Throw into the pot the re-introduction of the Maul this season and we really should have known better, shouldn't we?

And yet, despite long periods where the casual spectator could have been excused for asking any regular rugby go-ers as to whether this game actually involved anything resembling a ball; such was it's absence from open view. It would be of great disservice to detract from the home sides overall success on the day. The Pirates put simply, had no significant or lasting answers to the questions posed. Plymouth, despite some wobbly moments at times, possessed sufficient nous to keep asking them.

Even so, right from the opening minute it was clear that a traditionally tense and hard fought derby match beckoned. The normally dependable Hallett though had to settle for only a one from three strike ratio in the opening quarter of an hour as two of his shots missed their target. 0-3.

The visitors despite having to employ some stiff rearguard measures and lead by their returning skipper, Cattle, refused to crumble and began to enjoy a little possession of their own. Scoring chances however were rare and limited to a determined chase by Cook; and a rampaging run by Collins that had all the hallmarks of a catchweight contest between a heavyweight contender and a pack of Amir Khans left in his wake. It was fun while it lasted.

Dawsey then must have signalled for his 'girls' to take a step back and the ball promptly disappeared from the public's eye as the midway point of the half arrived. Eons later and it was the prop Porte who emerged from the stack of bodies with the look of a second hand car salesman konwingly having sold a dog; delighted to see Mr Rose's arm rasied to signal the try. Hallet's scuff for the extras..well...scuffed wide. 3-8.

To add to Pirate woes, Jackson then took the dubious credit of being the first Pirate to see yellow this season for a high tackle attempt. But it was the Pirates now who enjoyed a little ascendancy as they earned themselves a couple of penalty attempts. Jones' first attempt was destined for success before the gusty and variable wind that had so hindered Hallett earlier, did it's worst. His second sailed through the uprights cleanly as the Welsh youngster caught The God of Wind mid breath perfectly. 3-8.

Plymouth centre Fisilau had by then joined Jackson on the naughty bench for a far more serious head high challenge on Davies, that on another day would have required his bath being filled earlier than usual. The full back eventually achieved a vertical position with bean still mercifully attached to neck in the correct order.

The half now petered towards it's seemingly obvious conclusion as both Jones and Hallett traded missed drop goals. The formers hung in the air as the GoW exacted his revenge, whilst the latters well..just drifted embarrassingly wide. That was it then, or should have been as Jones found touch on the clear understanding that his hoof would be the cue for Mr Rose to blow his whistle....

...Only for the official to bizzarely allow Albion one final lineout. Hallett in his own half then had the pill hurled at him for a 'hit it and hope'; which quite naturally sailed majestically though the posts to extend their lead back to eight. 3-11 and time for that mug of tea.

Despite this apparent rough justice there was still a lot to play for with the elements now apparently with the visitors. Thoughts briefly went back to a similar circumstance nearly three years earlier at Rotherham. Well they would have done had it not been for the fact that on that day, the wind was gale force, the deficit was larger and the Pirates had played well and assuredly.

The length of time to think about such comebacks then lengthened as a torrid third quarter simply dragged on with no real indicator that someone or something possessed the good sense to change matters. The one moment of inspiration passed as Hallett, no doubt bouyed by that earlier drop goal, made a real pigs ear of his next that would only trouble the members of the Sally Army band seated over in the corner. Fifteen to twenty minutes best forgotten then.

Yet it was still tense. More so if you wore red, black and white no doubt, as two scores to win looked very unlikely with a visible inability to break the homesters defensive line. A worry highlighted by Davies being tackled inside the Plymouth 22 only to be marched back over five metres by his tackler depsite a clever offload to try and keep the ball live.

Then what transpired to be the match winning moment as Mercer gleefully found himself with a loose ball after some lax Pirate handling and movement. His clear run to the line to make it 3-16 as the final quarter began seemed to all but clinch it despite Hallett's last fluff at goal.

Credit where it's due though as the Pirates refused to lie down and concede. A flurry of substitutions saw Winn's return to action and Jones (B) coming on for Cattle amongst others and for the first time in the half a sniff of try and perhaps more. It was long shot for sure but when McAtee wriggled through out on the right there was just a chance of an unlikely win if...

Cooks attempt at goal went wide left no doubt wind assisted, which still meant the need for two scores. Neither came; nor did the chance of a losing bonus point as the Pirates opted to go for the whitewash instead. Once that was they had found the ball again from those nasty Albion forwards who kept on wanting to hide it, and despite Cushions insistance on trying to do something extravagent and run with the thing. Something he looked very capable of even in the dying embers of another home over the Pirates.

So, it's Dawsey 1 Sterling 0 and no doubt older heads will be nodding knowingly. There's a bigger goal of course and todays showing will be nothing less than a bringing back to Earth for anyone whose sights had been prematurely raised. Somehow though it'd be a fool who'd bet that Mr Sterling and Co will not have earmarked the return fixture as one to put high on the In Tray pile if only to even the score.

In the meantime a home encounter with Bristol hoves into view. Easy this Championship lark eh?

Cornish Pirates: 8
15 W. Davies 11 R. Cook 14 R. McAtee
13 N. Jackson 12 M. Ireland 10 R. Jones 9 G. Cattle©
8 L. McGlone 7 T. Holmes 6 M. Evans
5 R. Labuschange 4 L. Collins
3 R. Brits 2 R. Elloway 1 P. Andrew.

Replacements: 18 C. Rimmer 17 D. Ward 16 A. Paver 19 S. Betty 20 B. Jones 21 S. Winn 22 A. Havili.

Try - McAtee
Pen - Jones

Plymouth Albion 16
15 G. Kingdom 14 B. Mercer 11 L. Gibson
13 K. Fisilau 12 S. Tulipulio 10 K. Hallett© 9 R. Cushion
8 K. Marriot 7 D. Clayton 6 S.M. Stephens
4 T. Skelding 5 T. Hotson
3 R. Hopkins 2 J. Clark 1 D. Porte

Replacements: 16 A. Davies 17 L. Mark 18 J. Owen 19 D. Morton 20 W. Sprangle 21 M. Lewis 22 R. Watts- Jones

Tries - Porte, Mercer
Con - Hallett
Pen - Hallett

Referee: David Rose
Assistant Referees: Richard Parker-Sedgemore, Lloyd Jackson
Assessor: Ed Morrison

Pix to follow in the week dreckly

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