It would be churlish to criticise the boys after last night's efforts, although if only we had a line out .... To be fair conditions were pretty horrid and Bristol were not exactly 100% themselves and seldom can such a talented back line have spilt so much ball. I don't think a bar of soap comes into it.
It was one of the bravest performances I have seen from any taem anywhere last night, and how we stayed in that game for so long I just do not know, but the boys just gave it one almighty lash. The forwards were all absolutely out on their feet at the end. All the starting XV, and I think only Evans came off the bench, earned their season's salary last night and a new contract. Bleddy hell I was proud to be a Pirate. And if anyone has played a better game in a Pirates shirt than Gavin Cattle did, well I have never seen it. Talk about leadership, time and again he took responsibility to clear the lines, must have launched a 100 attacks around the fringes and somehow kept a battered pack going forwards. What a man!
I cant honestly say that the better team did not win, because Bristol are a class above and looked it with ball in hand. But with 5 minutes left, a palpable sense of tension in the ground and the Bristol players getting frustrated, I was beginning to think that it might just be our day. Not to be, but they did very well indeed.
Also first visit to the Mem for Mrs HV and self. Great ground, good atmosphere and nice people. All in all a very pleasant evening.

Thanks for coming up! The weather was foul. I was I
working in Torquay until 4.30pm and only just made it to the ground. Pirates have great fans!

Your team executed a good, thought out game plan. Bris were visibly nervous for this first game. I believed we'd win and am thankful we did. I am chuffed you got something out of the game too.

Good luck with the next 4 games. I have my tickets for Cambourne stuck to the fridge! I expect (and hope) you finish second and beat Exeter in the semi!

Could be seeing 3 more Bris v Pirates games before this is over?

It would be a pleasure to get back to the Mem, especially as Mrs HV has fomed an emotional attachment to Cabot Circus and Broadmead. Thanks for the optimism!
Two words on the referee though. Airfix model

It was great to be at the Memorial last night if you were a Pirates fan. If the second half at the Mennaye last week was the dustcart tonight we had the Lord Mayor's show. That was a game we so nearly could have won, if only our lineout had been up to par.

Let's fill Camborne next Sunday.

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EDF Trophy Winners 2007
B & I Cup Winners 2010

Harbourview
Your report is spot on.All i can add is the great reception we got from the Bristol fans,many commenting after the game about the Pirates being unlucky.Atmosphere at the Memorial Stadium so much better than the place down the road on the M5.Very much looking forward to next Sunday.
www.stadiumforcornwall.com

Well what can you say that HV hasn't already highlighted. Sat at home watching on PTV, excellent reception and great commentry. I especially like listening to the players views as you also get to witness their personality which most fans dont get the feel of when you just watch the matchs. As for the rugby, just fantastic, if we play like that in the next five we'll make the semi's. Very proud to be a pirates supporter.
Thought Gavin had a stormer.

Agree with all the above. For 7 forwards to play 80 minutes was a fantastic effort and GC played Jason Spice off the park.When I saw our bench selection I thought it might be part of a plan to throw on fresh forwards if the game was tight in the last 20 minutes but not so; more likely perhaps just down to injuries.
In particular I thought Chris Morgan was tremendous and Laurie McGlone did another great job playing second row for the first 65 minutes.
we must have lost 10 of our own lineouts, which meant Jarvis could kick for touch with a realistic anticipation that they could get the ball back. Perhaps that contributed to him kicking so much, which certainly helped us.
When Brizzle got their try and we started to give away penalties I feared the worst, but only briefly.
A fantastic effort; if offered a losing bonus point beforehand I'd have probably taken it, and the fact that it was so disappointing to lose just shows what a great effort it was by all the players.
Also my first visit to the Memorial; good atmosphere, well organised, etc etc. Fair play to the hosts.

Agreed - I must have watched Cattle dozens of times over the years and dont think I have ever seen him play better- he was simply majestic.

Agree about McGlone and Morgan but also a word for Havili, Labuschagne and Rimmer each of whom might not have got in if everyone had been fit but stepped up to the mark superbly and had their best match in a Pirates shirt.

Some of the throwing was indeed pretty grim - probably largely down to a ball like a bit of greasy soap in the driving rain. Towel somebody?

