Pirate

By Ian Todd
September 26 2010

In a committed performance, Bristol rode their luck to earn a first win of the season against high-flying Cornish Pirates. 21 - 7 was a harsh scoreline for the visiting side but tries from Adams and Marsden combined with a good kicking performance from Little were enough to secure a priceless victory

A cagey opening led to a Bristol penalty that Nicky Little sent to touch.  Bristol tried to work a way through in midfield and Pirates were penalised again.  This time Little went for the posts but his effort struck the upright.  The Pirates cleared the immediate danger but Junior Fatialofa broke two tackles to set up a good position that saw the visitors penalised again.  This time Little made no mistake and Bristol, as seems normal this season, had an early lead at 3 – 0.  Bristol claimed the restart and Richard Bolt put in a fine kick to peg Pirates back.  However they swiftly counter-attacked and scrum-half Cattle saw a huge space open up in front of him.  Pirates looked destined to score but a clumsy knock-on allowed Bristol to breathe easy.  Bristol tried to work their way out of trouble and Jack Adams appeared to have been taken out late.  Bolt was perhaps too quick for his team-mates with his tap penalty and the confusion saw Bristol give away a penalty of their own.  The defence held firm and Mark Irish’s deft kick pushed Pirates back. 

Patient play from Bristol allowed Mako Vunipola to make a powerful break as the referee played an advantage.  The resulting penalty went to touch but Bristol failed to capitalise.  Pirates strove to drive Bristol back but the defence remained solid and the visitors were penalised.  Little’s kick was a good one and took play to the edge of the 22.  The pack initially took the ball on before Junior Fatialofa made a half-break.  He popped the ball up to the speeding George Watkins who burst through the defence only to be brought crushingly down by what appeared to be a trip.  Pirates seized their chance to break free and again countered dangerously.  Fatialofa was spotted making an illegal challenge in the move and was shown yellow.  Pirates worked themselves into a decent position and looked certain to score but somehow Bristol scrambled the ball-carrier into touch.  Little then managed to ease the pressure with some good kicking.  The visitors went through the phases again, building patiently before a knock-on brought them to a halt. 

Sharp play from Bolt, following a crunching Vunipola tackle, allowed him to kick for territory (when possibly it might have been better to keep the ball in hand).  Bristol then forced a turnover and Ollie Hayes sprinted down the wing to put Pirates under pressure.  Bristol gave away a penalty and Pirates took the chance to develop a vigorous attack.  Against the depleted defence they again looked certain to score but a series of sloppy, over-anxious, passes saw the opportunity wasted.  A fine piece of tackling from Adams won a penalty that Little hammered into touch.  The drive from the lineout was effective and Pirates were forced to infringe.  Little made no mistake from in front of the posts and Bristol came away with a further three points from virtually their only visit to the opponents half in the previous twenty minutes.  The restart was another good one from Bristol and the forwards kept play tight, edging the visitors back before clumsy handling saw Adams knock-on.  As before Pirates seized the chance to counterattack, even if it did involve a really obvious forward pass.  However, a fine tackle from replacement jack Tovey brought the move to a stop just as the half closed. 

Bristol started the second half well with a half break from Little, backed up by Fatialofa and Hayes.  The ball went on to Adams who plunged over in the corner.  Little was unable to convert but Bristol now led 11 – 0.  Not for long though.  As so often having worked hard to get points on the board Bristol gave away a really shocking try.  Little failed to make touch with a relieving kick and Pirates romped forward with the defence absent and Cattle was free to go over unopposed by the posts.  Cook converted and the hosts were stunned at 11 – 7.  Pirates continued to have the majority of possession and Bristol were forced to play in their own half.  Forced into a lineout on the five metre line the Bristol throw was stolen but Pirates were penalised as they tried to move the ball along the backline.  Fatialofa and Adams combined well to get Bristol going forward.  At the breakdown Pirates were penalised but it was too far out for Little and he went for a conservative touch.  The forwards drove from the lineout down to the 22.  The ball was spun wide as Bristol sought a way through but it was lost forward.  Despite this setback, great handling from Bristol saw Little release Fatialofa into space.  An excellent pick up from Tovey kept the move going but the final pass to Sean Marsden was just forward.  A kick out on the full gave Bristol a lineout on halfway and in a dramatic move Marsden was not to be denied this time.  Adams burst clear and looked certain to pass to Dan Norton but he took the ball on further and managed to slip the ball to Marsden who just had enough pace to go over.  Little converted well for 18 – 7. 

Pirates were forced to regroup and worked their way back into the Bristol half.  The Bristol defence was resolute in its determination to keep the visiting side out and Pirates were, harshly, penalised for holding on.  Their complaints were not well received by the referee, who promptly marched them back 10 metres.  Fatialofa again showed his strength and Pirates went offside for another penalty.  Little made touch and the pack launched the familiar catch-and-drive.  Pirates could not arrest the inexorable march by any legal means and Little punished them with another penalty kick for a 21 – 7 lead with just a few minutes left.  It looked as if there was only a losing bonus point possible for Pirates now but their play was ragged and a poor lineout allowed Bristol to push up out of defence.  Awarded a penalty, Bristol went for touch and then proceeded to eat up time, with the ball slow to emerge from the forwards.  Eventually Pirates managed to get their hands on the ball but they kicked hard-won possession away to Tovey as the game drew to its end.