Moore Knighted in Style at Doncaster

Moore takes a pot at goal
By woll & woll jnr
March 5 2007

Dreams of the chance of some silverware to confirm greater ambitions were kept alive with a late drop goal from the boot of Pirate's MOTM, James Moore. His 40m+ plus kick came on the back of a late inclusion in the starting lineup, and an indivdiual performance that at last kicked some life into a back line that of late, has fallen short of potential.

This, and the heroics of a defence that rebuffed more or less everything a lively and inventive Doncaster attack could throw at them, combined to give the Pirates a hard fought win from a game that could have gone either way.

Conditions were near enough perfect for rugby, and the pitch in reasonable shape given the amount of rain of late. In fact weatherwise, it was almost Groundhog Day when compared to the corresponding league fixture back in October, if a little chillier.

The hosts it was then who kicked off with the sun and what wind there was behind them. The Pirates gathered the ball cleanly and pressed forward in an attempt to repeat their whirlwind start in the autumn. A kick over the top from Cattle gave the Knights their first touch, albeit briefly before the Pirates turned the ball over and enjoyed the early spoils.

These preliminery exchanges yielded precious little though despite giving the Pirates faithful encouragement of better things to come. With 7 minutes on the clock however, the Pirates infringed allowing Woodrow a relatively straightforwad kick at goal. He struck it well and Doncaster gratefully took a 3-0 lead.

This setback spurred the Pirates to shift up a gear or two, and on regaining possession started to look more and more dangerous.

One promising sequence of play in particular, saw Motusaga carve his way through the defence leaving a trail of defenders in his wake. Last man and full back Carter, did well to halt the Samoan's progress and allow a recovering defence to complete the job and force a knock on before any support arrived.

For the next 15-20 minutes, things remained fairly even with both defences soaking up all the pressure as each side sought supremacy. Consequently neither team created any further clear cut openings, nor indicated who was more the likely to progress into Monday's semi final draw. Absorbing stuff for sure, and only likely to become more intense if it remained so close.

It did, though being tested the most frequently, the Pirates in particular looked rock solid defensively. Just as well because the home side were looking quite sharp in attack with Woodrow and Gollings controlling things from fly half and centre respectively. In fairness, the opposing combination of Cattle and Moore was doing well enough, but the momentum was in essence with the Yorkshireman, keen to press home their home advantage.

Moving into the final ten minutes of the first half, Motusaga's nose connected with something unforgiving, and he was obliged to spend some time in the blood bin and be temporarily replaced by Matt Evans.

Doncaster though had by now encamped themselves in the Pirates half and surely should have extended their lead. Again and again their attacks came to nothing as they were thwarted by some ferocious tackling from all quarters. Even so with referee Newitt poised to put whistle to mouth, Doncaster tried a series of catch and drives from the 5 metre line but went nowhere. Senekal and his second row partner in crime, Beardshaw did enough to disrupt their plans and eventually the ball was turned over and the immedaite danger averted.

Iva returned to the fray to help ensure the half time score remained at 3-0 in the home sides favour, and so allow the visitors to go in at the break with the knowledge that it was the case of a job well done.

With the elements now with them, the Cornishmen kicked off the second half, just as the sun disappeared and the breeze dropped!

Doncaster looked to run the ball straight back, but lost the egg clumsily to hand Pirates a scrum which had been a secure platform to this point. Moore too, had looked the part thus far, and not for the first time wrong footed the home defence to give himself a gap to exploit.

Centre Cannon though had other ideas, and all but took the took the fly half's head clean off his shoulders with a dangerously high tackle. After receiving some treatment, Moore stepped up and coolly slotted the resulting penalty to open up the visitors account on 42 minutes. Cannon was perhaps fortunate not to receive any punishment, though Moore's change of direction may have been a contributory factor too.

Doncaster responded well and soon quelled any thoughts of the Pirates taking the game by the scruff of it's neck as they reproduced a spell similar to that at the end of the first half.

As with then, the Pirates defence dug in for the duration and repelled all boarders as the Doncaster pack took their turn in trying to breach the whitewash. All seemed well until a breakdown in communication on the Pirates part handed the home boys with a lineout about 10 metres out.

A knock-on at the set piece seemed to provide the Pirates with a get out of jail card, and they prepared for a defensive 5m scrum, and a chance to clear their lines. Doncaster's pack though totally wrecked the Pirate's set piece, and Motusaga was bundled over his own try line with ball mercifully in hand.

In the meantime the first changes were made with Ben Phillips coming on for Steve Boden at hooker; whilst Dan Seal and Jonny Hylton came on for Sam Heard and Lewis Vinnicombe respecitvely. The latter seemingly still troubled with a knock to the leg picked up midway through the first half.

