Cornish Pirates Amateurs VS St. Ives: Match Report

Photo Credit: Brian Tempest – Pirates’ lock Ben Martin is brought to ground on the wet and slippery Mennaye Field.

Pirates Win Local Derby Affair

Pirates Amateurs 37  –  St. Ives 3

By Phil Westren

Playing this sixth versus seventh contest in the Counties 1 Western West league against local rivals St. Ives, a likely close-fought game was expected, remembering too that St. Ives had won 12-5 at their Alexandra Road ground last September.

Seeing this latest contest was played less than 24 hours after the Cornish Pirates had faced Ealing Trailfinders at the Mennaye Field, pitch conditions were surprisingly better than expected. Also, by mutual agreement, the game doubled up as two fixtures in one, as the teams were also scheduled to meet seven days later in Counties 1 South Plate – Round 1, of the Papa John’s Cup competition.

Photo Credit: Brian Tempest – Scrum half Sam Carter punches the air in celebration when Stan Somers scores his fourth try for the Pirates.

The dominant Pirates led 22-3 at halftime, with St. Ives’ sole three points courtesy of a penalty kicked by Jamie Prisk, who for this game slotted in at fly-half for the ‘Hakes’. For the Pirates, man of the match Number 8 Stan Somers had a registered a first half hat-trick, plus there was a try scored by wing Dan-Rhys Evans. Full-back Ben Wragg was also on target with one conversion.

St. Ives were more in the game during the second half. Scrum half James Marsden fired off the passes, centre Matthew Burrell caught the eye with occasional midfield runs, and the experienced Prisk carried strongly. However, the Pirates’ defensive effort remained miserly to keep their line intact, as they completed a satisfying afternoon’s work with a further try for Somers and one apiece for centre Morgan Holman and Wragg.

The win for the Pirates pleasingly took them up a place to fifth in the league, as St. Ives dropped to eighth, whilst in Round 2 of the Cup the Pirates Amateurs will play away to the winners of this coming weekend’s Dorchester versus Kingsbridge Round 1 fixture.

Photo Credit: Brian Tempest – Pirates’ skipper Ben Taylor looks to offload a pass.

Commenting after the game, Pirates Amateurs’ head coach Murray Westren said:

“This was a great local derby occasion and and a game played in front of a fantastically big crowd.

“Despite the margin of victory in favour of the Pirates credit must also go to St. Ives who, in giving their all, battled throughout.

“We scored some well worked tries to deserve our victory and also defended particularly well, and especially so when St. Ives strived hard to break us down in the second half.”

Pirates Amateurs:   15 Ben Wragg 14 Dan-Rhys Evans 13 Morgan Holman 12 Josh Semmens 11 Tom Nicholas 10 Oscar Marr 9 Sam Carter; 1 Dylan Arthur 2 Ben Taylor (captain) 3 James Lambourn 4 Ben Martin 5 Toby Osborne 6 Sam Carroll 7 Tom Hutton 8 Stan Somers.

Replacements:   S1 Dave Penrose S2 Neil Stanleick S3 Cal Gardner.

St. Ives:   15 Adam Harris 14 Liam Moyle 13 Bayley Rogers 12 Matthew Burrell 11 Jordan Jeffrey 10 Jamie Prisk 9 James Marsden; 1 Jack Hill 2 Levi Webster 3 Rory Whitehead 4 William Perkin 5 Daniel Lawther 6 Thomas Scanlon 7 Joe Lucas 8 Christopher Warren.

Replacements:   S1 Liam McFadden S2 Thomas Sutton S3 Alfie Phillips.

Scorers:

Pirates Amateurs -tries: Stan Somers (4), Dan-Rhys Evans, Morgan Holman, Ben Wragg; con: Ben Wragg.

St. Ives – pen: Jamie Prisk.

Referee:   Danny Robins, CRRS.

Man of the match:   Stan Somers.

Photo Credit: Brian Tempest – Supporters on the sidelines watch intently as Pirates’ flanker Sam Carroll strives to make ground.