London Scottish 24, Cornish Pirates 20

Having not won an away game versus London Scottish since September 2011, the losing sequence for the Cornish Pirates continued at the Richmond Athletic Ground with this ultimately frustrating defeat, writes Phil Westren.

Saturday’s contest marked long-serving prop Jack Andrew’s 150th appearance for the Pirates. He was selected in a team of familiar faces, where only lock Fa’atiga Lemalu was lined up to make his first competitive match in the club’s colours. Other new arrivals, named on the bench, were props Hayden King and Sam Rodman, scrum-half Rhodri Davies, and centre Shae Tucker.

After an unusually long pre-season, playing in perfect conditions towards the Richmond end of the ground the Pirates started this Championship Cup match opener well. Indeed, displaying patience following a number of penalty awards, swift possession from a scrum saw centre Rory Parata release the ball to wing Alex O’Meara who dived to score in the right corner. Fly-half Will Cargill landed the difficult conversion.

Strong carries had been evident from No 8 Tom Duncan and hooker Tom Channon, however London Scottish soon hit back with a try of their own. It was their talisman, Mark Bright, soon to celebrate his 41st birthday, who set the score, one registered by his fellow backrower and skipper Lewis Wynne. As per Cargill, London Scottish fly-half Dan Barnes slotted the extra two points.

The home team had named 12 fresh faces for this encounter, Barnes being one of several influential performers who would have an impact on the eventual result, as in particular would another newcomer in impressive full-back Luke Hibberd.

London Scottish appeared to be gaining in confidence, boosted by getting points on the board, but as to be expected in such a season’s opener both sides were also guilty of being a little ‘loose’ at times.

There would be no more scores before the interval, although mention must be made of a terrific run made by Pirates full-back AJ Cant whose pass to supporting wing Robin Wedlake was unfortunately adjudged to have gone forward.

With the score at 7-all, first points in the second half came in the 50th minute through a penalty kicked by Cargill, as again London Scottish strived to hit back. Flanker John Stevens and Cant defended admirably for the Pirates, but the visitors were unable to prevent replacement Jack Ingall crossing for a converted try that made it 14-10.

The Pirates started to introduce their replacements off the bench, and they made an initial impact. Scrum-half Rhodri Davies, prop Marlen Walker and centre Javier Rojas Alvarez were all involved in a passage of play that ended with Cant the fully deserved scorer of an unconverted try.

Could the Pirates press on? Hopefully, but the answer would be no. The previously mentioned Hibberd now inflicted damage, his attacking run supported by scrum-half Josh Barton who dotted the ball down under the posts. The conversion for Barnes was a formality.

In no mood to give up the fight, the Pirates struck back when O’Meara crossed out wide and, with just a point in it, it was Rojas Alvarez who was called upon to attempt the difficult conversion. He narrowly missed, before a penalty from Barnes concluded matters for the final result to read 24-20.

So, what is with London Scottish? Hey, it happens in sport. At least, come the league matches, the Pirates have the chance to strive away against them again in November.

Cornish Pirates’ coach Gavin Cattle gave his usual honest assessment at the end of the game, saying: “We created chances and put ourselves in a winning position but didn’t capitalise on opportunities, it that critical game management at times that we’ll reflect on.

“There were though lots of positives as we created good tempo at times, our lineout went generally well, and our scrum was strong. We also put a lot of pressure in the right areas of the pitch but with a need to turn slow ball into quick ball and to improve our actual delivery from the lineout where we got caught a couple of times.

“A couple of decisions didn’t go our way and there are areas we can polish up on, but credit also to London Scottish who with mainly a young and enthusiastic team really got stuck in.”

London Scottish: 15 Luke Hibberd, 14 Harry Barlow, 13 Bobby Beattie, 12 Matt Gordon, 11 Elliott Creed, 10 Dan Barnes, 9 Josh Barton; 1 Jonny Harris, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Phil Cringle, 4 Matas Jurevicius, 5 Luke Frost, 6 Matt Eliet, 7 Lewis Wynne (c), 8 Mark Bright.

Replacements: Billy Harding, Jordan Brodley, Kyle Whyte, Hugh Tizard, Jack Ingall, Charlie Gowling, Ollie Allsopp (used); Craig Duncan (not used).

Cornish Pirates: 15 AJ Cant, 14 Robin Wedlake, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Nicolas De Battista, 11 Alex O’Meara, 10 Will Cargill, 9 Alex Schwarz; 1 Jack Andrew, 2 Tom Channon, 3 Jay Tyack, 4 Fa’atiga Lemalu, 5 Brett Beukeboom (c), 6 Matt Bolwell, 7 John Stevens, 8 Tom Duncan.

Replacements: Marlen Walker, Sam Rodman, Danny Cutmore, Rhodri Davies, Javier Rojas Alvarez, Shae Tucker(used); Hayden King, Jake Clemson (not used).

Scorers:

London Scottish – tries: Wynne, Ingall, Barton; cons: Barnes (3); pen: Barnes.

Cornish Pirates – tries: O’Meara (2), Cant; con: Cargill; pen: Cargill.

Attendance: 707