By Phil Westren

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST (SATURDAY)

Cornish Pirates 18 Paignton 13

AFTER pleasingly winning their Counties One Tribute Western West new year opener away to Kingsbridge, the second-placed Pirates Amateurs welcomed league leaders Paignton to the Mennaye Field on Saturday.

The visiting Devon side won 32-20 on their own patch back in October, and this second encounter between the sides proved close again, but with the Pirates on this occasion earning a deserved 18-13 points victory.

On a dull and damp January afternoon, with the ground also slippery underfoot, nobody would have expected a spectacle. However, it was rather good in the conditions and there was credit to both sides for playing some excellent rugby.

After the visitors got off to a sound start thanks to a penalty kicked by fly-half Brad McKee, the Pirates settled into the match and proceeded to entertain.

An opening home score looked odds on to happen and, when it did, it was worth waiting for. Back and forwards impressed as play switched right to left deep into the Newlyn half, with it skilful passing that led to wing John Tyler touching the ball down at the old Western National corner. Winger Sam Cahill added a superb conversion from the touchline to make it 7-3.

Joe Best, Pirates Ams.
Powerhouse prop Joe Best rampages forward as the Paignton defence gets stuck in. Picture: Brian Tempest (Brian Tempest)

Play remained competitive for the rest of the half but with the ‘Ams’ having the edge. Prop Joe Best and man of the match flanker Sam Carroll impressed, though to be fair there were plaudits for all players – in both teams.

Each side of half-time Cahill landed penalties to give the Pirates a 13-3 lead, his second strike following a searing territory-achieving midfield run by full-back Ben Wragg.

But after that Paignton held possession for long periods only to be denied by a stubborn and at times kamikaze-like home defence, which was though eventually breached when space was found to enable wing Henry Hoare to score wide on the left. McKee’s successful conversion then made it all to play for at 13-10.

Pirates Ams v Paignton
Pirates Amateurs' defence needed to be on top form in the second half at the Mennaye Field. Picture: Brian Tempest (Brian Tempest)

Forays for the Pirates into their opponents’ half had proved difficult in the second period.

However, following a couple of penalty awards they had a chance to score from a catch and drive at the clubhouse corner, and with all working smoothly they did just that thanks to hooker Eli Williams.

Cahill’s conversion attempt missed but with an eight-point gap there was every hope the Pirates would hold out for victory. A last-minute penalty by McKee earned the league leaders a losing bonus point, whilst for still second-placed Pirates, a pleasing win was theirs.

Commenting after the match, Pirates Amateurs head coach Murray Westren said: “This was a very pleasing win to entertain a happy home crowd, and there was credit to both sides for the quality of rugby on display.

“In difficult conditions I thought we played some cracking rugby in the first half, plus we throughout showed considerable character defensively.”

PIRATES AMATEURS: 15 Ben Wragg 14 John Tyler 13 Josh Semmens 12 Harris Eddy 11 Sam Cahill 10 Oscar Marr 9 Sam Carter; 1 Dylan Arthur 2 Eli Williams 3 Joe Best 4 Nick Nowell 5 Ben Martin 6 Toby Osborne 7 Sam Carroll 8 Stan Somers (capt). Replacements: 16 Dave Penrose, 17 Tom Hutton, 18 Quinn Cross.

Tries: Tyler, Williams; Convs: Cahill; Pens: Cahill (2).

Pirates Amateurs’ man of the match: Sam Carroll.