The reset 5m scrum for Doncaster received similar treatment as the Pirates exacted revenge in style and successfully cleared their line at last.

Play was now opening up with both sides keen to throw the ball around at every opportunity. Doncaster though edged things in this department, and forced try saving tackles by Roke and Winnan out wide as a consequence, as the game still awaited it's first try.

With only fifteen minutes to go, the wait ended as a small lapse in defence allowed former Pirate, Wes Davies, to dive over out wide and to the left of the posts. Woodrow's excellent strike of the ball was true and Doncaster once again had the advantage in this titanic encounter, now some four points more than before.

10-3 was a fair reflection of the balance of power to this point, though the Pirates were far from out of contention.

Throughout the game, signs were visible that the more flowing style associated with the Cornishmen was returning. Slowly perhaps, but surely nonetheless. Some positive interplay upon regaining possession soon after the restart followed, and the fightback began in earnest.

Play was now settled in the Doncaster half as the Pirates at last grasped the initiative, and built up some sustained pressure. For possibly the first time in the match, Doncaster began to creak in defence and produced a flurry of forced errors, much to their own frustration.

Moore, with his socks now rolled down stepped up to the breach and invited his forwards to show their mettle as he kicked for the corner with the 70 minute mark now approaching.

Cool heads and patience was now the order of the day as the Pirates pack accepted the challenge. With the ball safely secured the maul took shape, and inched ever forwards before being pulled down by a now desparate Doncaster defence.

Moore repeated the process which this time saw the seething mass of bodies crab across field, once again gradually inching towards the Doncaster line and closer to the posts. This time everyone stayed on their feet and, unlike the match winning score at Leeds three weeks previous, the Pirates backs, for the most part, let the big boys get on with it.

And didn't they just as the try line was at last crossed and Villi Ma'asi came up with the ball, not for the first time this season. James Moore levelled the scores again with the conversion and ensured a tense final 10 minutes.

The Pirates were now on a roll and sensing their chance went in search of some kind of winning score; the next one surely being the decider.

Five minutes after his success, Ma'asi made way for Nick Makin to shore up an in control Pirates front row, ably and vocally lead by Paver.

With time unable to decide whether it should tick by relentlessly or never-endingly, depending on who was in possession; the Pirates forced another infrinement from the home side with less than five minutes to go. Moore's penalty from a tricky angle had the legs, but ultimately drifted wide to the relief of the home support, who urged their side on for one final effort now Scully had replaced an impressive Jones.

But first they needed possession and such was the turnaround in fortunes, that not much was forthcoming their way just now.

Unperturbed by this missed opportunity the Pirates received the 22m drop out and set about creating something else. Looking ever likely to go for the try, no one seemed aware of Moore quietly drop back from the line with only one thing in mind.

In an instant the ball was passed back to him on the Doncaster 10 and as quickly sailed majestically towards the uprights, which were dutifully disected.

The travelling support roared it's approval as Mr Newitt confirmed it's success and gave the Pirates lead for the first time with now only 2-3 minutes left to play.

Plenty of time for sure for one last hurrah from Doncaster, but with Steve Winn coming on for a limping Roke, hopes of one final twist to the tale faded as the Cornish defence shut up shop.

Another notable win was thus notched up, and in a manner which should go along way to dispel grumbles of the team becoming a bit too predictable and/or one dimensional. James Moore will no doubt too relish his chance to prove a point, a chance more than well taken with a now Leeds-bound di Bernado sidelined.

The fact that their only try came from a forward was secondary therefore in everyone's minds, as time to retire to the bar and exercise some vocal chords became the order of the day....and recover from yet another dramatic helping from a Pirates team who conclusively proved their 'never-say-die' pedigree.

Doncaster 10:
Carter, W Davies, Gollings, Cannon, Van Vuuren, Woodrow, Jones, Bunting, Boden, Tau, Kenworthy, Gross, Grainger, Forster (Capt), Earnshaw
Replacements: T Davies (54), Philips (48), Cook (65), Talei (52), Scully (79), Rees (70), Bailey (70)

Try: W Davies
Con: Woodrow
Pen: Woodrow

Pirates 13:
Winnan, McAtee, Roke, Bell, Vinnicombe, Moore, Cattle, Paver, Ma'asi, Seal, Senekal, Beardshaw, McKeen, Motusaga, Cowley.
Replacements:  Wells,  Hylton (50), Winn (80), Evans (30-38), Inglis, Makin (75), Seal (50)

Try: Ma'asi
Con: Moore
Pen: Moore
Drop Goal: Moore

Referee: Dale Newitt
Touch Judges: Steve Lander, Barry Dalby

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