Pirates 13 Albion 26
By Frank Stormont
December 26 2006
Albion use their better defence to come away with a win at Cambourne.
Pirates 13
Albion 26
After a two minutes silence for the Penlee lifeboat disaster 25 years ago Pirates kick off down the slop. With around 2,000 supporters from Albion. The pitch is dry under foot.
Keni Fisilau starts the match after his one match suspension pushing Sila Va'Enuku back to the bench. Scott Zimmerman returns to the front line to his usual position.
The first points go to Albion after obstruction in front of the posts which gave Regardt van Eyk kicks the penalty in the forth minute.
Pirates spend a lot of time in the Abion 22 but the Albion defence keep them out, twice the scrum turns 90degs to give the ball back to Albion.
25 minutes into the match and Albion have the first chance to get out of their half for nearly 20 minutes but a kick from Ed Barnes goes straight into touch.
With Albion on one their rear visits into the Pirates 22 Nat Saumi moves into the centre while Tom Arscott and Nic Sestaret move back into the second line of defence.
With a lazy offside in the 40th minute Regardt has an opportunity and makes it 0 - 6 from just inside the Pirates half and in the centre of the field.
After a running line approach the whitewash from 30 metres out Nic Sestaret runs in on the left and pick up his 14th try of the season which was converted by Regardt van Eyk for the final play of the half.
As is shown by Albion being the best defensive side in the league they have not allowed Pirates over the white wash despite spending most of the first 30 minutes in their own 22. When Albion have gone forward into the Pirates 22 they have made it count far more than Pirates. Pirates remain pointless at the turnaround.
Albion have the slope to their favour in the second half and field an unchanged side.
In the second minute of the second half former Pirate Nat Saumi almost makes it into the corner before the break down. Albion have far stronger pack and get over the line in the 5th minute with Nic joining the pack having his hands on the ball and claiming his 15th which was converted by Regardt. 0 - 20!
Pirates have to wait until the 10th minute of the second half to put points onto the board from a penalty just inside the 22.
15 minutes in with Richard Oxley judged to have killed the ball 40 plus metres out the Pirates pull back a further 3 points.
In the 19th minute Regardt slots a penalty on the 22 after Pirates were penalised for not rolling away.
Pirates go over the line in the 30th minute of the half but the play was called back as both the referee and the touch judge detect a forward pass.
A quick move after 33 minutes Pirates finally go over in the corner and have a try awarded and converted from the touchline. 13 - 23
Regardt van Eyk missed an opportunity in the 51st minute of the second half, but gets the final kick after 55 minutes with a penalty to bring the score to 13 - 26
Injury news is that Colin has damaged a knee ligament and could be out for two weeks. Federico has no more than a bad lump on his head and it is hoped that he is not suffering from concussion.
Normally I do not set up a man of the match for away matches but since it was reported that there were 2,000 Albion supporters at the match I have set one up. If you have a choice please vote, you do not need to be a registered user.
Images by kind permission of Geoff Nicholas and Big Brian from Unofficial Pirates Also Darren Hands