McKeen disappointingly would have to miss out on any chance to rectify this, as a reaction with his achilles after his exploits the previous weekend, meant he had to step down for this week. Matt Evans stepped in, requiring a minor re-shuffle in the back row to an otherwise unchanged Pirate lineup to that announced.

Hopes then for a try fest were literally dampened on a wet and breezy Old Deer Park and surely signalled a game for the Big Boys to slug it out? The pitch though was in a reasonable condition considering, but would no doubt cut up as proceedings progressed.

No-one appeared to have taken this given on board as Pirates hooker Kemp set the tone for an explosive start by the visitors. The Kiwi, having benefitted from his team having regained posssession from their own kick off, broke clear to have the Welsh back-pedalling at a rate of knots.

A try seemed inevitable and after some further incisive play engineered by a Fairhurst-Steenson connection that is beginning to bear fruits, it was Steve Winn who wriggled over from a ruck close to the line. Steenson skillfully added the extras into a gusty head wind to give the visitors an early 7-0 lead on three minutes.

Welsh responded to this early blow and almost immediately were awarded a questionable penalty around half way. Sam Ulph judged the conditions perfectly and slotted a peach with some to spare to reduce the gap back down to four.

This intitial 'hammer and tongs' opening wasn't quite over yet as an obstruction on Cowley handed Steenson the chance just after the restart to restore the Pirates seven point advantage. He obliged with an equally well judged strike as the wind did it's utmost to spoil things.

The elements gained revenge some ten minutes later though, when a further penalty saw the Irishman's kick blown narrowly wide of the right upright (as he looked) at the last, and having been destined to dissect them.

It seemed to matter not however as the Pirates were enjoying a purple patch which saw them look dangerous from every angle. Good, quick ball gave an ideal platform and encouraged an expansive game from the Cornishmen that defied logic with what in all intents and purposes was no more than a bar of Camay. But it was paying dividends and created a sweet passage of play over to their left wing which Winnan finished off delightfully having joined the line from nowhere.

Steenson found his kicking boots once more to give the Pirates a fourteen point lead which all but had the Welsh on the ropes as the first quarter ended. The hosts appeared to be on the edge of an abyss and faced a very long afternoon if they couldn't stem the flow and sharpish.

To their credit the Welsh came out fighting, and erupted into life as they at last maintained some possession and opted to throw the ball about themselves. Their reward was the first of two Martin-Redman tries after 23 minutes following a textbook driving maul from a 5 metre lineout.

The conversion from Ulph was another gem and reduced the arrears to seven once more.

Hope was soon replaced by belief only four minutes later, as the Welsh repeated this feat on the right flank this time, as their skipper spun off the back of a retreating maul. Ulph's kick from the right touchline eclipsed his previous exploits and in the blink of the eye it was all square. (17-17)

The prospect of a high scoring encounter to emulate an earlier meeting between the two sides at the Mennaye way back in the Pirates first season in National One, seemed a real possibility.

Either way, the game was rapidly becoming a real thriller, and a breath of fresh air in playing conditions which demanded a far more conservative approach from both sides. Not that anyone seemed to care at this stage, such was the entertainment on offer.

Welsh Exiles' ascendancy eventually was checked as the Pirates plugged the gaps and responded themselves. As the interval approached this turned into pressure of their own once more as the visitors sought to re-assert their earlier dominance. Their efforts though produced zilch and were finally snubbed out wide on Moore's wing by some resolute defence.

The second period began with the Welsh resuming with a by now decreasing wind in their faces. Accordingly on receiving the pill from the ever dependable Beardshaw, Steenson rammed this (lessening) advantage back down the Exiles throats with a huge clearance from his own 22 to within 10 metres of the home line.

The Welsh lineout stuttered under pressure and a potential scoring chance beckoned but for some dubious tactics from within. Hannon trudged off to the bin after touch judge Morgan had seen a transgression, which lead Steenson to opt to go for gold. Sam Heard though had come off worst and had to be replaced by Seal before play could reusme.

Not for the first time this season the points were turned down although with some justification given the situation. Unfortunately the lineout went astray, and the Welsh were able to clear their lines to temporarily ease their worries.