Good call on Havali OPS - he tackled!! A bit lacking in technique but he bleddy well tackled. It was great to see all the boys, notably the Captain, go up to him each time he put in a hit with encouragment

Got to the Mem last night with Jnr 10 mins before kickoff with a view that if we could somehow leave with a point it would be a huge outcome.

Can't praise the boys enough. Talk about heart and spirit. 2 hookers in the starting forwards and no backs on the bench bar JD. Spoke to Tom Luke and Blair afterwards. Tom was "blowing a bit" and Blair had a smile on his face. "We could have taken that" he said, and maybe on another day we could have, but look at the 2 teams and compare. Got to be happy with a point.

Was standing next to a gent who was seeing his first rugby match (usually Bristol Rovers fan but there with friends). Couldn't understand how happy I was to lose!!

........and Talitom - you, Si and Tim deserve your hangovers this morning!!

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Proud to be a Pirate and proud to have been there. We're not consistently bad in the lineout and a perfect performance on a night like that was unlikely, so not too much to worry about.
If I have a point to make and it's not a criticism because last night, amongst many other plus points, was an indication of just how far this team has come under the Coaches and with a depleted squad. But we need to be more precise and clinical in our finishing. When we get to the opposition line it just gets held up or knocked on too often.
Still I'm sure Chris and the team are working on it and will probably worry when there's only one aspect to think about.

Gavin - brilliant, more of the same please! We had them on the ropes and they, and the Bris fans, knew it.

Oh yes and just three words on the ref - an anangram of his name Rowan Kitt - "nit at work" says it all.
And if he's an Airfix model HV it was never glued or has come severely unstuck!

And fair play M&M you precited this outcome

Watched it on PTV and what a performance by all our players. !00% commitment all the way.
Proud to be a pirate.
After that performance I am confident that we can make the semi-finals.
Come on you Pirates.

Och aye the noo me 'ansums! Cannot disagree with anything on this thread - the guys played their hearts out. Another word about the referee though - I'd have been livid if Bristol had scored a try in the extra minutes he added on after time was up and we'd not got the bonus point which we deserved.

An enjoyable evening, great to see Wigston, Woodhouse, Blazey, Marshy, DJ and others. The Maids were in good voice too! My throat is decidedly sketchy today!

You came to the Mem and you showed us pride and commitment and we were lucky to get the result
Any of those there expecting a repeat of the last two games were given a real lesson in belief and boy did you beleive you could do it
Good to see your support was heard and seen - I am looking forward to returning to Camborne on May 1st
You deserve to be there at the end - onen hag oll

What a great display by the TEAM. How these players have improved as the season has progressed has just been fantastic. They played with Passion, Pride and commitment last night. The coaching staff have really made the team a force to reckon. Proud to support the Pirates and should be returning for the match on May 1st.

Its all been said,in all the games I have watched, Ive never been as proud as being a Pirate than lastnight. That includes Twickers.
For the Coaches and Players to turn around the two thumpings Brizz gave us in the league, to that performance was stunning. Commitment was imense,attitude by the bucket load and workload of giants. THANKS BOYS MY BELIEF IN YOU HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, but it has grown.
The site at the end of Paves striding into Brizz's warm down to remenstrate with Junior, finished the performance for me.
Someone said perhaps the best team won, but I believe The Pirates didnt deserve to lose. THANKS BOYS.

What a superb performance, with a couple of minutes to go you almost thought we could have pulled it off.

Bris fans were great fun, and good to meet lots of Exiles in the Wellington.

Ladock - we were surprisingly fit this morning, but definitely needed the Taunton Deane Full English to set us up for the rest of the trip home

Now busy planning a full family camping trip for the Albion away game

What a performance. Got the emotions going like no other game I can remember. Bristol fans biting nails all around us.

We may not have the Premiership ground yet, but we have the heart (and the supporters) to make it happen one day

Reading this thread, had a few beers, but it brings tears to my eyes.

I'd rather be a Pirate than ..... well, anything really!

Woodhouse, to me it was reminiscent of Leeds in the snow we all cried buckets that night,and Gavin drove them on then too.
Stalwart your name becomes you.
And to those who say I'm negative, well I'm NOT.

M @ M
Youre not negative, obviously just dont drink often enough.





JOKE honestly.

Could not get to the game but spoke to a Bristol fan who said that Gavin was his man of the match and if the pirates line out had function we would have won it