Cornish Pirates vs Jersey Reds Cornwall match report

Club captain John Stevens made a welcome return to action for this contest, as did fit again lock Will Britton. Joe Elderkin also pleasingly returned from injury, partnering Garyn Smith in the centre, and Carwyn Penny started at full-back. 

Alex Schwarz was named at scrum half and, with both Tom Kessell and Ruaridh Dawson presently injured, Ali Stacey provided cover among the replacements.

Fly-half Arwel Robson was in fine kicking for the Pirates (Image: Brian Tempest)

A former Pirates youth team member, who has represented Cornwall under 20s and Redruth, the talented young player presently plays for Cardiff Uni in BUCS Super Rugby and in the hard-nosed Welsh Championship league.

Finally, keen for a call off the bench, another fit again returnee in the shape of centre Shae Tucker was about to make his 50th appearance for the club.

After the Pirates opened the scoring in just the second minute thanks to a well-struck penalty kicked through the Newlyn posts by fly-half Arwel Robson, the Reds hit back with two clinically created tries scored by bulky South African-born centre Jordan Holgate.

The scores, despite fly-half Russell Bennett being luckless with his conversion attempts, silenced the home crowd, as by now Pirates supporters were already fully aware that not only was the visiting pack not short of ballast but they also possessed a slick and dangerous backline.

Pirates’ wingman Tommy Wyatt was their adjudged man of the match (Image: Brian Tempest)

It was clear the Pirates needed another score to boost morale, and it was thankfully duly delivered approaching the half-hour mark when centre Garyn Smith intercepted and ran forty metres to cross for a converted try at the Newlyn posts.

Robson duly added the extras to his fellow Welshman’s maiden five-pointer in Pirates’ colours, and he also then kicked another fine penalty to give the Cornish side a lead.

Hopes were high that the Pirates could arrive at the break in front, but they would then suffer a double whammy that would prove telling in the context of the game.

Firstly, at the very end of the half they leaked a converted try scored by Jersey backrower Macauley Cook, and because of his actions in the build up a yellow card was shown to Pirates’ lock Will Britton.

Under early pressure the Pirates look to halt a Jersey forward’s advance (Image: Brian Tempest)

13-17 suddenly painted a different picture, and it was one that got considerably worse in the opening minutes of the second period when tries from Jersey wing Will Brown and hooker James Hadfield, the latter of which was converted by Bennett, made it 13-29.

Brown’s bonus point-providing try was a particularly fine effort, as he rose to grasp the cross-kicked ball before planting it down at the old Western National corner.

A converted try by Pirates’ scrum-half Alex Schwarz kept the home side in touch, and there was still a glimmer of hope despite losing hooker Will Crane to the sin bin and after Brown had scored again.

Indeed, following good play down the left by skipper John Stevens, replacement centre Shae Tucker and wing Tommy Wyatt, it was man of the match Wyatt who made it over the line at the scoreboard corner for a superb try.

There was still twelve minutes to go, but that was it points-wise for the afternoon for the final score to read 34-25 in the Jersey team’s favour.

Speaking at the end of Saturday’s match, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said: "It was an improved performance from what we showed against Bedford last week, as we had to absorb a lot of pressure in that first half as Jersey are quite a powerful outfit.

Garyn Smith scores his maiden try for the Pirates (Image: Brian Tempest)

"We are a developing team, wth the endeavour there and there also areas of our game that have improved, including the scrum.

"The yellow cards obviously impacted on us and turned the game, but we were still in the fight.

"It was also good to welcome certain players back from injury, with our skipper John Stevens again showing his gift to the team which is his physicality, and his front on shots which he gives us week in and week out.

"Also, I thought our bench did well, with Will Gibson a ball of energy and Shae (Tucker), who has been unlucky with injury and illness this season and who has been a good impact player for us, pleasingly back in action for his 50th appearance."