectively by fit again Robin Wedlake and Harry Hocking. In the second-row Charlie Rice was selected to play alongside Josh King, with Alfie Bell on this occasion named on a bench. The replacements also listed backrower Michael Etete and young prop Ben Woodmansey, who had each made their debuts for the club in the recent fixture against the Royal Navy.  Finally, another fresh face, keen to make an appearance, was Exeter Chiefs’ scrum half Will Becconsall. Arriving at the Mennaye Field during the week on loan, the 22-year-old Cornishman started his career as a youngster at Falmouth and is a nephew of Garry Becconsall, formerly of Leicester Tigers, who made a dozen appearances for Penzance & Newlyn RFC back in 2002/03.

Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause to remember former stalwart ‘Pirate’ John Gendall and long-time supporter Eric Hosking, both of whom have recently passed away.

As for the early match action, it was visitors who opened the scoring in the sixth minute when hooker Morgan Veness squeezed in at the old Western National corner. Their skipper and fly-half Louis then landed a fine conversion.

The response from the Pirates was to hit back with three tries, two of which were scored by industrious hooker Harry Hocking, plus there was one for prop Jay Tyack. Fly-half Bruce Houston kicked a single conversion.

A scintillating run from full-back Will Trewin gave hope that the Pirates would add to their points tally, but it was Cambridge who scored next through wing Will Glister, who has featured in the past for Northampton Saints. Swift passing was the key that ended when him breezing in at the Newlyn gate corner. Grimoldby again added the extras.

So, Cambridge had offered the threat that it was felt they posed, especially after Glister notched up his second converted try, which followed a superb bonus point providing fourth for the Pirates which had been scored by wing Robin Wedlake.

Thankfully, by the break, the Pirates carried it up a level with strong play ending with forward Matt Cannon powering over the line and then scrum half Dan Hiscocks running in try number six. Houston, now back on target, as he would be for the rest of the game, converted both for the scoreline to read 36-21.

The Pirates carried on in try-scoring mode shortly after the restart, as space was created to enable Wedlake to apply the burners and touchdown a converted try at the Newlyn gate corner.

To their credit, the ‘Blood & Sand’ played with considerable spirit when able. The centre pairing of Matt Williams and Matt Hema threatened, as did former Pirates’ scrum half Ruaridh Dawson when he was introduced to proceedings. Also, at number 8, Reuben Logan, son of former Scotland international Kenny and TV presenter Gabby, stuck to task

The Pirates would though extend their lead with a spectacular try from wing Matt McNab, a close-range effort from prop James French, and a run in for Houston who also converted each.

Some recompense at the end for Cambridge were tries for replacement hooker Ben Brownlie and full-back Ewan Baker, both of which were converted by wing Eli Caven, who is a former Glasgow ‘Warrior’.

Commenting after the match, ‘birthday boy’ Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“Scoring 10 tries and securing five Championship points from the match was satisfying, and we were very pleased with the result. I wasn’t thinking too much about how many points we could score, as long as there was a good reaction from last week’s defeat at Bedford, and in general l think we did that.

“There were good performances out there, including from our half backs Bruce Houston and Dan Hiscocks. Bruce controlled the game well and Dan was impressively sharp. Also, using all our bench was beneficial, including for the three players who were making their Championship debuts for us. Prop Ben Woodmansey, who is only 18, was a late inclusion and is clearly a player with potential.

“Of course, there were areas of our game such as our defence that we will be looking at, but there were also obviously plenty of positives. We knew what they were capable of, so it was important that we stuck to task and secured the five points to make up for the defeat up there.”

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin (22 Iwan Jenkins, 36) 14 Robin Wedlake 13 Charlie McCaig (23 Harry Yates, 68) 12 Chester Ribbons `11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Will Becconsall, 54); 1 Billy Young (18 Ben Woodmansey, 65) 2 Harry Hocking (16 Dylan Irvine, 65) 3 Jay Tyack (17 James French, 47) 4 Charlie Rice (20 Michael Etete, 65) 5 Josh King (19 Alfie Bell, 60) 6 Matt Cannon 7 Alex Everett (captain) 8 Tomiwa Agbongbon.

Cambridge:   15 Ewan Baker 14 Will Glister 13 Matt Williams (23 Ollie Betteridge, 78) 12 Matt Hema 11 Eli Caven 10 Louis Grimoldby (captain; 22 Joe Tarrant, 65) 9 Sam Edwards (21 Ruaridh Dawson, 53); 1 Jake Ellwood (17 Oli Scola, 56)2 Morgan Vennes (16 Ben Brownlie, 44) 3 Billy Walker (18 Jake Bridges, 51) 4 Kayde Sylvester 5 Charlie Friend (20 Jared Cardew, 56) 6 Iestyn Rees 7 Joseph Gaffan (19 Matt Dawson, 44) 8 Reuben Logan.

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: 2 Harry Hocking (10, 14) 3 Jay Tyack (21) 14 Robin Wedlake (30, 47) 6 Matt Cannon (36) 9 Dan Hiscocks (39) 11 Matt McNab (64) 18 James French (70) 10 Bruce Houston (72); cons: 10 Bruce Houston (14, 36, 39, 47, 64, 70, 72).

Cambridge – tries: 2 Morgan Vennes (06) 14 Will Glister (26, 32) 16 Ben Brownlie (77) 15 Ewan Baker (79); cons: 10 Louis Grimoldby (06, 26, 32)11 Eli Caven (77, 79).

Referee:   Mike Hudson.

Assistants:   Andy Wigley & James Milliner-Woodcock.

Attendance:   1512.

‘Tribute’ Man of the Match:   Chester Ribbons.

‘Thatchers’ Try of the Match:   Robin Wedlake (his first try).