It could have started so differently for the All Blacks if a nervy Stuart Alred hadn`t hooked his long range penalty attempt after two minutes, and full-back Andy Birkett had not punted the resultant restart straight back into Pirates territory. Such mistakes can cost you dearly at this level as the home side found out seconds later. Tim Cowley`s athletic take and surging break followed by a quick burst from Adrian Winnan, allowed Brian Tuohy to scream home into the Clubhouse Corner for the opening score. With fellow Irishman Gareth Steenson slotting a difficult touchline conversion the Pirates were off and running.

The All Blacks struggled during an opening half that saw the Pirates completely dominant. With the set piece firmly under control and their tight five rampant at the loose their seemed no way back for the home side. Every time they tried to regroup the Pirates pushed them deeper and deeper into their own half. Every time they infringed the dead-eye boot of Steenson punished them further. When the Referee blew for the break the Pirates were clearly disappointed not to be further than 0-19 ahead.

A knock-on from the restart signalled the beginning of a disjointed forty minutes for the visitors as the All Blacks finally knuckled down for a fight. With 46 minutes on the clock All Blacks Number 8 Dave Kimberley drove over for their opening try after Mr Roberts had awarded them a series of close range penalties. The reaction of several Pirates players signalled extreme disapproval with the officials` interpretation of events, but there was no time to dwell on the issue as Alred slotted the extras.

Former Pirates flyer, Matt Jess then reduced the deficit to a single score with a splendid try, chipping the Pirates defence and scorching home after good work by Ryan Westren. With twenty minutes still to play the game became fragmented and increasingly scrappy as both sides battled for ultimate supremacy. In a match with only fleeting glimpses of true quality something special was required to settle the contest. It came with ten minutes left.

Pirates flanker, Iva Motusaga, picked up from the base of a scrum and set off on a mazey 40 metre dash that bamboozled the home defence. The try was his for the taking until he selflessly offloaded to Cowley for the simplest of scores beneath the posts. Steenson stroked home the conversion and the game was done. The relief hammered out on the corrugated steel walls of the new stand by the massed ranks of Pirates fans needed no explanation.

Pirates Head Coach Jim McKay was disappointed not to have won by more but you underestimate the All Blacks at your peril - they learned fast yesterday.

Teams

Cornish All Blacks

Birkett, Jess, Sweeney (Westren 59), Perry, Fabian (Dibble 70), Alred, Alford (Turner 70), Bolt (Liddington 51), Hambly, Brooking (capt) (Reed 51), Pape, Parker (Jenkins 14-24, 77), Lord, Roques (Rawlings 70), Kimberley.

Replacements - All Used

Cornish Pirates

Winnan, McAtee (Koko 59), Devlin, Whatling (Buckley 59), Tuohy, Steenson, Bolt (Moore 77), Cook, Elloway, Seal (Heard 72), Beardshaw (Hobson 80), Cumming, Cracknell, Motusaga, Cowley (capt) (Betty 77)

Replacement Not Used - Dawiduik

Scorers

Cornish All Blacks - Tries - Kimberley, Jess

                                    Con - Alred

Cornish Pirates -      Tries - Tuohy, Cowley

                                   Con -   Steenson (2)

                                   Pens -  Steenson (4)

Attendance - 2995

Referee - Llyr Ap-Geraint Roberts (RFU)

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