Clinical Pirates Conquer Castle Park

The Knights were left to rue their mistakes after being defeated 25-44 by a clinical Cornish Pirates side at Castle Park this afternoon.

Doncaster had the lead after just five minutes, but never really looked like claiming the victory from a strong Pirates’ performance, with the visitors scoring five tries to Doncaster’s three.

It was the away side that put the first points on the board with a penalty within the first minute from Javier Rojas Alvarez. That early lead for the visitors was soon squashed when Kyle Evans made a superb break away into the opposition 22 and offloaded to Johnny McPhillips to dot down from close range. Olver missed the conversion, but the Knights had earned a 5-3 lead after four minutes.

It took just another five minutes though for the visitors to take that advantage back as Argentinean International Alvarez dotted down, before adding the extras as well.

The game became an end to end affair as both sides looked like they could score in each attack. However, it was the side from Penzance that extended their lead through Nicolas De Battista, after a good break from the lively Callum Patterson. Alvarez converting again for a 5-17 lead to the visitors.

Doncaster were straight back on the attack though and hit back with an instant reply. A good break from Tom James allowed Pete Lucock space to find Tyson Lewis on the left wing, who burst away to dot down for his second try of the season. Olver slotting home the conversion to make the score line 12-17 to the Pirates.

That respite was short lived though when O’Meara broke clear, not for the first time this afternoon, and after a couple of phases in the Donny 22, it was captain Brett Beukeboom that drove over from close range.

Cornish Pirates started after the interval just as they did in the first half with an increased intent and tempo to their play. Although Marlen Walker and Ben Hunter were shown a yellow card within the space of three minutes, it was Alex O’Meara that extended the lead for the visitors as the winger reacted the fastest to a grubber kick from Alvarez, with the fly-half converting as well.

Another yellow card was shown, this time for Maliq Holden, which allowed Olver to hit back with a penalty, before Doncaster made their man advantage count as replacement George Edgson barged over from a driving maul. Olver adding the extras to make the score line 25-31 to the visitors.

Yet another two penalties went the away side’s way with Alvarez easily slotted both away.

Doncaster had a chance to secure at least a bonus point with a fourth try when replacement Cameron Cowell broke away into the 22, he offloaded to Lewis, but the winger was dragged into touch by Holden in the 76^th minute.

The Pirates sealed the victory in the dying embers when Patterson found a gap inside the 22 to dot down under the posts. Alvarez converting for the fifth time to end the game 25-44 to the visitors.

Match Statistics

Knights XV: 15. Johnny McPhillips(62’Cowell) 14. Kyle Evans 13. Pete Lucock 12. Charlie Foley(69’Hayes) 11. Tyson Lewis 10. Sam Olver 9. Tom James(73’Cullen) 1. Robin Hislop(64’Thomas) 2. Ben Hunter(52’Edgson) 3. Colin Quigley(62’Foster) 4. Tom Hicks 5. Matt Smith(44’Calladine) 6. Morgan Eames 7. Michael Hills © 8. Ollie Stedman(60’Sproston)

Replacements: 16. George Edgson 17. Marc Thomas 18. Andrew Foster 19. Tom Calladine 20. Joe Sproston 21. Reiss Cullen 22. Cameron Cowell 23. Lloyd Hayes

Tries: McPhillips, Lewis, Edgson

Conversions: Olver 2

Penalties: Olver 2

Yellow card: Hunter

Cornish Pirates XV: 15. AJ Cant 14. Alex O’Meara 13. Callum Patterson 12. Nicolas De Battista 11. Maliq Holden 10. Javier Rojas Alvarez 9. Alex Schwarz 1. Marlen Walker 2. Tom Cowan-Dickie 3. Jay Tyack 4. Danny Cutmore 5. Brett Beukeboom © 6. Fa’atiga Lemalu 7. John Stevens 8. Will Wilson

Replacements: 16. Tom Channon 17. Jack Andrew 18. Craig Mitchell 19. Matt Bolwell 20. James McRae 21. Rhodri Davies 22. Will Cargill 23. Robin Wedlake

Tries: Alvarez, De Battista, Beukeboom, O’Meara, Patterson

Conversions: Alvarez 5

Penalties: Alvarez 3

Yellow card: Walker, Holden