Cornish Pirates 19 Newport Gwent Dragons 23
August 21st 2005

CORNISH Pirates coach Jim McKay was in upbeat mood despite seeing his side conclude their pre-season fixtures on a losing note going down 23-19 against the Gwent Dragons.

With the opening day fixture at Doncaster less than a fortnight away, McKay has been encouraged from what he has seen from his side in their three warm-up games, but believes there is still much more to come from his side.

Certainly the Dragons - who arrived in the Duchy with a host of international names sprinkled across their line-up - believe the Pirates can challenge this term - and the Welshmen were given a serious testing before eventually emerging with a narrow victory

A strong second half display from the Pirates almost gained maximum rewards with Richard Welding and Rhodri McAtee finding their way over the try-line to go alongside hooker Peter Ince's first-half effort.

However, it was the prolific Leigh Hinton, who ultimately proved the difference between the two sides as he plundered 18 points on his debut for the Dragons.

Hinton - a summer signing from Bedford Blues - was last season's top points-scorer in National League One and it did not take the prolific full-back long to open his account for his new club.

With just five minutes on the clock, home skipper Lodewyk Hattingh strayed offside in midfield and up stepped Hinton to administer the Welshmen's opening blow with a 30-metre penalty.

Moments later the Pirates had the chance to square the game up, but former Dragons fly-half Lee Jarvis pulled his penalty attempt wide of the left upright.

Worse was to follow for Jarvis when on 11 minutes his intended pass for Wade Kelly was brilliantly picked out of the air by winger Gareth Wyatt, who galloped to the line unopposed, Hinton converting for a 10-0 lead.

However, the Pirates were far from downbeat and they used their imposing pack, spearheaded by former Wales A international Will James, to set-up their attacking platform.

The idea clearly worked as they bagged their first points on 18 minutes, hooker Peter Ince squirming over from a line-out move at the second attempt.

The try merely acted as a wake-up call for the Dragons, who this weekend face Premiership Bath in their final pre-season game. Hinton sent over a second penalty, before adding the extras to his own try in first half stoppage time, the full-back collecting a pass from Richard Fussell to make it 20-5 at the break.

And it did not take the impressive Hinton long to add to his tally after the break, this time adding a third penalty after an indiscretion by Samoan international Iva Moutasaga, who was one of five players sent to the sin-bin by referee David Rose.

With both sides introducing a plethora of fresh faces as the half progressed, it was the Pirates who finished the game the stronger. Richard Welding cut the deficit with a converted try on 63 minutes, before Welsh Under-21 international Rhodri McAtee sprinted through for a superb individual try, converted by Tom Barlow, to set up an interesting finale.

Although the Pirates pressed hard for a late winning score, the experience of the Dragons ensured their efforts were thwarted.

Pirates: (Players still with Pirates in red)
W Davies; M Jess, S James (D Roke 40), W Kelly, K James (R Welding 58); L Jarvis (T Barlow 74), G Cattle (R McAtee 25); A Paver, P Ince (V Ma'asi 40), D Seal (D Parkes 58); W James (B Ayimba 79), M Evans; J Bearman (S Betty 78), I Motusaga, L Hattingh (T Cowley 40)

Pirates: Tries - Ince, Welding, McAtee; Conversions - Jarvis, Barlow

Yellow Cards: Motusaga, Cowley

Dragons: (Players now with Pirates in red)
L Hinton (S Winn 75), G Wyatt, H Luscombe, J Bryant, R Fussell (B Breeze 75); A Thomas, G Baber (capt, A Walker 70), D Maddocks (A Black 40), G Robinson, R Thomas (C Warlow 60); A Hall (I Gough 60), P Sidoli; R Bryan, J Ringer (R Oakley 64), R Dale (J Forster 40).

Dragons: Tries - Wyatt, Hinton; Conversions - Hinton 2; Penalties - Hinton 3

Yellow Cards : Bryant, Forster, Bryan

Referee: D Rose (RFU)

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