Cornish Pirates rugby club vs Coventry match report

Well, ‘yes’, it was challenge – but it was one so admirably taken on by the Cornish side who duly persevered to record a superb victory, and one based on a show full of heart and desire.

Selection for the Cornish Pirates saw one change in the backs from the team that ran out at home against Nottingham seven days earlier, with centre Joe Jenkins, who has arrived in Cornwall on short-term loan from Bristol Bears, selected at outside centre. In the forwards, Matt Johnson was handed a starting role at tight-head prop, whilst there was a reshuffle involving certain other personnel.

Scrum half Alex Schwarz is about to get his backline moving. (Image: Brian Tempest)

Fit again Will Gibson returned at open-side flanker in place of skipper John Stevens who moved to number 8 in place of Hugh Bokenham, who in turn stepped forward a row to partner Steele Barker in the engine room. On the bench Cory Teague was understandably keen to make his first competitive match start for the season, plus there was a welcome return to fitness for Josh King.

Match underway the first scrum of the game saw the Pirates looking capably solid once more, but it was Coventry who were quick to impress with ball in hand. A pick-up and run by their young Fijian prop Vilikesa Nairau provided an early threat, only for him to be halted in his tracks by Pirates’ full-back Will Trewin.

An injury to Pirates’ fly-half Bruce Houston was a concern, as he had to depart for a head injury assessment which resulted in him being permanently replaced by Tom Pittman.

Penalty awards to the home side added further pressure on the Pirates, with Pelligrini opting to kick for the corner rather than attempt kicks at goal. To credit, however, the visitors’ defence held strong with skipper John Stevens once again inspirational.

Coventry's former England flanker Matt Kvesic is about to pass the ball as Pirates' fly-half Bruce Houston looks on prior to being injured. (Image: Brian Tempest)

The hosts, though, looked as if they would not be denied the game’s opening score, only for referee Mr. James to have deemed that a pass to Coventry’s noted try-scoring winger, Ryan Hutler, was forward one.

Coventry certainly held territorial advantage in the first quarter during which the maul defence by the Pirates was fully tested, and up to the task. Then, suddenly, a quick tap penalty and go by Coventry’s Fijian powerhouse number 8 Senitiki Nayalu, with back up from prop Nairau and lock Obiuna Nkwocha, set alarm bells ringing.

Success was not immediate but, when another penalty followed, quick reaction led to the game’s opening try scored by strong running centre Will Rigg. Pellegrini added the extra two points.

The Pirates looked to respond, with the efforts of flanker Alex Everettearning a penalty. Added to this, some unnecessary backchat from Coventry saw them marched back 10 metres, and Pittman fired the ball into their ‘22’.

Replacement fly-half Tom Pittman is about to slot one of his three successful conversions (Image: Brian Tempest)

A real chance was provided for the Pirates to open their account, and when they did it was centre Joe Elderkin who got on the try-scoring sheet for a third game running.  Bursting over the line on the right, he cut back to near the posts and Pittman’s conversion levelled the scores.

Coventry had edged the start of this contest, but the Pirates had admirably refused to buckle, keen to not make matters in the slightest bit easy for their Warwickshire opponents.

In the build to halftime, both sides strived to score again, each going through the phases. Scrum-half Alex Schwarz provided relief with a clearance kick for the Pirates, and when Coventry applied further pressure in the final minute or so, it was determination defensively that enabled the visitors to hold out come the break for the whistle to blow with the score reading 7-7.

Concerns for the Pirates were a lack of first-half possession, plus perhaps what quality performers in the home side might still have to offer, including former England flanker Matt Kvesic and experienced former long-serving Premiership scrum-half Will Chudley.

Match action (Image: Brian Tempest)

As it worked out the Pirates would conjure up two converted tries in the space of just three minutes. A first, off the back of a potent maul, went to Stevens, and the second went to replacement scrum-half Ruaridh Dawson who, shortly after being introduced to proceedings, not for the first time this season made a telling interception that saw him run some 70 metres to the line.

Into the last quarter, with the clock ticking nervously away for supporters of both sides, penalties awards were going to Coventry. Both sides were also introducing a string of replacements, including for the home side young prop Eliot Salts who has played for Cornwall under 20s.

A second Coventry try, scored on 65 minutes by wing James Martin, heightened the tension among what was a big crowd. It followed a pinpoint kick out of hand by Pellegrini who was less lucky with his conversion attempt.

Hugh Bokenham takes to the sky to win clean line-out ball (Image: Brian Tempest)

In what was now going to be a crucial, nail-biting last few minutes, a faulty line-out was not now helping the Pirates’ cause, plus they also lost the services of John Stevens because of injury, but with continued character, they held out for a fine victory despite a last-minute converted try scored by Coventry’s Will Lane, which also provided some consolation in earning a losing bonus point.

Teams are well aware of how difficult Coventry are to beat at home on their artificial turf pitch, and having started to acquire the legendary atmosphere that in decades past made Coventry a feared place for opposition teams to visit, there was credit that the Pirates, for the immediate present, had managed to subdue the home support in what was otherwise another thoroughly entertaining Championship contest.

It was also a fourth league win on the trot for the Cornish side who move up to second place in the Championship behind Ealing Trailfinders.