McAtee hat-trick keeps Pirates at the top

By Phil Westren
December 13 2006

Having been briefly ousted from top spot 24 hours earlier by near neighbours Plymouth Albion, the Pirates served up yet another Sunday special by claiming all five points against visiting London Welsh.

Sunday 19/11/06 - Cornish Pirates 41 London Welsh 13

When the Pirates went top of National 1 after toppling the Earth Titans at Rotherham the previous week, it was clearly a proud moment for all involved with the Cornish side.

However, there was no time for respite, on their return to Cornwall it was imperative that concentration levels shifted to the match against London Welsh, with a focus on securing a bonus point to feel safe of staying at the head of the pile.

There were many who saw the game as a foregone conclusion, but any game at this level offers anything but that. Their respected visitors - representing what in the past has been one of the greatest club sides in the world - were always capable of posing a threat, & worth remembering that they had won 16-10 at Leeds in the opening days of the season.

The Pirates were missing the services of Stan McKeen, on duty with Canada, his place taken by an eager Chris Cracknell who, following injury, was desperate to make his first league start of the season. The top try-scorer for Newbury in last season's campaign, supporters have looked forward to seeing him action, the back-row an area where competition for places is mighty.

After the Pirates kicked off they applied pressure deep at the clubhouse corner, an early score surely likely, which duly materialised.

In the sixth minute Cracknell provided quality ball off the top of a line-out, the whole pack gathering as one to drive hooker Viliami Ma'asi over for a try.

Fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo's conversion attempt narrowly missed, but it was not long before the home team took up camp again on the left, a series of scrummages brought to an end when referee Mr. Tim Beddow awarded the Pirates a penalty try to which Di Bernardo this time added the simple extras on offer.

Chris Cracknell

From the restart it looked that the Pirates were in no mood to give the scoreboard operator any rest, a rampaging run from prop Sam Heard given support by centres Steve Winn and Duncan Roke, and then wing Rhodri McAtee, but a spirited London Welsh covered back to hold the threat.

On twenty-five minutes 'The Welsh' made their first visit inside the Pirates '22', and following what looked like an obvious forward pass were perhaps fortunate to shortly after be gifted a simple penalty chance kicked by full-back Sam Ulph.

The opening points for the visitors seemed to give them the confidence to raise their game, a thumper of a tackle from skipper Gavin Cattle holding the the rising threat. Flanker Iva Motusaga departed proceedings disconsolately with an apparent leg injury, replaced by Sam Betty as London Welsh continued their resurgence through the efforts of flanker Brett McNamee and centre James Storey.

A second penalty from Ulph was their due reward, the Pirates woes suddenly worsening right on half-time when London Welsh scrum-half Robbie Shaw was gifted a forty metres clear run to the line. The conversion attempt was not any easy one, but Ulph's effort just cleared the bar to give his side a surprise 13-12 lead at the break.

During the interval mini-rugby representatives from Camborne, the Pirates and St. John's on the Hill School, Chepstow, provided worthy half-time entertainment, while in the changing rooms it was time to choose the right words to get the Pirates back on track, which they surely could, though their cause would be hampered by now having to play against the worsening elements.

In the very first minute of the second period the visitors had a gem of a chance to increase their lead, winger Tim Holgate unfortunate to knock the ball on with the line at his mercy.

London Welsh were looking determined to deny any chance of the Pirates making it eight wins on the trot, but following a bulldozing run from Ma'asi, and snipes from Cattle and McAtee, Winn pumped his legs to the posts. The pressure created forced London Welsh to concede a penalty and Bernardo's resulting kick put the Pirates back in the lead.

Welsh skipper Howard Quigley was yellow-carded, the time now for the Pirates to up the ante, to at last turn the screw, and after full-back Adryan Winnan ran back an attempted clearance to touch, Heard, Ma'asi and Winn lent support to set position near the London Welsh Line.

Pic Big Brian

With a scrum called out to the left, there was time to call Heino Senekal off the bench, successfully returning from Rugby World Cup duty with Namibia, the Pirates displaying developing dominance for Cracknell to snaffle possession and squeeze over for an unconverted try.

The Cornish team's backs and forwards were now in full flow, playing superb rugby in the difficult conditions, their efforts warming the crowd on a cold afternoon. London Welsh threatened just once more, a chance break out by wing James Greenwood thwarted by by a chase back and tackle by Lewis Vinnicombe, the Pirates then proceeding to finish in style - and how!

Duncan Roke to Rhodri McAtee (Pic Big Brian)

Centre Duncan Roke, to be deservedly named 'Man of the Match', played at his very best to assist wing Rhodri McAtee in securing a hat-trick of tries, his total now 10 in this increasingly interesting National One campaign. Di Bernardo converted the first two, while replacement James Moore showed that he provides more than useful back-up in the kicking department when he magnificently converted the third.

The Pirates had scored 29 unanswered points in an impressive second half, the victory enabling them to end the weekend still sitting proudly at the top of the table.

Scorers:-
Cornish Pirates - tries: McAtee (3), Ma'asi, Cracknell, pen. try; cons: Di Bernardo (3); Moore; pen: Di Bernardo.
London Welsh - try: Shaw; con: Ulph; pens: Ulph (2).

Cornish Pirates - A. Winnan, R. McAtee, D. Roke, S. Winn, L. Vinnicombe, A. Di Bernardo (J. Moore 76), G. Cattle ©, M. Evans, I. Motusaga (S. Betty 33), I. Motusaga, J. Beardshaw, J. Inglis (H. Senekal 58), S. Heard (D. Seal 65), V. Ma'asi (N. Makin 69), A. Paver (G. Anderson 69).
Replacements (not used) - D. Bell.

London Welsh - S. Ulph, T. Holgate (A. Hopkins 79), J. Storey, D. Hayward, J. Greenwood, L. Cholewa (M. Meenan 65), R. Shaw (O. Walbyoff 79), R. Griffith, M. Anayi (P. Clark 69), B. McNamee, A. Slade, H. Quigley (c - J. Petterimedes 65), C. Hannon (P. Durant 65), C. Ritchie (S. Millard 69), D. Williams.
Yellow card - H. Quigley.

Referee - Mr. Tim Beddow (RFU)

Man of the Match - Duncan Roke

Attendance - 2574.