Cornish Pirates Amateurs vs Wiveliscombe Match Report

Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Match Report by Phil Westren

A Win in Welcome Winter Sunshine

Pirates Amateurs 45   Wiveliscombe 27

The ‘Ams’, who had won a close Counties 1 Tribute Western West game 28-20 away to the Somerset side last September, were keen to give another good account of themselves but knew they could take nothing for granted in this seventh versus eleventh in the league table clash. As it worked out it was a wise decision, as a little rusty following the Christmas break, they had it anything but all their own way.

Dan Rhys Evans, who also contributed with five conversions, is about to register one of the seven tries scored by the Pirates in the match.

After recent persistent rain, for their first fixture of the New Year the teams and all supporters present at the Mennaye Field welcomed some pleasant winter sunshine, and despite conditions inevitably being a little soft underfoot there was credit to each side for playing some entertaining rugby.

Playing towards Newlyn, the Pirates built up what initially looked a comfortable 19-3 halftime lead. However, with a lively scrum half and some wise old heads in their ranks the visitors responded to give the home side a bit of a fright, with the Pirates not helping their cause when giving a succession of penalties away early in the second half.

Man of the match Archie Pilcher was in impressive form.

Wiveliscombe also impressed at scrum time, leading to a few worried faces around the ‘Mennaye’ when they scored three tries, one converted, to suddenly take a one-point lead.

As if jolted back into action, it was deserved man of the match Archie Pilcher who provided the necessary go forward for the Pirates and, when the ball was moved right, wing Dan Rhys Evans did well to score a try that he also converted. The bonus point effort signalled the start of some continued fine play from the Amateurs, with centre Josh Semmens often busily and powerfully involved. Indeed, a 45-20 scoreline ultimately underlined reacquired dominance, but not before Wiveliscombe at the very end justly secured their converted bonus point providing fourth try.

Speaking after the game, Pirates Amateurs’ head coach Murray Westren commented:

“It was good to start the new year with five points and, in the process, we scored some lovely tries.

”We were a little sluggish after the Christmas break, so the game will have hopefully sharpened minds and bodies for tougher tests to come.”

Centre Josh Semmens, who crossed for two tries in the game, was throughout a forceful midfield presence.

Pirates Amateurs:   15 Ben Wragg 14 Harvey Stone 13 Morgan Holman 12 Josh Semmens 11 Dan Rhys Evans 10 Harris Eddy 9 Sam Carter 8 Archie Pilcher 7 Tom Hutton 6 Stan Somers 5 Toby Osborne 4 Ben Martin 3 Dylan Arthur 2 Ban Taylor (captain) 1 Sam Carrol.

Replacements:   16 Dave Penrose 17 Wes Eddy 19 Sam Coogan.

Scorers:   Tries – Josh Semmens (2), Harvey Stone, Ben Wragg, Dan Rhys Evans, Archie Pilcher, Sam Coogan; Conversions – Dan Rhy Evans (5).

(The Pirates Amateurs are next in action away to Tavistock this coming Saturday – the 13^th January – kick-off at 2.30pm)