By Phil Westren
September 18 2006

CORNISH Pirates coach Jim McKay praised his side's character after they returned to winning ways with a stylish display over visiting Moseley at Camborne. Jim McKay was seeking an immediate response from his troops. They didn't disappoint.

Slick Pirates entertain - Di Bernardo scores a record 32 points

Cornish Pirates 52 Moseley 16

Having won their opener convincingly against Otley, before then sinking away to Waterloo, home supporters naturally hoped for a win, but could be forgiven for not knowing what to expect in week three of this season's already intriguing campaign.

Visitors Moseley, who dominated National 2 last season, arrived on the back of a superb 44-37 victory against Bedford the previous week, their one previous encounter with the Pirates being a winning 27-14 Tetley's Bitter Cup tie at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, in November 1999.

Joe Beardshaw follows Di Bernardo with Henry Barrat & Duncan Bell in support

The home side made a number of changes from the team that lost at Waterloo, including the return of wing Rhodri McAtee, whilst at full-back former 'Saracen' Adryan Winnan made his National 1 home league debut.

Cornishman Adryan Winnan who celebrated his first try for the Pirates

Conditions at the impressive Recreation Ground, Camborne, were just about perfect for rugby football, and it was the visitors who looked to entertain first.

Another satisfied Cornish Crowd

With former Pertemps Bees scrum-half Paul Knight directing operations, the 'Red and Blacks' played with considerable enterprise, centre Paul Cox making an incisive early run before the Pirates gave away a penalty thirty metres out. Full-back Ollie Thomas, a prolific points scorer for the Birmingham side, comfortably slotted the chance on offer.

Moseley looked confident, the Pirates needing somehow to dent that observation, and quickly. Former Redruth winger Lewis Vinnicombe snapped up a loose ball on the right, set a platform, the ball then moved swiftly left. Centre Henry Barratt appeared to have been closed down, but when McAtee appeared in support and chipped ahead, fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo chased to make the touchdown. His conversion attempt, however, narrowly missed.

From the restart McAtee was up to his running tricks again, creating space and yardage not accomplished in his absence the previous week, whilst early stand out forwards were hooker Viliami Ma'asi and lock Heino Senekal.

McAtee was up to his running tricks again

Di Bernardo slotted a penalty chance on offer, only for Thomas to respond similarly with a splendid effort from half-way just a minute later.

Moseley continued to play with purpose, flanker Mark Evans and wing Carl Colvin to the fore in an assured looking side

Di Bernardo and Thomas again exchanged penalties, the Pirates needing to create another score before half-time, which they did, with a gem of a try. The pack had rallied as one and driven the Moseley 'eight' back ten metres at the scoreboard corner, Bernardo's miss pass to Duncan Bell then seeing Winnan enter the line and run jubilantly to score. Di Bernardo added the extras and 18-9 suddenly looked much healthier at the break.

Moseley started the second half in lively mode, but it was not long before the Pirates lifted their effort as if reacting to the chants coming from their supporters. Bell ran a tellingly straight line, passed twenty metres to the left, and McAtee met the ball perfectly to cross for another converted score.

McAtee met the ball perfectly to cross for another converted score.

The home team were now taking serious control, forwards and backs involved as they immediately mounted the pressure once more. Moseley flanker Evans was yellow-carded, the Pirates opting for a catch and drive on the left from where his opposite number Stan McKeen scored. It was the Canadian's first league try in the Pirates' colours, the effort converted by Di Bernardo who soon followed up with penalty after Moseley woes worsened when lock Paul Arnold was also sent to the sin bin. McAtee and Ma'asi continued to make them pay in distinctively different running styles, and following a perfectly executed cross-field kick Vinnicombe gathered and ran to the posts to score. Di Bernardo again kicked the conversion.

Viliami Ma'asi

Moseley hit back when No. 8 James Rodwell took advantage of a brief lapse in the home defence, his try converted by Thomas, before Di Bernardo kicked his fourth penalty and then, following good inter-play with his half-back partner Gavin Cattle, scored his second try of the match to take the Pirates to fifty. His conversion made it 52-16 at the final whistle, the personal tally for the Italy 'A' player a mighty 32 points - a record for the Pirates for a match in National 1.

Gavin Cattle & Adryan Winnan after the match

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Di Bernardo (2), Winnan, McAtee, McKeen, Vinnicombe;
Cons: Di Bernardo 5
Pens: Di Bernardo 4

Moseley
Try: Rodwell; c
Con: Thomas;
Pens: Thomas 3

Cornish Pirates
A. Winnan, R. McAtee (J. Hylton 70), H. Barratt, D. Bell, L. Vinnicombe,
A. Di Bernardo, G. Cattle C, M. Evans, S. Betty (I. Motusaga 64)
S. McKeen, J. Beardshaw (S. Hobson 42-57), H. Senekal
S. Heard (G. Anderson73)V. Ma'asi, A. Paver.

Replacements (not used) - J. Moore, S. Winn, O. Hambly.

Moseley -
O. Thomas, N. Bressington, A. Binns C, P.Cox, C. Colvin, G.
MacDonald, P. Knight (D. Hunter 74), J. Rodwell (N. Mason 27-37)
T. Warren, M. Evans (N. Mason 67), R. Stott, P. Arnold (A. Hadley 73)
N. Bayliss (R. Sigley 74), A. Caves (C. Hall 63), B. Buxton (P. Coles 63).

Replacement (not used ) - C. Holder.

Yellow cards - M. Evans, P. Arnold.

Referee - Bruce Robertson (RFU)

Man of the Match - Heino Senekal