Cornish Pirates 10 Plymouth Albion 3
2013 finished on a losing note for Plymouth Albion when they were beaten in the cross Tamar clash by the Cornish Pirates at the Mennaye Field.
On a pitch that was in relatively good condition after all the recent rain both defences were on top and the game was decided by a single try in the first half scored by ex Albion prop Jack Andrew.
The match won’t live long in the memory and was a poor advert for the Championship.
Referee Darren Gamage spent long periods re setting scrums and there was very little running rugby for the 3,000 plus crowd to appreciate.
On their second half performance the Pirates just deserved to claim the win although Albion had the consolation of taking a losing bonus point back to Devon.
Albion head coach James Shanahan said, “In the first half we played some good rugby and played in the right areas of the field.
“I told the players before the game that I thought the Pirates had the best defence in the league and that was evident today.
“In the second half we got stuck in the bottom corner for 25 minutes and did well not to concede points in that period. In the last 15 minutes we got into their 22 but we lacked accuracy when it was needed.”
Albion made six changes, two of them positional, from the team that played Munster A in the British & Irish Cup.
The only change in the backs was the return of top try scorer Tom Bowen who replaced Lewis Warner.
In the front row fit again dual registered hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie came in for on loan Max Crumpton, who recently signed for Harlequins.
It was all change in the second row where on loan Exeter Chiefs lock Romana Graham made his league debut for Albion.
Graham was partnered in the engine room by Canadian international Brett Beukeboom, who missed the game in Ireland with an Achillies injury.
Sean-Michael Stephen, who was rested for the Munster game, returned at flanker, with skipper Rhys Oakley switching to his more familiar position of No 8.
On the bench Albion included Richard Bolt who was signed on loan from Exmouth as scrum half cover.
Dual registered hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie was included in the Albion squad for the first time this season having recovered from a leg injury.
Albion playing into a strong breeze had a chance to take an early lead when Pirates were offside at a ruck but fly half Dan Mugford was wide with a 25 metre penalty.
When given a second shot at goal in the 13th minute after home full back Craig Holland was penalised for not releasing, Mugford put Albion ahead with a kick from 43 metres.
Shortly afterwards a mistake by Albion at a ruck inside their 22 led to Pirates scoring the opening try that was claimed by Andrew with Holland adding the conversion.
The only other chance of points in the first half came just before the break but Holland missed a simple penalty, which sent the Pirates into the break leading 7-3.
Albion with the wind behind them after half time must have fancied their chances of winning the game but it was the Pirates who dominated large parts of the second half.
At one stage the Pirates spend 20 minutes deep inside the Albion 22 forcing a series of 5 metre scrums and close range line outs.
Albion’s defence held firm even when prop Lloyd Fairbrother was yellow carded for collapsing a scrum.
In the final quarter Albion got some good field position but they were unable to turn pressure into points.
Deep in injury time when Albion pulled down a maul Pirates replacement Angus Sinclair kicked a penalty which was followed by the final whistle.
Cornish Pirates: C Holland, M Pope, T Riley, J Fatialofa, K Goss (A Sinclair 80), M Evans, G Cattle capt (T Kessell 49), J Andrew (S Cahill 66), R Elloway (T Channon 72), B Prescott, W
Graulich, D Barry, C Morgan, A Cheesman (J Conlon 78), J Phillips reps not used N Patrick, A Dancer.
Try: Andrew
Con: Holland
Pen: Sinclair
Plymouth Albion: B Woods, T Bowen, H Stevens, T Howley-Berridge (C Elder 69), J Davies, D Mugford (D Cusack 59), R Cushion (R Bolt 49), T Harrison (T Cowan-Dickie 49), L Cowan-Dickie (G Evans 80), L Fairbrother, B Beukeboom, R Graham, H Stupple (S Matavesi 59), S-M Stephen (R Langley 72), R Oakley capt.
Pen: Mugford
Yellow card: Fairbrother
Referee: Darren Gamage (RFU)
Attendance: 3,050
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