Seven-try Pirates put Redruth to the sword

By MIKE SINCLAIR

Cornish Pirates….47pts Redruth………………… 5pts

THE full-timers of Cornish Pirates proved too strong for their National 2 West neighbours as they ran in seven tries in their first pre-season outing.

The speed and superior finishing of the Championship side were the telling factors against a team two tiers below them but a willing Redruth provided a tasty workout and were still trying to add to their one try in the closing minutes.

“It was a good first contest played in the right spirit,” said Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle. “Ring rust and some new relationships, so it was a good starting point. We have Exeter in a fortnight so need to build on this.

“Backline-wise we are in pretty good nick with some new players who have picked up the plan pretty quickly but we have work to do up front.” Former Wales U19 fullback Iwan Price-Thomas, recruited from the University of Bath, made an impressive debut for Pirates with Will Trewin always dangerous against his former club.

Pirates took the lead through Tom Georgiou's try after only seven minutes and two minutes later Trewin's kick over the defensive line was perfectly placed for Arthur Relton to dot down.

Dangerous: Will Trewin

Lively new scrum-half Cameron Jones, who played U16 for Wales, U18 for Scotland and was signed from Edinburgh this summer, and Price-Thomas combined to put Trewin over in the corner before Pirates flanker Alex Everett drove over for a try against the players he coaches during the week.

Redruth, who passed up several scoring opportunities through poor handling, were rewarded for their endeavours just before the interval. Dean Willis drilled a penalty into the corner and, although Pirates repelled the first two drives, giant lock Jamie Prisk, who has rejoined the Reds from home-town club St Ives, stretched over to ground the ball one-handed.

With both sides ringing the changes, it took the new Pirates centre pairing of Charlie McCaig and Harry Yates just six minutes to make their mark after being introduced for the second half.

McCaig, on dual contract from Exeter, burst through the Redruth defence and released a well-timed pass to send Yates, on a season-long loan from Ealing, racing in.

Yates then made the break for Pirates' sixth try, finding Price-Thomas, who wrong-footed the defence with an exquisite dummy, for Will Gibson to touch down before replacement lock Hugh Bokenham strolled through a tired defence for number seven.