Pirates' Attack Repelled (Pirates 8-29 Quins)

By AlanQuin
March 27 2006

With an excellent win and a bonus point Harlequins left a very wet, very muddy and very windy Truro hilltop well satisfied with victory over Cornish Pirates in a difficult final away fixture by 8 points to 29.

In conditions which were far from ideal, following almost three days of incessant rain, it was Pirates who kicked off with the benefit of a very strong gusting wind at their backs.  Their tactics were made clear almost from the start as kicks through with the benefit of the gale and high balls in the swirling wind were followed by fast running attackers.  That tempers were tense was also apparent when almost at the start a melee of wrestling forwards exchanged blows.  A stern warning to both captains quietened the situation and both teams turned to the matter in hand.

Pirates had the first scoring opportunity with a penalty kick from about 35 metres but the Pirates’ fly-half kicked wide.  Shortly afterwards a Quins’ penalty kick to touch was caught in the wind and blown back far infield.  Then a kick through from Pirates was taken by the wind and across the dead ball line from their 10 metre line and from the resulting scrum Quins were awarded a penalty. 

There followed an excellent rapier like score down the left.  From a tap penalty the ball went left to Tom Williams who made a good break before passing the ball left where the final pass found Ugo Monye clear to cross for the first score.  Adrian Jarvis added the conversion and Quins led, after ten minutes, by 0 – 7.

Pirates tried hard to reply and steadily built up pressure.  Successive penalties and a warning to Quins from the referee saw Pirates with an attacking line-out close to Quins’ try line.  But Quins stole the line-out and the ball was cleared.  A further thrust failed when Pirates were penalised for obstruction.   Then as the first quarter of the match was ending Jarvis was successful with a penalty kick from about 30 metres to increase the lead.

Again Pirates responded and a good high cross field kick needed all Monye’s height and sevens skills to catch and touch down despite having had to carry over his own try line.  From the five metre scrum that followed Quins had to defend stoutly against a determined Pirates pack, They were successful until the ball squirted out of a ruck for the Pirates’ scrum-half Gavin Cattle to pick up and dive over for the try.  The conversion attempt failed and the score was 5 – 10 and then became 8 – 10 three minutes later when Pirates’ Lee Jarvis kicked a penalty goal.

On the half-hour another attack down the left at speed saw fine running by Tom Williams and Simon Keogh and the full-back was able to take a lobbed inside pass and run round to touch down between the posts.  Jarvis converted. 8 – 17.

The remainder of the half was mainly midfield tussles with errors on both sides and with the last chance for Pirates to use the advantage of the wind.  Lee Jarvis failed with a penalty attempt from 43 metres and the half ended.

That Harlequins, with the benefit of the wind in the second half, would exert considerable pressure on the Pirates was clear.  In the event the remainder of the match was played mostly in the Pirates’ half of the pitch.   A fine touch kick by Adrian Jarvis found good position and when Pirates knocked on at the line-out Quins had a scrum on the twenty-two metre line.   A good break by Jim Evans took play almost to the Pirates try-line and they were penalised for offside.  With the clear determination to score another try Quins chose a scrum.  The Pirates scrum had been under increasing difficulty.  Two resets led to another penalty for Quins and another scrum and yet another.  This time Pirates turned over possession and sought to break out.  Unfortunately for the home team the ball ran loose in space from a tackle and Simon Keogh seized his chance as he gathered, swerved and crossed for the try which Jarvis converted. The score was 8 – 24 after 12 minutes of the second half.

Quins continued to press. A penalty on 17 minutes saw Jarvis fail with the kick.  Then a high deep kick by Jarvis was mishandled by the defender and gave Quins an attacking line-out from which to catch and drive.  They tried but were stopped and the scrum was awarded to Pirates. 

It was apparent Quins were after the bonus point.  At the half way point in the half, Mehrtens replaced Jarvis.  Further penalties against the Pirates were dealt with by Quins calling for scrums and Tom Williams had another good break but was stopped short of the line. Pirates now made a mass replacement taking off their hooker, a prop, the No. 8 and a centre in an attempt to inject fresh impetus but without noticeable effect’

Then with only ten minutes remaining a Quins move from a cross field kick by Gavin Duffy saw Will Greenwood touch down for the bonus point try.  The conversion was missed from the touchline.

Pirates tried in the remaining minutes to run everything, even from under their own posts, in order to salvage something if only pride.  They had just not been good enough to penetrate the Quins defence after the first opportunist try and their kicking game had failed in the first half.  Harlequins had been efficient and scored two cracking tries in the first half to impress their superiority and never looked in danger thereafter.

Dean Richards said after the game that he was really pleased with the result and the performance. It had been different this week because there had been some nervousness in the squad about this fixture.  Quins had done their homework and played well and the bonus point was an unexpected one.  Andy Friend was similarly pleased with the unexpected bonus.  Andre Vos said that they had used the ball well when they had it and praised the backs for two outstanding tries in the first half.  They had learned the lessons of Exeter and were not going to be caught out a second time in the West Country.

So Harlequins return to The Stoop where next week Sedgeley Park and thereafter London Welsh will hopefully provide the eight league points to ensure the title and promotion back to the Premiership.  The very substantial travelling support can only have started homewards well satisfied at what they had seen

Cornish Pirates: D Roke; R Welding, W Davies (R McAtee 67), W Kelly, K James; L Jarvis, G Cattle; A Paver, N Makin (V Ma’asi 67), D Parkes (D Seal 67); H Senekal, J Beardshaw (S Hockings 80); J Bearman, S Betty, T Cowley (M Evans 67). Replacements (not used): M Jess, N Chivers.

NEC Harlequins: T Williams; S Keogh, W Greenwood (M Deane 77), G Duffy, U Monye; A Jarvis (A Mehrtens 61), S So’oialo; C Jones, J Richards, L Ward; J Evans, S Miall (P Bouza 77); T Guest, A Vos (capt,)( L Sherriff 77), N Easter. Replacements (not used): T Fuga, R Nebbett, M Brown.

SCORES
Cornish Pirates 8      
Try – Cattle; Penalty – L Jarvis

NEC Harlequins 29  
Tries – Monye, Williams, Keogh, Greenwood; Conversions – A Jarvis 3; Penalty – A Jarvis

Referee: R Maybank (RFU)

Attendance: 5,878

 

NB: Photos will be added later