Five
of the Best
Matches that Pirates fans will never forget!
By
Dick Struaghan
It is time to put the smiles back on our
faces now and remember some classic Pirates matches.
Once
again everybody will have their own personal favourites but I have taken a selection
of those games chosen by a number of fans for inclusion here.
Once again
there are some notable absentees from the list who deserve a quick mention here.
September 2002 saw the Pirates come back from 19-0 down to beat Stourbridge 22-24
with tries from an ever young Vili Ma`asi, Penrose and Lambert.
In November
2006 another great comeback was witnessed as the Pirates stole back from an 18-0
deficit at Clifton Lane to beat Earth Titans 18-24. On October 3rd 2004 five penalties
from Lee Jarvis saw the Pirates home 15-9 against Exeter on a grim day at the
Mennaye Field.
Ironically this was to be Kevin Moseley's final home game
at the helm. And then there was the final match at Kenwyn in April 2006 when Kevin
James` late late show brought the house down and sealed a nail-biting 29-28 win
over Plymouth Albion.
Well that's the starters. Now for the main course.
Number
Five
Pirates 11 Cardiff 3 - April 1960, and
Pirates 5 Cardiff
0 - 17/04/50
Two matches from the archives of the amateur era here when
the Welsh side were a truly mighty opponent full of internationals.
The
1950 fixture was won in front of 5,000 soaking wet souls crammed into the Mennaye
Field, whilst the 11-3 victory ten years later came after a huge battle and tries
from Gerald Luke and Ray Burroughs.
Number Four
Exeter
Chiefs 16 Pirates 43 - ND1 - 24/09/05
A majestic display of running rugby
blew Exeter away on this final league visit to the old County Ground as the Pirates
blasted their way to an early season ND1 top spot.
Tries from Bearman,
Evans, K.James, S.James, and Davies did the damage as the firm conditions and
fast-paced Pirates game destroyed the Chiefs.
Number
Three
Pirates 40 London Welsh 38 - ND1 - 21/02/04
Will anyone
who was at the Mennaye that day ever forget Lee Soper`s stoppage time winning
try? The Welsh kicked for touch to kill the game. The ball inexplicably stayed
in play.
The Pirates recycled it on their own goal line and launched an
all guns blazing final assault. Steve Thomas suddenly burst clear from halfway
with two men to beat, drew their tackles and flipped a precision pass to lock
Soper on the left wing ten metres out. Two massive strides later the game was
won.
Number Two
Bristol 11 Pirates 18
- ND1 - 12/02/05
The day the professional era Pirates came of age. A truly
momentous win in difficult conditions at the citadel of Bristolian rugby.
Wes
Davies and Gerald Arasa plundered the tries whilst two huge penalties late in
the game from Lee Jarvis killed off a spirited fightback from the Shoguns as they
threw absolutely everything at the Pirates defence.
Lodewyk Hattingh had
a huge game marshalling and encouraging the troops.
His loss to the club
through illness just six months later was a massive blow.
And
at Number One….
Pirates 19 Exeter Chiefs 16 - EDF National Trophy
Final - 15/04/07
What can be said about this one that has not already been
said? When Gary Kingdom`s try and the boot of Tony Yapp took the Chiefs into a
6-16 lead early in the second half the signs were ominous for the Pirates.
Yet they never gave up in intense heat at Twickenham and instead stepped up the
pace
Exeter suddenly wilted and as Villi "the mole" Ma`asi burrowed
over from close range on the hour the game was turned on its head.
A
penalty from Di Bernardo quickly levelled the scores and his long range effort
with just four minutes remaining made sure that the silverware was coming home
to Cornwall.
A never to be forgotten day for the army who made the
trek.
*Thanks to Steve Tomlin (Old Prop Steve) for providing
me with stats and info used to compile both of these features.
©Dick
Straughan 2008
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