Pirates have to settle for losing bonus point in Yorkshire

AT the conclusion of a closely fought game in the Greene King IPA Championship, the Cornish Pirates had to ultimately settle for a losing bonus point, which they achieved by displaying required grit and determination right to the very end.

After fly-half Laurence May kicked the game off, the Pirates were soon pressing with wing Kieran Goss going close.

However, there was concern when lock Laurie McGlone went down injured, with fears confirmed shortly after when he had to depart proceedings. Marcus Garratt replaced him off the bench.

Two men in the home side keen to catch an eye were former Pirates in wing David Doherty and lock Mike Myerscough, but it was a former London Welsh man in wing Seb Stegmann who opened the scoring for Yorkshire Carnegie with a try scored out wide. Fly-half Harry Leonard was luckless with his conversion attempt.

The Pirates showed a determination to respond, with their cause hopefully helped after the hosts lost skipper and lock Chris Jones to the sin bin. Indeed, benefit would materialise a couple of minutes later when flanker Alex Cheesman charged down a kick and followed the ball to score.

Fly-half Laurence May missed the conversion, but made no mistake from a penalty soon on offer, to put the Pirates in front.

The Pirates were playing with considerable confidence and just before Jones returned were awarded a penalty try, converted by Laurence May, to give them a 15-5 lead.

Former England man Jones might well have returned to the fray, but his side would still spend the next 10 minutes a man short in personnel, as it was now Myerscough’s turn to take a path to the already warmed seat in the sin bin.

A second penalty from May extended the lead for the Pirates, however on the half-hour mark flanker Andy Saull’s converted try pulled seven points back for the hosts.

Yorkshire Carnegie were finishing the half strongly, their potent driving maul leading to a try scored by prop Charlie Beech. The conversion was a difficult one, but Leonard slotted it well to also put Bryan Redpath’s side 19-18 in front.

There was still just enough time for the Pirates to once again hit back, and they did.

A quick tap penalty from eagerly combative scrum-half Stuart Townsend provided the spark, a penalty was awarded from a scrum, and skipper Aaron Carpenter duly pointed to the posts.

At the break, May’s third successful penalty slot gave the Pirates a 21-19 lead.

A busy first half at Headingley Carnegie Stadium had whet the appetite ahead of the second half action, and when play resumed it took little time before the scoreboard ticked over once more. Unfortunately, however, it followed Garratt being yellow-carded, with Stegmann opening the scoring again with his second try of the match.

Leonard’s fine conversion made it 26-21.

Having scored four tries in the match, a now accustomed bonus league point was already in the bag for the home side, as they now strived to add to their match points tally in time left playing against 14 men. They thankfully didn’t.

This particular battle would be evenly contested for a spell, although quality levels in the second half hadn’t reached those witnessed in the first period, For the Pirates their line-out, in particular, was not functioning to par.

As the match built to a conclusion, with just five points separating the sides the outcome was anything but easy to predict. Yes, this was always going to be a big ask for the Pirates, remembering that their last victory away to the Yorkshire side

was back in 2007 - when they won a memorable EDF Energy National Trophy tie 18-

17 - but they were at least still in with a ‘shout’.

A converted late try, scored by full-back Jonah Holmes, would once again mean a victory for the Leeds-based side, but the Pirates were commendably in no mood to bow. Indeed, thanks to a second try from Cheesman a deserved bonus point

provided some reward for their efforts, despite dropping one place in the league this weekend, down to seventh.

Cornish Pirates’ Director of Rugby Ian Davies had expected a tough challenge, and it was, but despite the defeat he was pleased with much of the endeavour on display.

Speaking after the game, he commented: “Losing Laurie early on with a shoulder injury was a big blow, however Aaron led well from the front and Stuart Townsend was also outstanding.

“Taking on a Top 4 side littered with Premiership-experienced players was always going to provide a challenge, and we needed to be more clinical and efficient in certain areas. Gifting penalties enabled them to acquire field position to use their

maul, and our line-out was poor.”

Ian concluded: “We have been on a good run and came unstuck against a strong Yorkshire

Carnegie side. The game was though closer than the scoreline suggests and we

deserved our losing bonus point.”

Yorkshire Carnegie: 15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Seb Stegmann (Andy Forsyth 76), 13

Pete Lucock, 12 Tom Casson, 11 David Doherty, 10 Harry Leonard, 9 Chris Pilgrim;

1 Charlie Beech (Lewis Boyce 62), 2 Phil Nilson, 3 Ben Hooper (Rob O’Donnell 53),

4 Mike Myerscough (Dean Schofield 76), 5 Chris Jones (capt), 6 Richard Beck, 7

Andy Saull (Chris Walker 76), 8 Ryan Burrows.

Replacements (not used): Joe Graham, Joel Hodgson.

Yellow cards: Jones, Myerscough.

Cornish Pirates: 15 Toby May (Kieran Hallett 57), 14 Kieran Goss, 13 Tom Riley,

12 Alex Dancer, 11 Kyle Moyle, 10 Laurence May, 9 Stuart Townsend (Alex Day 76);

1 Marlen Walker (Jack Andrew 63), 2 Rob Elloway (Jack Innard 57), 3 Alan Paver

(Tyler Gendall 47), 4 Laurie McGlone (Marcus Garratt 4, Tom Duncan 68), 5 Brett

Beukeboom, 6 Alex Cheesman, 7 Sam Simmonds, 8 Aaron Carpenter (capt).

Yellow card: Garratt.

Scorers:- Yorkshire Carnegie – tries: Stegmann (2), Saull, Beech, Holmes; cons: Leonard (4).

Cornish Pirates – Cheesman (2), penalty try; con: May pens: May (3).

Referee: Matthew O’Grady (RFU).

Attendance: 2,107.