Cowley stars in Pirates triumph

HAVING played each other twice in the league already this season, both games comfortably won by the Pirates, the result of this third meeting, a fourth round match in the EDF Energy National Trophy contest, was surely a foregone conclusion.

The Pirates gave a welcome rest to their talismanic leader, scrum-half Gavin Cattle, his place was taken by Rhodri Wells. Other changes saw Lewis Vinnicombe selected on the right wing and young lock James Inglis given the partner role alongside Joe Beardshaw in the second-row.

Stand-in Pirates skipper Tim Cowley got his side off to a perfect start with a telling break which led to a celebratory call up try for Wells. The conversion attempt was missed by Alberto Di Bernardo.

Captain Cowley was at the heart of everything good, a quality ball from the line-out led to centre Duncan Bell making a break and deft chip ahead which was well chased down by Vinnicombe, the ball rolling agonizingly over the dead-ball line. Other chances were created, and squandered and errors made when further scores looked likely.

Moseley full-back Ollie Thomas and the half-back pairing of skipper Dave Knight and Greg Macdonald probed to gain territorial advantage, but when Thomas over-cooked his penalty, a rare chance to score from a possible catch and drive was lost.

With clinical efficiency and quick hands along the line, the Pirates extended their lead. Rhodri McAtee breezed over on the left and Di Bernardo converted to give the Pirates an undoubtedly deserved 12-0 lead at the break.

With Moseley down to fourteen men at the beginning of the second period, the Pirates were primed to quickly hammer home their numerical advantage, a call answered when Bell crossed for a converted try at the clubhouse corner.

Seconds later it was Bell again who set up flanker Iva Motusaga who scored at the second attempt.

Man-of-the-match Cowley was playing inspirationally at the top of his game. He set up Winn who touched down to the right of the posts. Motusaga and Wells scored their second tries and Di Bernardo hit a conversion Near the end of the game, a brawl between the two packs meant referee Richard Phillips red carded home prop Sam Heard for an alleged stamping offence but the Pirates still maintained complete control. Beardshaw provided a quality ball for McAtee to be the third player to secure a brace of tries. Di Bernardo added a conversion, leaving him just four points short of the 250 mark to date this season, and the Pirates just two short of 50 in the match.

Cornish Pirates - tries: Wells (2), McAtee (2), Motusaga (2), Bell, Winn; cons: Di Bernardo (4).