Coventry Vs Cornish Pirates: Match Report

Published On: 5 May 2025Last Updated: 5 May 2025By CornishStuff

📷 Pirates' winger Arthur Relton puts on the burners. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Admirable Win for The Pirates

By Phil Westren

Coventry 14 Cornish Pirates 21

This 4^th versus 5^th Championship clash was expected to be a close and hard-fought, and it was, but for the Cornish Pirates the win was also truly admirable, as for the second season running they recorded the double against Coventry.

When the two teams last met, the Pirates won 46-14 at the Mennaye Field in December. That result was one that surely nobody would have forecast, plus it inevitably meant that the Coventry team was fully focused to avenge such a defeat.

Team selection for the Cornish side saw a fit again Will Trewin return at full-back and Charlie McCaig slot back in at centre alongside Chester Ribbons. In the forwards Sol Moody started at hooker, Charlie ‘Buster’ Rice partnered Alfie Bell in the second row, and Josh King was named at wing forward. As for the bench, the familiar frame of former Pirates’ prop Jack Andrew was listed, by agreement on loan from Camborne.

After a respectful minute’s silence in memory of Brian Holt, a former Coventry vice-captain and President, it was Pirates’ fly-half Bruce Houston who got the game underway on the artificial pitch at the Butts Park Arena (BPA).

📷As usual, Pirates' skipper Alex Everett led from the front before picking up an injury. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

In initially dull, cool and breezy conditions, the Pirates played with confidence during the opening minutes, with forwards and backs impressing. A try for wing Arthur Relton looked ‘on’, only for a delivered pass to be adjudged a forward one.

Relton did, however, get on the scoresheet in the sixteenth minute, when cleverly working in tandem with fellow wing Matt McNab he scored his eleventh try in all games this season. Houston also converted well from out wide.

On loan Exeter Chief’s scrum half Sam Maunder posed a threat for ‘Cov’, as did the versatile Suva Ma’asi, often a hooker like his father and former ‘Pirate’ Vili, but who in this match was playing at wing forward.

Houston attempted two long range penalty attempts, the first six metres inside his own half. Despite them missing, both were good efforts, as was his then successful conversion of replacement hooker Matt Pritchard’s try.

To take a 14-0 lead with just four minutes to go before halftime was encouraging, but just before the break dangerman home winger Ryan Hutler scored a try. It was created thanks to a deft chip over the defence by top scorer fly-half Tommy Mathews, who then added the extra two points.

Welcome sunshine appeared for the start of the second forty, but although the Pirates held a 14-7 lead it was Coventry who would again score next, after the Pirates lost the services of their injured skipper Alex Everett. Lock Dan Green took advantage of the Pirates being caught out defensively and the conversion by Mathews drew the scores level.

📷Referee Craig Maxwell-Keys watches on as Pirates' replacement scrum half Will Becconsall weighs up options. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Approaching the hour mark, the Pirates match-winning third try was scored. It followed Pritchard’s throw to Josh King, with the resultant driving maul ending with flanker Jack Forsythe scoring his first try for the club in what was his second appearance on loan from Exeter Chiefs. Houston’s conversion from out wide (the final points in the match) was again wonderfully struck.

Coventry looked to immediately respond through full-back Logan Trotter, who has played for Glasgow Warriors, and the Pirates introduced the experienced Jack Andrew to proceedings for what was his 238^th appearance in Pirates’ colours.

As decibel levels were raised about the BPA, there was credit to Coventry for finishing strongly. However, despite it being a little frantic, plaudits were certainly due the Pirates for defending well and holding out for victory.

Speaking at the end of the game, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“We knew Coventry would test us, as they always do, but on their artificial pitch I thought we controlled the collision and contact area well.

“Knowing it is a not an easy place to play, the boys fronted up and our attitude was pleasing, as was our defence. The wind made it difficult when it picked up in the second half but overall I am very pleased.

“There was credit to Matt Pritchard who, making his second appearance for us, had to replace Sol Moody early on, and Jack Forsythe who has quickly settled in also played very well.”

📷Lock Alfie Bell reaches high to win line-out ball for the Pirates. - Photo credit: Brian Tempest

Coventry: 15 Logan Trotter 14 Ryan Hutler 13 Oli Morris 12 Tom Hitchcock (22 Liam Richman, 68) 11 Jimmy Martin (23 Will Lane, 72) 10 Tommy Mathews 9 Sam Maunder (21 Josh Barton, 64); 1 Toby Trinder (17 Jevaughn Warren, 72) 2 Jordon Poole (captain) 3 Eliot Salt (18 Tye Raymont, 59) 4 Dan Green (19 Jack Bennett, 59) 5 Rhys Anstey 6 Tom Ball 7 Suva Ma’asi 8 Chester Owen

Replacements (not used): 16 Will Biggs 20 Daniel Okeke

Cornish Pirates: 15 Will Trewin (23 Iwan Price-Thomas, 66; 22 Iwan Jenkins, 68) 14 Arthur Relton 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Chester Ribbons 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks (21 Will Becconsall, 50); 1 Billy Young (17 Jack Andrew, 68) 2 Sol Moody (16 Matt Pritchard, 17) 3 James French 4 Charlie Rice 5 Alfie Bell (19 Matt Cannon, 48) 6 Josh King 7 Jack Forsythe 8 Alex Everett (captain; 20 Fintan Coleman, 48).

Replacement (not used): 18 Ben Woodmansey.

Scorers:

Coventry – tries: 14 Ryan Hutler (38) 4 Dan Green (50); cons: 10 Tommy Mathews (39, 51). Cornish Pirates – tries: 14 Arthur Relton (16) 16 Matt Pritchard (35) 7 Jack Forsythe (58); cons: 10 Bruce Houston (17, 36, 59).

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Assistants: Mike Hudson & James Clarke

Attendance: 3204