PLAYED at the Mennaye Field on Saturday in a Cornwall Cup encounter, the Pirates Amateurs went close to causing an upset against a strong visiting Wadebridge side, writes Phil Westren. 

The Camels currently sit top of the Regional 2 South West League, which is one above the level the Pirates play at, but there was little to choose between the two sides on the day.

Ahead of kick-off, there was a minute’s silence, followed by applause, in memory of Pirates’ rugby stalwart Des Thomas, who had sadly passed away the previous weekend.

Tries for the Pirates were scored by Rhodri McAtee and Stan Somers, with scrum-half Sam Carter successful with two conversions and three penalties. The Camels try scorers were Jack Counter (3), Jack Sander, and Darren Livett, one of which was converted by Danny Thomas.

Speaking at the end of a game where Pirates’ hooker Harry Rogers was the home side’s adjudged man of the match, head coach Murray Westren said: “Firstly, it was a fantastic game of rugby, and all who came to the Mennaye and watched wouldn’t have gone home disappointed.

“In my view I feel we put in probably our best performance for at least 18 months. Our appetite to defend and by physical was brilliant and we attacked with a real intensity and pace against a side flying at the level above.

“I was so proud of the lads’ character after last week and they put in a performance that they themselves should be proud of. One thing we know, is that Des would have been.”