A Five Points Winning Start!

Nottingham 18   Cornish Pirates 24

The Cornish Pirates aimed to perform well in this Championship league opener, and in general terms they did just that. In the process they also recorded a pleasing bonus point win.

It was John Stevens, captaining the club for the third season running, who led his out a side at Lady Bay, the team wearing their new away strip and including two players in the starting XV, namely scrum-half Cameron Jones and prop James French, who were about to be make their first league appearances for the club. The same would also apply to replacements Matt Cannon, Dan Hiscocks, and Charlie McCaig, if they later in the match received calls off the bench.

After pre-match off field fireworks, on a dry evening with clear skies, and just a little breeze, no doubt just a few on field fireworks were also likely after Nottingham’s fly-half Matt Arden kicked the game off.

With both teams naturally fired up, for the ‘Archers’ a reckless challenge led to their experienced try-scoring winger David Williams being shown a yellow card in just the second minute. This, of course, provided an early chance for the Pirates to potentially benefit from numerical advantage, which they shortly after did.

Fly-half Bruce Houston kicked to the corner for an attacking line-out opportunity, hooker Morgan Nelson threw to lock Hugh Bokenham, and from the ensuing driving maul the first try of a new season for the Cornish Pirates was scored by their captain John Stevens. Houston’s conversion attempt went wide, but it made a sound start for the visitors nonetheless.

The Pirates scrum was already showing up well, and there was further joy when centre Matt McNab’s determined chase and charge down on a home defender paid off. A hat-trick scorer in the friendly away to Carmarthen Quins, he added another try to his tally this season, with Houston this time adding the extras.

The Nottingham side, however, would hit back, as Arden, a former England under 18s and Northampton Saints player, firstly narrowed the deficit with a 13^th minute penalty. The Pirates were under pressure defensively, with scrum half Will Yarnell directing matters for the Archers and their Fijian-born Army player Kody Vereti a powerful midfield performer.

Forced into giving a series of penalties away, the Pirates now went down to 14 men when Bokenham was directed to the sin bin. Then, just a minute or so later, a successful driving maul ended with a first Nottingham try of the match scored by hooker Harry Clayton. Arden stepped forward and slotted the conversion.

The Pirates strived to hit back, and after their Welsh scrum half Cam Jones initially sniped close to the line, a continuing pick and go approach duly delivered with hooker Nelson notching up his first try of the league campaign. There would though be an unfortunate setback, when on the half hour mark the team lost the services of their skipper Stevens, seemingly with what looked like a leg injury.

Both sides went close to scoring in the spell to half time. Nottingham’s full-back Ryan Olowofela, a former England 7s man, showed his pace when entering the line, but the danger passed after winger David Williams knocked the ball on. As for the Pirates they looked to end the half keen to add to their score, and although wing Arthur Relton went close following his fellow wingman Robin Wedlake’s grub kick, it was not to be. The visitors at least, however, held a 17-10 lead as referee Jack Makepeace’s whistle brought the first half to a close.

Well, it had been a competitive first forty, as was expected to be the case, and when play resumed it was also for the present too close to call. Indeed, that very much proved to be the case, and the Pirates could be forgiven for feeling somewhat anxious when midway through the period a second successful penalty strike by Arden brought the men in green and white to within four points of the Pirates.

It was certainly a time for the Pirates to dig deep and show resolve, with a not alone Bokenham typifying effort needed. Certain replacements were introduced and there was also a continuing front of mind endeavour to score what would be a fourth try to provide a bonus point.

Following a Nottingham knock on late in the half, the Pirates were at first awarded a scrum just five metres out and then a penalty award which seriously heightened anticipation.

Replacement fly-half Iwan Jenkins chipped to the corner, hooker Harry Hocking threw into the line-out, and after backs added their weight to the driving maul, a try was shortly after signalled – scored by the talismanic Bokenham. The conversion from Jenkins opened a surely unassailable eleven points gap.

Nottingham did manage one more score in the very last minute when replacement Jay Ecclesfield crossed for an unconverted try, which earned the Archers a losing bonus point, but it was understandably the Pirates especially who were in deservedly happy mode at the final whistle.

Speaking after the match, Cornish Pirates’ coach Gavin Cattle said:

“Five points away from home against a well-coached Nottingham side was pleasing, as was the attitude and our energy at times in defence for long periods. Yes, there were some areas of the game that we will look to tighten up on which is to be expected in such an opener, but it was a good start.

“In the first half we performed well and come the second half we knew Nottingham would come back at us with the breeze behind them. They tried to pin us back and we generally defended well.

“Forwards wise I thought we had scrum dominance early on with Billy Young going well, as did his fellow prop James French on debut, and Hugh Bokenham was talismanic in showing his all-round skill set and his individual efforts as just a very good player.

“Both our new scrum halves showed up well, Cam (Cameron Jones) very instinctive and dangerous and Dan (Hiscocks) methodical and a good manager and game leader. Also, I felt both our 10s complemented each other with the skills they offer and in the centre Matt McNab’s usual effort was outstanding and he deserved the try he scored.”

To conclude, Gavin added:

“As I said, this was a good start, it a satisfying win on the road, as we now look forward to next Friday’s big Championship game at home to Ealing Trailfinders. An expected large home crowd is expected who, as ever, will hopefully get behind the boys.”

Nottingham:   15 Ryan Olowofela (22 Gwyn Parks, 62) 14 David Williams 13 Kegan Christian-Goss 12 Levi Roper (23 Charlie Myall, 45) 11 Harry Graham 10 Matthew Arden 9 Will Yarnell (21 Toby Venner, 60); 1 Archie van der Flier (17 Aniseko Sio, 60) 2 Harry Clayton (16 Jack Dickinson, 60) 3 Dan Richardson (18 Ale Loman, 60) 4 Sebastian Ferreira 5 Jack Shine 6 Kody Vereti (19 Jay Ecclesfield, 52) 7 Nathan Tweedy (captain) 8 James Cherry (20 Sam Green, 69).

Yellow card:   14 David Williams (02)

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin 14 Robin Wedlake 13 Matt McNab 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Arthur Relton 10 Bruce Houston (22 Iwan Jenkins, 60) 9 Cameron Jones (21 Dan Hiscocks, 61); 1 Billy Young (17 Billy Keast, 51) 2 Morgan Nelson (16 Harry Hocking, 60) 3 James French (18 Jay Tyack, 60) 4 Josh King 5 Hugh Bokenham 6 Alex Everett 7 Will Gibson 8 John Stevens (captain; 20 Charlie Rice, 30).

Replacements (not used):   19 Matt Cannon 23 Charlie McCaig.

Yellow card:   Hugh Bokenham (21)

Scorers:

Nottingham – tries: Harry Clayton (02) Jay Ecclesfield (80);

con: Matt Arden (22); pens: Matt Arden (13, 60)

Cornish Pirates – tries: John Stevens (05) Matt McNab (12) Morgan Nelson (27) Hugh Bokenham (80); cons: Bruce Houston, Iwan Jenkins.

Referee:   Jack Makepeace
Assistants:  James Clarke & James Cornell

Attendance:   957