Gwent Dragons Create Genuine Contest For Pirates

By Phil Westren
August 23 2006

Newport Gwent Dragons make their annual visit to West Cornwall to take on the developing might of the Cornish Pirates. For the players it was often both hectic and abrasive, a genuine taste of things to come

Pirates Mix It With Dragons

Cornish Pirates 6 Gwent Dragons 20
Report by Phil Westren

Following their 66-0 points winning opener at Pandy Park against a Gwent Premier XV, the Newport Gwent Dragons made their now annual visit to the far west of Cornwall to take on the developing might of the Cornish Pirates.

A sterner test was certainly on the menu; having had a close encounter with a tornado, that spun its way over Penzance shortly after the team, had trained there on Thursday.

The Pirates lost 53-8 at the Mennaye Field in 2003, but ran the Dragons much closer last year in losing just 23-19 at the same venue. It was expected pre-match that the home team would be keen to up the ante and make it third time lucky in their quest for victory against strong opponents, having acquired a number of new signings in the close season, including former 'Dragon' Steve Winn.

Last season the Cornish Pirates - previously known as Penzance & Newlyn - played their home league games at Kenwyn, Truro, in an effort to embrace support from the whole of Cornwall. The venture achieved a number of its goals, but it was felt after just one season that the cost of hired-in facilities was too prohibitive.

Early in the summer a ground share agreement with Camborne RFC was secured, last Saturday being an historic day when the first game was played at the Recreation Ground. It is early days, but many people have responded positively to make this ground share work. The field was looking in super condition, and with improved facilities it was rewarding to see a good-sized crowd in attendance.

Playing towards the clubhouse end of the field, the Pirates were keen to impress from the start, applying the early pressure before the boot of Ceri Sweeney posted them back into their own half. Wing Gareth Wyatt, one of six Welsh internationals in the Dragons' line-up, chased and harassed on the right, the position soon set which enabled the visitors to execute a catch and drive from just five metres. The drill worked to perfection, the power and swiftness of execution personified by flanker Jamie Ringer who blasted his way over the line for a try converted by Sweeney.

The Pirates responded purposefully, backs and forwards showing commitment to the cause, and they were unlucky not to put points on the board when Italy 'A' fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo's kick to the corner almost fell into the hands of winger Jonny Hylton. As it was, his opposite number Richard Fussell saved the day before centre Ashley Smith was then injured, his place in the middle taken by Shane Stewart.

This match might have been labelled as a friendly by some, but for the players it was often both hectic and abrasive, a genuine foretaste of what lies ahead in the weeks to come. The Dragons had a useful back-row combination in Ringer, Nic Fitisemanu and former 'Pirate' Joe Bearman, but they were matched by the home unit, for whom debutant No.8 Stan McKeen -who played for Canada against the USA the previous weekend - began to impress.

On the half-hour mark, quick hands along the line saw full-back Aled Thomas enter the line at pace for what looked likely to be a second score for the Dragons, but the threat was held and Di Bernardo rifled the ball eighty metres up field. The territory suddenly acted as a spur for the Pirates to raise their collective effort, and to good effect. Tongan hooker Viliami Ma'asi was in rampaging mode with ball in hand, backed up by a determined Winn, the Dragons looking a little fractious before the break, a period during with Di Bernado struck two well-taken penalties to put the Pirates within a point of their opponents.

Right at the start of the second half Sweeney kicked a simple penalty on offer, the Cornish team appearing to have taken their foot off the pedal, were made to pay further when good hands from Ringer enabled Wyatt to breeze in for a try at the scoreboard corner.

During the interval Atlantic FM's Jamie Reed raised the crowd's involvement with an 'Oggy, Oggy, Oggy' chanting competition, and for two members of a stag party group in the crowd there was a chance to try some kicks at goal - with some level of success - especially as one of them was dressed as a penguin!

With the lead extended, coach Paul Turner introduced a first rash of four replacements to the proceedings, including new signing Colin Charvis. For the holder of 84 Welsh caps, who has just joined from Newcastle Falcons, it was a chance for him to develop some important match fitness, his presence wanted when the meaningful fixtures appear.

Getting their game back together, the Pirates came back strongly and fully tested the Dragons defence, and nearly scored a try themselves when replacement winger Lewis Vinnicombe was unable to hold a speculative pass.

With flanker James Harris yellow-carded only seconds after replacing Ringer, the pressure imposed was immense, but the line stayed intact. Back to fifteen a side, it was still the home team who were doing most of the probing, with Wales sevens star Rhodri McAtee and McKeen leading the way, and Di Bernardo unlucky not to find Hylton with his second cross-field kick effort.

The Pirates spurned penalty chances, which might not be the case on another day, the hope of a third time lucky home win evaporating near the end when one of their former own, replacement winger Matt Jess, silenced the enthusiastic crowd when he chipped, chased and gathered the ball to run in from the '22'.

In overall terms, Pirates coach Jim McKay would have taken plenty of positives from a game that was much better than the previous week. It was a genuine contest, preferred by an intelligent Cornish crowd, who knew it to be more meaningful than some pre-season flimsy affair.

Cornish Pirates
D. Roke (L. Vinnicombe 40), R. McAtee, H. Barratt, S. Winn, (D. Bell 40), J. Hylton, A. Di Bernardo, R. Wells (J. Moore 69), S. McKeen, S. Betty, T. Cowley, H. Senekal, J. Beardshaw, S. Heard (D. Seal 40), V. Ma'asi, A. Paver. Replacements (not used) - O. Hambly, M. Rawlings, S. Parsons.

Gwent Dragons
A. Thomas (A. Brew 47), G. Wyatt, N. Brew (G. Maule 63), A. Smith (S. Stewart 16, C. Warlow 58), R. Fussell (M. Jess 47), C. Sweeney, G. Baber (A. Walker 62), N. Fitisemanu (C. Charvis 47), J. Ringer (J. Harris 63), J. Bearman (L. Evans 68), P. Sidoli, B. Griffiths (A. Hall 60), L. Harrison (G. Robinson 60), S. Jones (B. Daly 47), A. Black.

Scorers:
Cornish Pirates - pens: Di Bernardo (2)
Gwent Dragons - tries: Ringer, Wyatt, Jess; con: Sweeney; pen: Sweeney
Yellow Card - Harris (Gwent Dragons)
Referee - Nick Williams