CORNISH PIRATES 16pts COVENTRY 15pts

AFTER their disappointment in losing their last home game against Plymouth Albion, the Cornish Pirates bounced back to end 2006 with a fine victory away to Pertemps Bees followed by a winning start to 2007 with a narrow 16-15 victory against Coventry, writes Phil Westren.

A low-scoring match seemed a safe prediction, though the first points were registered as early as the third minute, Coventry silencing the home crowd with a stunner of a score. It was one of those occasions when you looked for an action replay. Fly-half Myles Dorrian's chip bounced awkwardly for the Pirates but settling perfectly into the outstretched arms of "Cov" winger Kurt Johnson who cantered over in the corner.

Skipper and full-back Ben Russell wisely drilled the ball low for a conversion to put the Midlanders 7-0 up.

On the half-hour mark the Pirates were caught off-side just 15 metres out from their posts and Russell took the three points on offer.

Early in the second half the Pirates ere awarded a penalty and Di Bernardo's successful effort was duly applauded by an excellent crowd.

A second penalty from Di Bernardo made it look a formality that the Pirates would soon be ahead, but a determined Coventry saw Johnson slide in for a try.

From a scrum five metres out, Coventry were shunted back and Cattle himself pounced to score a try that Di Bernardo converted.

The tension was unbearable and heightened when Coventry's replacement hooker Stuart Friswell was yellow-carded. Go for the corner or a kick at goal off a mud-mire from all of 43 metres? Arguably Di Bernardo's most important and difficult all season, but his strike made it with something to spare.

It was a fantastic effort and proved the winning kick.