Sterling work by the ground staff and a team of volunteers made the pitch playable after a week of heavy rain in the Duchy, but two distinctly patched-up looking teams rarely looked interested in throwing the ball around during a turgid first-half.

The Pirates led briefly after some forceful driving play brought about a 3rd minute penalty from Steenson, but once Newbury fly-half Chris Ashwin had levelled the scores with a 25 metre penalty in the 7th minute the contest petered out into midfield mediocrity.

In truth Newbury rarely threatened the Pirates line whereas the home side, despite enjoying better field position, lacked intensity and a cutting edge behind their hard-working pack. With Newbury`s rush defence playing right on the edge of the offside law, and frequently beyond it, the static Pirates backs had little room in which to manoeuvre. The Referee`s fussy management of the front rows also making for a stop-start affair at the scrum.

With twenty minutes played the Pirates suddenly regained the lead from a moment of inspiration by Gareth Steenson. The Pirates fly-half, proving that rugby is ostensibly a simple game, sold a sublime dummy and broke from half-way before off-loading to Centre Paul Devlin, who cantered home under the posts from the 22 for his seventh try of the season. Steenson converted but the home faithful had to wait another twenty minutes before the Pirates scored again. This time a routine penalty following a blatant foul by Gregor Hayter.

Newbury quickly cut the half-time deficit to 13-6 with Ashwin`s second penalty of the afternoon two minutes after the restart. The Pirates pushed on again controlling large swathes of territory but as has so often been their weakness this season, there were no points on the board to show for the effort. Poor ball retention in contact and aimless long distance kicking contests blighted both sides before the respective Coaches sent fresh legs into battle.

The Pirates looked more assured with Paver and Kemp in the front row and Moore and Lilo now on the wings but still could not land the killer blow as Newbury retreated deeper and deeper into their own half. It took two moments of indiscipline in the final ten minutes from the Blues to hand the game to the hosts, as first replacement Number 8 Rob Graham and then replacement prop Rob Faulkener were yellow carded in quick succession for killing the ball.

Gareth Steenson punished the second offence with a penalty as Newbury launched a late Simpson-Daniel inspired counter offensive. Turnover ball cost them dear as Steenson and Bolt cosnpired to set up home flanker Sam Betty for a rare try. Steenson converted to make it 23-6.

As full time beckoned the Pirates scored a third try. Home captain Chris Cracknell stole possession deep in his own half and fed Jimmy Moore whose blistering 60 metre break in front of the Grandstand finally raised the roof on a lacklustre afternoon as he raced through the mud to score. Steenson`s missed conversion mattered not as the Pirates pocketed a welcome win.

 

 

Cornish Pirates

Thomas, Moore, Ireland, Devlin (Buckley 53), Koko (Lilo 69), Steenson, Bolt (Fairhurst 51-64), Cook (Paver 48), Elloway (Kemp 48), Seal, Senekal, Hobson, Cracknell (capt), Betty, Evans.

Replacements (not used) - Motusaga, Cowley.

 

Tries - Devlin, Betty, Moore

Cons - Steenson (2)

Pens - Steenson (3)

 

 

Newbury Blues

Walsh (capt), Hylton, Tombleson, Reay, Nutt, Ashwin, Smaje (M.Simpson-Daniel 57), Irish (Fidler 67), Fincken, Carter (Faulkener 57, sin-bin 73 ), Doherty, Hayter, Payne, Abbott, Brown (Graham 40, sin-bin 71)

Replacements (not used):- Day, Perkins, Rees

 

Pens:-  Ashwin (2) 

Yellow Cards - Faulkener, Graham

 

Referee - Lyr Apgeraint-Roberts (RFU)

 

Attendance - 2398

 

 

 

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