By Phil Westren

COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST

Kingsbridge 5 Pirates Amateurs 29

QUICK to regain their focus after the two-week Christmas break, Pirates Amateurs maintained their good form with this excellent win.

Kingsbridge were previously unbeaten at home in the league this season, so there was a big well done to a Cornish side for performing so well, despite missing several key players. It provided an example, of course, of the squad’s strength in-depth with several impressive performances.

Making his debut, wing Quinn Cross scored the game’s opening try midway through the first half, for full-back Ben Wragg to then add the extra two points. He also landed a penalty just before the break to give the Pirates a 10-0 lead.

The host scored their one try in the game early in the second period, before the dominant Pirates added three more of their own through man of the match prop Joe Best, flanker Sam Carroll and Wragg, two of which he converted.

Not only did the ‘Ams’ register a four-try bonus point, but they also showed their mettle defensively, and especially so in the last 10 minutes when they refused to buckle.

Commenting after the match, head coach Murray Westren said: “Having secured our local derby victory at home to St Ives just before Christmas, to win in Devon against Kingsbridge made a very good start to 2025.

“We knew how able and dangerous our opponents could be, so it was important for us to maintain a focus, which we did, with great credit also to the lads who were given their chances.”

PIRATES AMATEURS: Ben Wragg, Declan Marshall, Josh Semmens, Harris Eddy, Quinn Cross, Oscar Marr, Sam Carter; David Penrose, Eli Williams, Joe Best, Nick Nowell, Ben Martin, Toby Osborne, Sam Carroll, Stan Somers (capt). Replacements: James Lambourn, Wes Eddy, Charlie Dalkins.