Under 15s season 2006/07

Junior Rugby

Mennaye Nurseries Under 15's and Under 16's 5.30 - 7.00pm.
Old and new players welcome.
For more information contact Nick Brooks on 01736 360144

News

Congratulations to Kial Richards and Danny Toolan who made their first appearance for the county's 'A' team against Dorset & Wiltshire on Sunday (28th Jan). Kial continued his try scoring form for the Pirates with two tries at the higher level. Well done to both!

Match Reports

Pirates U15s 10 Liskeard U15s 12
Sunday 1st April, 2007

Due to poor weather and team absences this was the Pirates first run out in a month. Liskeard arrived early and were obviously ready for the contest which started with the Pirates playing with the wind to the Newlyn end. Strong pick and driving by the depleted Pirates pack put Liskeard on the back foot and some intelligent variation in his kicking from Ollie Rowe gained good field position.

With Kial Richards standing in the centres on the 22 there was only one result as he ran wide then cut inside scoring an excellent try. Unfortunately the wind was too much for Chris Butler to add the extras. More concerted pressure from the pack led to a penalty five yards out, an off load to Danny Toolan ensuring a try closer to the posts. The wind and a post though stopped Danny increasing the lead with the conversion.

Liskeard continued to defend well and went in at half time 10-0 down. Liskeard came out for the second half all guns firing, their pack starting to push the Pirates off the ball. Some truly destructive tackling from Jamie Barrett, Kial Richards and the Penzance midfield of Ben Cluney and Dean Fry ensured the Pirates maintained their lead. Concerted pressure from Liskeard led to a scrum under the Pirates posts, once again hard tackling by the centres stopped an advance but a loose ball was picked up by the impressive Liskeard ten and he skipped around two tackles for a deserved score. Liskeard also missed the additional points and a tense finale beckoned.

The pattern of the game stayed the same with Pirates tiring and Liskeard pressing harder and harder. The ball was sent out wide and whilst tackles went in Liskeard backed up well, recycled the ball and set up a maul. The maul was fiercely contested with both sides with hands on the ball&.the grounding was difficult to see but the excellent referee Nick Brooks was close at hand to award the score. The last 10 minutes saw more ferocious tackling with promising breaks from Talan Daniels and Dean Fry but unfortunately no more scores accrued. Both sides played hard and fair - an excellent game and the width of a post determined the result.

Pirates U15s 5 Newquay U15s 19
Sunday 11th. March, 2007

Following the bad weather of late the Pirates were glad to get a run out on the Mennaye, the match played between two sides both weakened by calls for a Cornwall representative game, the home side also having to play a number of their backs in the pack.

A fly-half played at hooker, two centres filled in as flankers, and a full-back played in the second-row - none of them letting themselves or the team down, and to restrict Newquay to a 0-7 half-time scoreline was testament to good work at the line-out by Chris Butler and a dogged defensive display by the backs.

Playing with the elements in the second period, the Pirates countered from a misdirected kick, Ollie Rowe making space for wing Bayan Smith who ran strongly for his first try in Pirate colours. A few minutes later he almost scored again following good work by Tristan Nicholls and Neal Hosking, but the Hornets then finished the stronger, rallying for two more tries to secure a deserved victory.

The Pirates who played for Cornwall U15s were Danny Toolan and Kial Richards, the match against Gloucestershire lost 14-10, but Kial a two-try scorer once more - his total now four of the five tries scored by the county this season .

Pirates U15s 0 Redruth U15s 13
Sunday 11th. February

Following a wonderful cup win against Saltash, the Pirates now had to face county champions Redruth in the quarter-final.

On a blustery day, with the pitch wet and muddy, the Pirates opened strongly with a forward-based game which almost brought reward. Twice over the Redruth line, they were unable to ground the ball to the satisfaction of the referee.

Redruth rallied strongly , excellent handling in difficult conditions ending with a winger's try scored out wide. Chris Butler excelled in the home eight, with Sam Turner unlucky not score, and even though an injury to Kial Richards denied the Pirates a strike runner, the team battled hard throughout. Redruth scored one more try and a penalty, but the Pirates can certainly take heart that they have closed the gap on their able opponents.