The relief was shortlived however as a penalty near the halfway line from Steenson brought the score to 20-17 and surely provide a platform to hammer home the one man advantage?

Plenty of effort and endeavour followed but was hampered by some increasingly desparate tactics by the hosts to stifle the Cornish play. Not unsurprisngly tempers started to fray and finally exploded when Wame Lekaravu was sent to the bin for trying to rip Cowley's head off with a two arm tackle around the neck sparking a massed 'discussion' between many players from both sides.

The Fijian if truth be known can count himself lucky that Mr Draper hadn't reached for his red card, although the official at least signalled his intention should matters not be resolved soon-ish!

Quite why he and all with the authority to act then missed a blatant punch by an upright Martin-Redman on Cummings as the Pirates drove for the line beggared belief. Cummings who'd shone all afternoon kept his discipline and didn't react, although by this time the Exiles skipper had hidden himself from the bout zone, no doubt keen not to be identified as a culprit.

London Welsh persisted with their stubborn resistance to an increasing level of Pirates pressure, and refused to lie down despite being a man down still. A situation that didn't change until the final quarter began.

Open play was by now disappearing and replaced by something more tense but equally exciting; particularly for the neutral. The Welsh pack subsequently fancied their chances and took on their counterparts with more and more fercoity.

Fresh legs were inevitably introduced for the final act as both sides set out their stall in search of one further twist to decide this contest.

Once again the Pirates pressed, but only after a short spell of Welsh pressure close to the Cornish line had to be repelled by some top notch defence. Tired legs drained by an increasingly heavy pitch though took it's toll and as the line beckoned, slow, predictable ball was all that was forthcoming; in contrast to their exploits in the first half which had had the Exiles reeling.

Some over complication in the backline on one or two occasions also blotted an otherwise promising notebook (Lilo! - an adventurous reverse pass inside when Jimmy was free wide on the left!). McAtee too was gagging for it on the right at times in the second half, even when with little space on the blindside to work with. Any winger would recognise his frustration... I do!

A third try now would have clinched it, just as one when the scores had been 17-3 may have had opened the flood gates.

It wasn't to be ultimately and so a nail biting ending beckoned as five minutes of injury time came and went. With the final play looming, the Welsh were like men possessed as they strove manfully for the winning score.

The Pirates though had constructed a brick wall and were always there to meet them. One final Exiles effort however was spun out to Sampson who sprinted towards the whitewash for glory. Jimmy Moore had other ideas and saved the day with a try saving tackle which saw his opposite number spill the ball forwards and miss his chance.

From the back of the resultant scrum, Fairhurst had little option but to fire the ball towards the touchline and bring a thoroughly enjoyable contest to it's conclusion.

On reflection then, another bonus point has gone begging but then it would have been a hard hearted observer who would have denied the Welsh at least a bonus point from this match. Maybe it would have been more judiciously earned, given the positive attitude of both teams, to have been achieved through the four try route (each) as had seemed so possible only fourty or so minutes earlier.

Cornish Pirates 20
15 A. Winnan 14 R. McAtee 13 V. Lilo 12 S. Winn 11 J. Moore
10 G. Steenson 9 E. Fairhurst
8 Matt Evans 7 T. Cowley (capt) 6 C. Cracknell
5 B. Cumming 4 J. Beardshaw 3 S. Heard 2 N. Kemp 1 A. Paver

Replacements:
16 D. Dawidiuk 17 D. Seal 18 H. Senekal 19 I. Motusaga
20 R. Bolt 21 P. Devlin 22 O. Thomas.

Tries: Winn, Winnan
Cons: Steenson 2
Pens: Steenson 2

London Welsh 17
15 S. Ulph 14 P. Samspon 13 N. Taylor 12 P. Mackey 11 J. Strong
10 M. Burton 9 G. Nicholls
8 J. Mills 7 M. Lee 6 R. Martin-Redman (capt)
5 W Lewaravu 4 M. Corker 3 P. Doran-Jones 2 S. Koto 1 C. Hannon

Replacements:
16 K. Gay 17 K. Burke 18 A. Walker 19 A. Andrews
20 R. Evans 21 T Marks 22 A. Cadwaller

Tries: Martin-Redman 2
Cons: Ulph 2
Pens: Ulph