Pirates Amateurs 33  - Penryn 23

On an increasingly wet afternoon, this bonus point win for the Pirates Amateurs at the Mennaye Field saw them move up to fifth in the league table, writes Phil Westren.

The contest also, between two spirited teams, provided a great advert for the rugby that is played in Counties 1 Tribute Western West, where the strong Plymstock Albion Oaks presently hold top spot.

Playing towards the Penzance end of the ground, the men from the ‘Borough’ opened the scoring when wing Ross McKnight, who was making his first team debut for Penryn, celebrated with an unconverted try.

However, after withstanding a little more pressure the Pirates would soon take general control with skipper and once again man of the match Ben Taylor notching up a hat-trick.

Thanks in part was to his team’s acquired potent driving maul, whilst full-back Ben Wragg added two conversions. Penryn, though, had the last say in the half with centre James Salisbury reducing the deficit when slotting a penalty to make it 19-8.

As the weather worsened at the start of the second 40, it was Penryn who would again score next. Salisbury was proving a forceful midfield performer, and in converting his own justly rewarded try, and adding a penalty, at 19-18 the ‘Rynners’ were very much back in the game.

Thankfully, in front of a good-sized crowd the Pirates were spurred back into action, and in the process scored two excellent tries through wing Sam Coogan and centre Morgan Holman. Making light of the underfoot conditions, Wragg converted both to open up an important 15 points gap.

Penryn did manage one more try, scored by experienced number 8 Andrew Seviour, but this was a day when spoils went the way of a Pirates, for whom 16 of their 18 squad members were products of the Penzance & Newlyn RFC’s youth section, including 17-year-old Oscar Marr who on making his senior rugby debut impressed as a replacement fly-half.

Commenting after the game, Pirates’ Amateurs head coach Murray Westren said: “Returning to winning ways it was good to record this victory, and with a bonus point.

"The conditions made it difficult but there was credit to both sides for their performances.

"We built a deserved lead at half-time and, after Penryn threatened in the second half, then got back on track to earn the pleasing final result."