Pirates prove too strong for battling Camborne

THE Cornish Pirates got their pre-season preparations underway with a 28-50 victory over Camborne at the Recreation Ground.

The Champ Rugby visitors won with a bit to spare, but there was great credit too to the ‘Cherry and Whites’ who won promotion to National One back in May.

Leading the Pirates out was Hugh Bokenham, who has returned to the club from Gloucester and was a ‘Champ Rugby’ winner with Worcester Warriors last season. He partnered Milo Hallam in the second row, whilst fellow countryman, Australian 7s player Henry Palmer, was named on the wing. Others selected to make their debuts off the bench were prop Jamie Clark, Great Britain Sevens winger Josh Radcliffe and Redruth fly-half Joe Cummins.

In front of a good-sized crowd, the Pirates opened the scoring in the fifth minute, when fine work from debutant Palmer led to a try being scored by fellow winger Arthur Relton. Fly-half Arwel Robson added the extras.

Camborne, however, soon levelled matters with a try scored by wing Harry Larkins, the conversion kicked by fly-half Fraser Honey.

The first half proved a closely-fought affair. However, the Pirates scored two more tries before the break thanks to forwards Jack Forsythe and Hallam. Robson’s conversion of the latter left the scoreline reading 19-7 at the turn.

On the resumption, the visitors were again quickly into their stride, a penetrating break by full-back Angus Mawson set up Relton for his second of the match. The try went unconverted, but the Pirates were now in full flight, as witnessed when scrum-half Dan Hiscocks and Mawson each proceeded to score converted tries.

Camborne admirably hit back with their second score, a try by second-row Jamie Prisk, again converted by summer recruit Honey.

Pirates prop Alessandro Heaney and Sam Cahill added to the try-scoring for the visitors, whilst at the other end, replacements Ewan Murray and Oliver Doherty found their way over for the hosts. Full-back Rory O’Kane converted both to cap the day’s scoring.

Saturday’s game also marked the first time that the ‘David Roberts Memorial Cup’ was competed for.

David, who passed away last December at the age of 98, was a true gentleman and a great servant of Camborne and the county of Cornwall. He would have been immensely proud of the hosts’ performance.

The Cornish Pirates visit Plymouth Albion this Saturday in their next friendly (3pm).

CAMBORNE: Rory O’Kane; Harry Larkins, Matt Shepherd, Will Hennessy, Alex Ducker; Fraser Honey, CJ Boyce; Tommy-Lee Southworth, Sam Matavesi (capt), Jon Drew; Jamie Prisk, Barnaby Waddell; Adam Hughes, Jordan Nicholls, Jago Sheppard. Replacements: Craig Davidson, Ben Woodmansey, Declan Prowse, Sam Rodman, Jack Heazelton, Freddie Veimosoi, Harrison Hayman, Jay Toogood, Oliver Doherty, Ewan Murray, Oli Roberts, Jake Walker.

Tries: Larkins, Prisk, Murray, Doherty; Convs: Honey (2), O’Kane (2); Pens: N/A.

CORNISH PIRATES: Angus Mawson; Arthur Relton, Chester Ribbons, Harry Ascherl, Henry Palmer; Arwel Robson, Dan Hiscocks; Alessandro Heaney, Morgan Nelson, Tyler Gendall; Milo Hallam, Hugh Bokenham (capt); Matt Cannon, Jack Forsythe, Tomiwa Agbongbon. Replacements: Matt Pritchard, Billy Young, Jamie Clark, Josh King, Barnaby Elderkin, Luke Ratcliff, Sam Cahill (guest), Joe Cummins (guest), Finn Love, Josh Radcliffe, Joe Elderkin.

Tries: Relton (2), Forsythe, Hallam, Hiscocks, Mawson, Heaney, Cahill; Convs: Robson (4), Mawson; Pens: N/A.