British and Irish Cup: Dundee HSFP 6 - 32 Cornish Pirates

Published on 22/10/2012 00:22

Dundee High lost this British and Irish Cup game but turned in a performance to convince supporters they can avoid relegation from the premiership.

SCORERS: Dundee: Pens: Urquhart (2). Pirates: Tries: Burgess (2), Nowell, Pointer. Cons: Penberthy (3), Pens: Penberthy (2).

The marauding Cornish Pirates were worthy winners but were made to fight all the way by the Mayfield men, who only wilted in the closing quarter as the championship pro team upped the pace with a near full-strength side.

Former Glasgow Warrior Ben Prescott, now propping for the Pirates, paid the Tayside team the ultimate compliment. “Dundee never gave up. I was surprised at their passion. It’s good to know the top flight of Scottish club rugby is in such good shape,” he said.

The visitors took their time in gaining supremacy, only taking control after 19 minutes when flanker Phil Burgess nipped over, followed 12 minutes later by full-back Jack Nowell.

Teenage stand off Aaron Penberthy converted one touchdown and kicked two penalties to give the Cornish side half time lead of 18-0.

Dundee then enjoyed their best spell, but intense pressure on the visitors’ line failed to result in a try, though full-back Jamie Urquhart kicked two penalties just after the hour to close the gap.

Pirates’ superior fitness enabled them to finish the half with further tries in the space of five minutes from Burgess, with his second, and winger Grant Pointer, who got on the end of a superb cross kick from Penberthy, who added the extras to both tries.

Coach Ian Rankin declared himself pleased with Dundee’s effort: “If we can take this form to Aberdeen next week, I still believe we have the players to take us out of the bottom two in the Premiership.”

Dundee: J Urquhart; A McLean, H Duthie(capt) R Lavery, T Paris; B Laursen, A Dymock. S Longwell, D Russell, A Brown, A Linton, R Hawkins, C Cumming, I Wilson, R McIver. Subs used: D Curry, G Robertson, N Dymock, M Stubbs, J Morrison.

Pirates: J Nowell; G Pointer, A Cheesman, T Bedford, B Mercer; A Penberthy, T Kessell. P Andrew, J Yeandle, B Prescott, D Lyons, D Barry, B Maidment, Phil Burgess, L McGlone(capt). Subs used: R Storer, D Semmens, P Joyce, G Johnson, R Coote,J Wigglesworth, T Riley.

Referee S Graffikin (IRFU).