Cornish Pirates 39

Otley 22

SUNDAY afternoon far from home, a fine day, a big pitch and backs hand picked from far and wide for their speed, is a volatile cocktail as Otley found out on their first visit to Truro, the new home of the Cornish Pirates, latterly known as Penzance and Newlyn.

However, for the first ten minutes the Pirates were deprived of any ball and spent their time defending but they looked impressive, as should a full-time squad, when finally forwards and backs combined to open up a hitherto stubborn defence for winger Kevin James to go over.

Despite not having their best day at line-out, how can they be so good one day and unimpressive another, Otley were able to swap blows, metaphorically speaking, keeping themselves well in the game until conceding a penalty under the posts on 21 minutes. Easy pickings for fly-half Tom Barlow.

Now feeling confident the Pirates began to open up but they found their visitors alive to all their tricks and it was 15 minutes before they finally found a way through.

Winger Richard Welding discovering his opposite number out of position, made the opening for centre Jon Pritchard to score, Barlow adding the conversion.

Just before half-time Otley broke through but had to be content with a penalty from Simon Binns, back from a rib injury, as the home side skillfully made sure Otley did not re-cycle from the tackle.

Otley scored straight from the re-start when Glen Wilson followed up a high kick to make a tackle which sent the ball loose for Waisale Sovatabua to pick up, make ground and off-load to Mark Luffman, Binns converting. The home side replied immediately, Barlow converting a second try from Pritchard and 16 minutes later adding a penalty.

An effective drive by prop Ben Fear set up a scrum ten metres out and winger Robin Kitching was up to take a short pass from Andy Brown to go over in the corner bringing out a fine conversion from Binns.

The game continued to see-saw, centre Duncan Roke going in for the Pirates, replacement Lee Jarvis converting. Wilson drove over for Otley minutes later but they had their defence pierced four minutes into added time when winger Kevin James ran in under the posts for Jarvis to convert.

Otley get a look at their fifth round opponents when they take them on in a league game on Saturday at Cross Green before travelling down to meet them the following week.

Although Pertemps Bees (Birming-ham/Solihull) are sitting below Otley they are never a pushover but the Cross Green camp is quietly confident.

Cornish Pirates: W Davies, R Welding (M Jess 75), D Roke, J Pritchard, K James, T Barlow (L Jarvis 62), G Cattle (R McAtee 65), A Paver, N Makin (P Ince 57), N Adams (D Parkes 57), W James, J Beardshaw (H Senekal 48), J Bearman (capt), I Motusaga, T Cowley

Otley: I Shuttleworth, R Kitching, R Whatmuff (T Rock 62), P Mooney (C Hyndman 40), W Sovatabua, S Binns, A Brown, B Fear (D Sayers 69), M Luffman (A Walker 69), K Fullman, J Oakes, P Williams (J Tiffany 45), S Connor, N Bland (M Stockdale 45), G Wilson (capt)

Referee: Nick Williams (RFU).