Camborne U15s 17 Pirates U15s 10
Sunday 4th. February, 2007

Following a wonderful cup win against Saltash, the Pirates were brought down to earth in a hard fought battle at Camborne, a side they had beaten 12-10 at home earlier in the season. Dominant at the start, they took an early lead with a try scored by James Nicholls, but it was soon cancelled out when the 'Cherry & Whites' responded with one of their own. As the half developed the Pirates were having slightly the better of it, Chris Butler outstanding at the line-out and fly-half Samuel Stevens kicking well out of hand , a try scored by hard working Alistair Hutchison giving them a deserved half-time lead.

In the second half Camborne ran the ball well, scoring two tries and a conversion , and although the Pirates finished the game strongly they were unable to break the resolute home defence. After their game the players enjoyed watching the Pirates match against Sedgley, and now look forward to a tough Cornwall Cup quarter-final tie against county champions Redruth this coming Sunday.

Pirates U15s 41 Saltash 7
Sunday 21st. January

Barrett's cup hat-trick sinks Saltash - this was a stunning cup match win, the strong home pack laying the platform for victory in what was also the best team performance of the season.Besides skipper and No. 8 Jamie Barrett, who scored a hat-trick in the match, there were good performances from hooker James Nicholls, prop Danny Toolan and Ali Hutchison.

Under 15s v Saltash

Kial Richards had a good all round game from the base of the scrum, Ollie Rowe kicked well out of hand, and there was some strong running from the back three of Talen Daniels, Bayan Smith and Neal Hoskings.

Scorers - tries: Jamie Barrett (3), Danny Toolan, Ollie Rowe, Kial Richards, cons: Neal Hoskings (2), Danny Toolan.

Wadebridge U15s 5 - Pirates U15s 47
14th. January, 2007

Having trained hard of recent, this side welcomed the opportunity to play some actual rugby - their first of the New Year.

Under 15s at Wadebridge

Forwards and backs were quickly in their stride, playing impressively to create and score nine tries in the match, including a brace each for Danny Toolan and Kial Richards, the pair congratulated for having been selected recently for the Cornwall U15s 'A' squad to play Bristol - a match which was sadly a victim of the weather.

Scorers: tries: Danny Toolan (2), Kial Richards (2), Jamie Barrett, Samuel Stevens, Dean Fry, Neal Hosking, James Nicholls; con: Danny Toolan.

Pirates U15s 12 Camborne U15s 10
10th. December, 2006

A powerful and energetic display by the forwards set up this fine victory against a more than useful Camborne side. Skipper Jamie Barrett opened the scoring for the Pirates with an early try, followed by another from speedy full-back Kial Richards who ran 60 metres after receiving a long pass from Danny Toolan, the effort converted by Chris Butler.

Camborne came back strongly in the second half to get within two points, but the Pirates, with Ben Cowburn, Sam Turner and Conner Greenfield showing up well, held out to deservedly win a competitive match which was well refereed by Andrew Snell.

Penryn U15s 33 Pirates U15s 22
17th. December, 2006

With the Pirates wearing their new set of shirts sponsored by Patrick Toolan Construction, this was a match which provided real rugby entertainment. Closely fought, there was no shortage of skill on show, with Kial Richards scoring a hat-trick.

Jamie Barrett touched down for a pushover try, Danny Toolan kicked one conversion, and there were useful performances from others such as Kial Bickmore, Tristan Nicholls, Talen Daniels, Ben Cluney and James Nicholls.

Redruth 49 Pirates 5
Saturday 14 October

Having made an excellent start to the season the Pirates knew a visit to the County Champions was always going to be difficult. They were, however, given a lesson in how to play running rugby.

Redruth, with no outstanding individuals, played as a team with each player doing his job to a high technical level. The Reds forwards won the ball, only committing the minimum to the breakdown, allowing the halfbacks to move the ball wide to the wings. Strong running by the Redruth outsides against a weakened Pirates backline combined with the patience to move the ball back again until an overlap was available meant that Redruth scored 4 tries in the first half.

