MATCH REPORT: CORNISH PIRATES VS EALING TRAILFINDERS

Cornish Pirates hosted Ealing Trailfinders at the Mennaye Field in Round Three of Elior Champ Rugby, with the home side winning in the final play of the game.

Trailfinders flew out of the blocks at the start of the first half, putting Cornish Pirates under pressure and earning a penalty. From the lineout Trailfinders picked and went off of repeated rucks, before Louie Johnson pulled the trigger and span the ball wide to Fionn Gibbons, who went over in the corner for our opening try. Johnson nailed the conversion to extend our lead to seven points.

Cornish pirates soon levelled the scores, going in for a try under the posts to ensure an easy conversion.

On the stroke of 20 minutes Cornish Pirates took the lead, scoring in the corner from a lineout move and adding the conversion.

Strong interplay down the left wing between debutant Jacob Morris and Gibbons put Francis Moore away for our second try, and Johnson drew the scores level with a sublime touchline conversion.

After extensive pressure Cornish Pirates added their third converted try to make the score 21-14.

As the clock ticked towards half-time, Trailfinders turned the screw, picking and going through the middle, before Kyle Hatherell crashed over from the base of the ruck. From out in front Johnson added the extras, and the referee blew his whistle for half-time.

Half-Time: Cornish Pirates 21-21 Ealing Trailfinders

Trailfinders spent the start of the second half on the back foot, putting in a dogged defensive set before Cornish Pirates burst through to take the lead via a converted try.

Trailfinders didn’t let their heads drop after conceding, forcing a knock on off the ensuing restart and regaining possession with an attacking scrum. Toby Cousins gave us momentum with a brutal carry, pumping his legs and refusing to go to ground. Trailfinders span the ball wide and Johnson threw another try scoring pass to Gibbons for his second try of the match. However Johnson couldn’t add the extra two points from a tough angle.

Down by two points Trailfinders attacked the Cornish Pirates line with renewed vigour, eventually forcing a penalty and kicking to the corner. Trailfinders secured possession and chose to maul, with Matt Cornish coming away with a try as the maul drive rumbled over. From the touchline Johnson struck a pinpoint conversion, extending Trailfinders’ lead to five points.

The men in green produced a heroic defensive effort at the death as Cornish Pirates threw everything they had into a final attack, but the home side eventually found a gap and equalised the scores, before adding a conversion to take the lead as the final whistle brought an end to proceedings.

Full-Time: Cornish Pirates 35-33 Ealing Trailfinders