Playing their final Elior Champ Rugby league match of the season, in what was Round 26, the seventh-placed Cornish Pirates needed to win against sixth-placed Hartpury to give them a chance of getting into the top six and progressing to the play-offs. Unfortunately, it was not to be, though not for the lack of trying.

From the team that won a must win thriller at home to Coventry seven days earlier, there were just two changes in the starting line-up for the Cornish Pirates. Joe Elderkin was named in the centre and Ollie Andrews at loose-head prop. Once again included on the bench was on loan Exeter Chiefs’ prop Ehren Painter.

Hartpury kicked the game off at the 4ED Stadium, with fly-half Harry Bazalgette doing the honours. Alongside hooker Will Crane and number 8 Jarrard Hayler, he was one of three former Pirates in the home side.

With their line-out functioning well, the Pirates attacked purposefully at the start. Flanker Jack Forsythe was prominent in proceedings and wing Harry Yates appeared as keen as ever for action out wide. One initial worry was when fly-half Arwel Robson was knocked to ground, before initially taking a little time to recover and then pleasingly getting to his feet.

Hartpury’s first meaningful attack involved Bazalgette and Hayler, but the Pirates thwarted the danger. However, having no luck with ball in hand it was left to the boot of Bazalgette who, approaching midway through the first half, struck his penalty attempt well to open the game’s scoring.

From the restart, the Pirates were fully focused, with scrum half Dan Hiscocks directing matters and number 8 Tomi Agbongbon one of several strong ball carriers. Space would also ultimately be created to enable centre Chester Ribbons, who has enjoyed a fine season, to break away and score a try near the posts. Robson comfortably added the extra two points.

A final first half score went the way of the hosts when a successful Bazalgette penalty kick, this time from well inside his own half, made it 6-7 at the break.

Overall, the opening forty minutes were quite evenly contested, with more of the same likely in the second period. The Pirates certainly started well, with skipper Alex Everett exuding determination as ever, and there then a converted try for hooker Morgan Nelson following a trademark potent drive in the right corner.

Another quick score for the Pirates would do their cause no harm, but it was Hartpury who responded promptly with their first try of the match. Showing a willingness to run the ball, it found the hands of replacement Josh Field whose converted try narrowed the deficit to just a single point.

Just a single point? Well, a further try, this time scored by young full-back Will Knight, saw the home side next take the lead for the first time, during a period when replacements aplenty were being introduced.

For the Pirates, Charlie ‘Buster’ Rice impressed when he was introduced, as did hooker Sol Moody who dived to score a converted try that saw the Cornish side regain the lead. However, stretching his legs once more, it was a second try for Knight, converted by Bazalgette that made it 25-21.

In time remaining the Pirates were forced to play with 14 men after losing the services of Robson to the sin bin, and a try for Hartpury, their bonus point providing fourth, was scored by replacement Harry Taylor. Finishing sixth in the league, the contested play-off spot was theirs. They had also completed the double against the Cornish Pirates, who ended in seventh place, having won 22-21 at the Mennaye Field back in October.

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

“The outcome was a massive disappointment for all of us, although I am proud of the effort that the boys put in to get us to this point.

“In a contest where two able sides were competing against each other, we created some good opportunities. In the first half we should perhaps have scored a couple more tries, and come the second half we unfortunately lost a couple of key moments, which can be the difference when competing against a similar calibre team.

“When we woke up this morning the vibe was good, and we have trained well these past couple of weeks, but it didn’t quite come off for us. Saying that, although gutted we must in the circumstances give credit to Hartpury.”

Looking back on the season, Gavin added:

“I was proud that we regathered momentum after the frustration for various reasons of having suffered some narrow early defeats. Also, with just a small squad it is challenging when picking up injuries, so looking ahead more stability would be helpful to give extra consistency in performance.”

Hartpury:   15 Will Knight 14 Charlie Powell 13 Robbie Smith 12 Ollie Allsopp 11 Ollie Holiday 10 Harry Bazalgette 9 Rhys Price; 1 Harrison Bellamy 2 Will Crane (co-captain) 3 Jono Benz-Salomon 4 Dale Lemon 5 Jack Davies (co-captain) 6 Cameron Cobbett 7 Harry Short 8 Jarrard Hayler.

Replacements:   16 Ethan Hunt 17 Louie Trevette 18 Alex Gibson 19 Harry Taylor 20 Ellis Hart 21 Cai Gealy 22 Max Knight 23 Josh Field.

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Arthur Relton 13 Chester Ribbons 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Harry Yates 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Ollie Andrews 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Alfie Petch 4 Milo Hallam 5 Matt Cannon 6 Alex Everett (captain) 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Sol Moody 17 Billy Young 18 Ehren Painter 19 Charlie Rice 20 Rory Suttor 21 Will Becconsall 22 Angus Mawson 23 Matty Ward.

Yellow card:   Robson.

Scorers:

Hartpury – tries: W. Knight (2), Field, Taylor  cons: Bazalgette (2); pens: Bazalgette (2).

Cornish Pirates – tries: Ribbons, Nelson, Moody; cons: Robson (3).

Referee:   Joe James