Hopes were high in the Duchy ahead of this match that the Cornish Pirates would finally beat the Saints at the third time of asking this season. The predicted heavy rain and gales was expected to be a great leveller and when they arrived right on cue an hour before kick-off, the tactics for both sides were decided.

Saints kicked-off the match with the wind at their backs playing towards the Clubhouse End and set about pinning the Pirates back with driving forwards play, and a series of aerial bombs from the boots of Myler and Spencer. Big hits from Cowley and Senekal repelled the initial probes from the Saints pack, but the Pirates were struggling to break free of the increasing stranglehold.

An 8th minute penalty saw Myler open the scoring with a 40 metre wind assisted kick, but with the home crowd in expectant mood the Pirates fought back straight from the restart. As Saints spilled the kick-off the Pirates set up a well controlled driving maul that marched deep into the Saints 22 before, predictably, the ball was knocked on.

Saints made the most of this reprieve with a try from Number 8 Mark Hopley after 13 minutes. As a Pirates scrum jammed in reverse gear on half-way Hopley seized possession and burst through a gaping hole in the Pirates cover to score almost unopposed near the posts. As the home team scratched their heads in disbelief Myler sliced his conversion attempt, leaving the Saints handily placed with an eight point lead.

With Tim Cowley at the forefront of everything good the Pirates did their was another fightback from the home side again thwarted by solid defence and handling errors. A bad situation for the Pirates became even worse after 25 minutes as they buckled under the weight of a Saints driving maul. Quick ball, mercurial juggling from Ashton, and pacey support from Downey brought try number two right under the posts. Myler converted and the Pirates were in serious trouble.

A tackle off the ball by Clarke on Tuohy gave the Pirates a lifeline after half an hour and his thirty metre penalty into the gale was a gem. Then after a mighty scare from the rampaging Bruce Reihana the Pirates lost Tim Cowley to injury (Dead leg). Saints shut up shop with half-time approaching and the score remained 3-15 at the interval.

The Pirates, now playing in hooped shirts, almost started the second half with a bang as McAtee unexpectedly picked up from a driving maul and burst towards the Saints line. Somehow Stephen Myler collared him and drove the Welshman into touch just inches from the try line. 

With the Pirates now using the deteriorating weather conditions to their advantage they launched their own barrage of high balls on the Saints rearguard. The visitors dug deep and held firm for a full ten minutes until Ashton finally spilled one such kick on his own twenty-two. 

Steenson had already missed a 53 metre penalty attempt before hoofing possession into the Saints in-goal area from within his own half. For good measure, Pirates scrum-half Ed Fairhurst quickly copied him as the clock counted down frustration grew.

Myler also missed a penalty attempt before Ashton again knocked-on as he fielded a high ball and the circling Pirates pack finally sensed a weakness and moved in for the kill. The final quarter belonged to the home side as time and again their pack marched up to the Saints line. The effort and commitment from both teams was total as time and time again they hurtled into each other in the cloying mud.

The inevitable mass punch-up was quickly defused but the Pirates could have expected a more serious sanction against the Saints when lock Scott Hobson was cynically cleared out in mid-air during a lineout. Mr Doyle ignored it instead penalising Northampton repeatedly in the dying moments as they struggled to contain the Pirates as they camped on their line.

Each infringement saw Steenson kick for touch and repeat the dose as the despairing McAtee waited for someone somewhere to realise that he was all alone and unmarked on the left wing.

Replacement prop Barry Stewart did finally see yellow in stoppage time for a professional foul and the Pirates did eventually breach the Saints line. Yet even then there were hands under the ball and Mr Doyle ruled against the try.

For the Pirates the final whistle brought defeat, disappointment, and a stark lesson in how to take your chances in tight games. There are no complaints from West Cornwall this evening. 

Cornish Pirates

Winnan, McAtee, Lilo, Winn, Tuohy, Steenson, Fairhurst, Cook, Elloway 9Dawiduik 65), Seal, Senekal, Hobson, Cracknell (Betty 63-75), Motusaga, Cowley (capt) (Evans 37)

Replacements - Dawiduik, Evans, Betty.

Pen  - Steenson

 Northampton Saints

Myler, Ashton (Diggin 79), Clarke, Downey, Reihana (capt), Spencer, Howard (Robinson 67), Smith (Tonga`uiha 59), Hartley (Gray 79), Murray (Stewart 32), Lord, Rae (Hoy 79), Tupai, Lewitt, Hopley (Easter 67)

Replacements all used.

Tries - Hopley, Downey

Cons - Myler

Pens -  Myler

Yellow Cards - Stewart

Referee -   JP Doyle (RFU)

Attendance -  3,051

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