The Pirates, to their credit, were not dispirited and rallied as a team competing fiercely up front to secure some valuable ball. With the ball passing through just about every set of Penzance hands on the field from one touchline to the other and back again, it was no surprise when Kial Richards received the ball on a wing that he was able to finally pierce the strong Redruth defence.

In the second half Redruth continued in fine style to show just how the game should be played. It was an excellent display played in very good spirit by both sides. Pirates should be proud of the way they played as a team under extreme pressure but have lots of work to do to compete at this level.

Tries Kial Richards

Pirates 21 Helston 5
Sunday 1st October

Tries Kial Richards (2) Neal Hoskings
Conversion Chris Butler (2) Danny Toolan

Having beaten St.Austell in the first game of the season at the Mennaye, the Pirates u 15s had a second home match and this time welcomed Helston. In a first half of stunning rugby, the pack competed very well against a much larger Helston eight.

Following good pressure from the Pirates, Kial Richards picked up at the base of the scrum and with a number of hand-offs and skilfully spinning out of tackles managed to beat the covering defence. A towering conversion from the touchline by Chris Butler added the extras.

Helston competed strongly and there were a number of crunching tackles on each side, particulary Alistair Hutchison and Jamie Barrett. Some excellent running by Neal Hosking at 10 was a constant threat as well as neat hands and strong running from Adam Moore and Dean Fry in the centre. The Pirates lost the ball on the floor and were penalised for hands in the ruck a number of times, giving Helston welcome possession. However the Pirates repelled all boarders and defended their line strongly going into the break 7-0.

The second half started with the same intensity as the first. A long pass from scrom-half Ben Cowburn to Sam Stevens released Kial Richards at inside centre for his second score of the match. From the restart, Neal Hosking caught cleanly and danced along the line evading tackles with strength and poise before sprinting for a marvellous touchdown. The extras added by captain Danny Tulan.

Concerted pressure from the Helston pack and some excellent attacking running by the fullback resulting in a ruck close to the Pirates line, Helston finally forcing a deserved score.

The match was played hard but in fine spirit and credit must go to referee Des Thomas for an excellent performance.

Pirates u 15s off to a flying start!

24/09/06 Pirates 17 St.Austell 0

Tries: Danny Tulan - Alistair Hutchison - Kial Richards
Conversion Chris Butler

The first game of the season for the Pirates u 15s had been eagerly awaited and the young raiders wasted no time in building on the successful end to last season.

In a first half of stunning rugby on the Mennaye, the pack created a strong platform. Following a number of phases prop Danny Toolan popped up in the centre and stepped neatly inside to break the line at pace for a captain's try. A towering touchline conversion from Chris Butler added the extras. More concerted pressure from the Pirates resulted in a first try for Alistair Hutchison who had an excellent game at flanker tackling strongly throughout the match.

St.Austell, coached by ex-Pirate Steve Merle (sp?), were a strong well-drilled side whose significant travelling support raised a lot of noise in the stand! The strong pressure exerted by the Saints pack was well repelled by the Pirates, twice breaking away from their own try line with open and brave running rugby.

Starting the second period 12-nil up the Pirates moved Jamie Barrett to loose forward allowing Kial Richards more space as open side flanker and to great effect, with Kial making a number of strong breaks. Good ball to the backs in midfield saw Dean Fry take a well-timed pass to make a 30 yard break drawing the last man to put Kial Richards in at the corner. Indiscipline threatened to ruin a great match but a firm hand by the referee ensured the spectacle wasn't spoiled. The match ended in a well-earned victory 17-0 with all players putting in an excellent effort.

Due to both sides having more than 20 players present a third period was also played allowing all players a good run out. This final period resulted in a well-deserved try for the visitors with Kial Richards adding to his earlier try in the corner for the home side. The young Pirates will be relishing the visit of Helston next week.

The under 15s sponsor is called Flying Start - couldn't be more appropriate than that!