Sat 5 Oct 2019
It is a reasonable hope that what you put in; so you get out and this maxim proved accurate as Torquay Athletic secured a very good away win on the longest trip of the season to Penzance.
Amateurs are enjoying improved performances so far this term and went into Round 5 with the same record as Torquay; namely three wins and one defeat thus far – albeit that the three wins came against three of the four sides currently at the wrong end of the Table, being Tavistock, Topsham and South Molton.
Their Coaches have a young, energetic squad who have built on an encouraging pre-season and good training attendances.
Tics' travelled on the back of the confidence boosting derby home win over Paignton, but were without certain key players from that encounter, a week ago, including the unavailable Jake Bury, Andy Gormley (shoulder injury), James Wood (moving house) and Lloyd Penhalagan (serious knee ligament damage). Two try scorer against Paignton, Sonny Rowe had finally returned to Loughborough University.
Fortunately, there is now an improved squad size with other players able to come in and do a more than capable job. Also, better training attendances have translated into familiarity with game plans, approach and Team ethos.
The match was switched to a nearby Nursery pitch as the Cornish Pirates Mennaye filed was re-laid in the summer and needs a longer spell to settle. There were overcast conditions, but the match started in the dry; although the forecast rain started to fall with 30 minutes left to play. This pitch is well protected by tall trees and as such there was no discernible wind.
The game was remarkable for being played at a fast and furious pace, especially in the first half. Also, for the discipline shown by both sides – with Pirates shipping just four penalties and Torquay just two – a very unusual statistic.
Tics' kicked off with the benefit of a very gentle end to end slope and within two minutes had a try on the board. Carries through the middle by hooker Craig Withers and Lewis Harben created space and when the ball was switched to the left wide channel full back Tom Drake dotted down for 0 – 5.
From the re-start two home forwards carried but Jonny Brown, playing in the centre, managed to hack clear. However, the first half pace of the match had already been established with end to end action, as Pirates full back ran the ball back and it was worked left, where a left wing was tackled into touch 10 metres short.
In the tenth minute a need for an HIA required Amateurs to change props and on the resumption another welcome break for players from the frenetic action when George Helmore needed attention to his lower back.
Playing advantage, a short chip ahead over the advancing three's by Mawgan Penrice was caught on the full by Brown and as attempts were made to halt Tics' progress Pirates infringed and Penrice nudged a penalty to 5 metres out on the right. Torquay mauled the secured lineout ball infield and Harben broke off from the back to dive over the line, so it was 0 – 10 in the 17th minute.
Amateurs responded when Torquay were penalised for holding on to the ball on the ground. A penalty kick took play up inside the Torquay 22' and off the top lineout ball was spun right to left. After a weaving run by centre Isaac Blackbourne a try was score by lock Morgan Osborne and a conversion by Daniel Rhys-Evans made it 7 – 12 at the end of the first quarter.
Helmore was then helped from the field in some discomfort, with a badly bruised hip. His like for like replacement on the flank was Shane Wakeham; back earlier than expected from an arm injury.
Next centre Jack Keiller went on a strong run and an Amateurs high tackle was pinged. Penrice put his from hand kick 18 metres out on the right and from a clean catch Tics' mauled powerfully to just 5 metres out, where the ball was switched to the left flank where wing Ryan Hanauer was tackled into touch a few metres short.
For a second time there was an Amateurs lineout overthrow as Tics' regained possession. An accurate flat, long pass from Penrice found Martin Harrison-Browne lurking in the left wing channel and the strong No. 8 made a straight beeline for another try in the corner, so it was 7 – 15 on the half hour.
Pirates responded quickly with two penetrating backline runs before full back Same Coogan got over in the left hand corner for 12 – 15 on 35 minutes.
The end to end pattern continued as an alert Gavin Blacoe took the ball through centrefield and shipped to Brown just outside the Pirates 22.' He side stepped the full back and accelerated away to hold off other defenders. His try under the posts enabled
Penrice to add the extras for 12 – 22 as half time arrived on forty minutes exactly.
On the resumption Tics' all but obliterated Pirates at a set scrum, but the home pack managed to giving away a scrum penalty by staying down and bound. Torquay moved the ball to the left, but wing Luke Hedges was halted on the 22,' although the ball was kept alive and moved to the opposite wing, where Hanauer was dispossessed by a firm tackle.
Another strong Tics' set scrum, but Pirates managed to clear. The home side then attacked again, but a cross kick was caught and marked by Drake to halt the move. However, the momentum now seemed to be with Pirates until a forward pass was spotted. Hanauer then made way for Harvey Piper. Sustained pressure came from the home side, but Tics' stood firm and again Drake kicked turnover ball up field.
Tics' forays into the opposite half were now becoming a rarity. Hedges then suffered a neck injury, requiring Hanauer to return, despite a sore shoulder.
Torquay then had a defending lineout 5 metres from their own line, but again a sound exit was followed by a steal of Pirates lineout ball further up the field to bring some relief. Pirates would not be denied, but suffered from their own inaccuracies, whilst Torquay continued to dominate at scrum time' allied to judicious kicking; the latest example being a well weighted and directed grubber by Blacoe, keeping the home side at bay.
Another Pirates lineout overthrow in a promising field position meant they were unable to profit. Two more steady scrums for Torquay saw the game out, allowing Blacoe to kick the ball dead in the eighth minute of time added on. Score 12 – 22.
Overall this was a very good performance; at least matching that of the Paignton derby win a week earlier. So many aspects of Tics' game worked well and came together – be it the set piece, swift and accurate passing, allied to good supporting play and an awareness of space. The finishing was precise, whilst magnificent defence and well-judged exit procedures, comprising prodigious carrying work by Harrison-Browne, allied to good clearing kicks kept the home side to a nil point second half.
Unsurprisingly at the end both Teams looked out on their feet – nothing had been left out on the field. However, exhausted expressions on Tics' faces were laced with the satisfaction of a really professional performance.
Special mentions for the mountain of work undertaken by Harrison-Browne and the fact that in his first game of the season prop Josh Castleton lasted the whole game after coming back from a serious back injury last season and a long lasting groin problem this term. This was a Team victory, but man of the match went to Jonny Brown for a rejuvenated performance. After the game Pirates staff stated that Torquay were the best side they had faced so far this season.
