CORNISH PIRATES 39 OTLEY 0

Taken from the Yorkshire Post:

The Pirates have an expensively assembled squad, with man-of-the-match Alberti Di Bernardo showing his class as he ran the game from No 10 yesterday. His kicking was immaculate and he brought in a swift backline with a competent style and they gave the visitors' defence a thorough testing – much to the approval of a vociferous home crowd.

Di Bernardo soon had the Pirates ahead by way of two penalties while his opposite number Simon Binns was unable to take advantage of his own kick at goal after the home No 7 Sam Betty was yellow carded for dropping a drive on the line.

And Otley were made to pay as a Cornish penalty had them back to within their five-metre line and the visitors were unable to stop the drive, hooker Viliami Ma'asi scoring.

Worse was to come as after appearing to get into the game, they were out manouvered with winger Rhodri McAtee crossing and giving an easy conversion.

A promising Otley move expired when winger Danny Smith failed to chip over his opposite number and, after the Cornish flyer had kicked ahead, he was taken out by Ben Steele, who picked up a yellow card.

The penalty kick sailed wide but another score soon came as centre Henry Barrett was put over, Di Bernardo converting.

Just before the break, an Otley drive was again illegally halted, No 8 Matt Evans the guilty man showed the yellow card.

Starting the second half with optimism, Otley nearly got Smith over in the corner and a great run by Ian Shuttleworth opened up the home defence but he just failed to find Andy Brown.

The Pirates kept up the pressure but Otley were sticking to their task until Shuttleworth found himself out-numbered wide out and was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on, conceding a penalty try earning himself a yellow card.

Then came a decision causing embarrassment to the home crowd when the referee ignored a tremendous knock on by Pirates winger Jonathan Hylton, allowing him to regather, run through a non-existent defence before handing the ball on to a surprised Barrett to score. Di Bernardo converted to distort the final score.

Cornish Pirates: Roke, Hylton, Barrett, Bell, McAtee, Di Bernardo, Cattle, Paver, Ma'Asi, Seal, Senekal, Beardshaw, McKeen, Betty, Evans

Otley: Shuttleworth, Parsons, Whatmuff (Mooney 72), Dench, Smith (Andre 54), Binns, Brown, Livesy, Steele (Sayers 84), Fear (Walker 70), Whitehead (Back 48), Williams, Stockdale (Tiffany 64), Bland (O'Neil 78), Maifea

Referee: Mr Nick Williams (RFU)

MATCH STATISTICS

Cornish Pirates 39

Tries: Barrett (2), Ma'asi, McAtee, Penalty Try

Cons: Di Bernado (4)

Pens: Di Bernado (2)

Otley 0

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