Five tries from Gloucester were enough to overcome a defiant Pirates side who put up a strong performance but ultimately fell just short of the premiership side.
A slow opening five minutes saw both sides kick for territory but neither able to out work the opposition. The first chance came 7 minutes in when Gloucester scrum half Charlie Chapman took off from the back of a driving maul into the Pirates five metre line but a ruck infringement ultimately thwarted the attack.
It was the visitors who struck first when flanker Will Gibson carried through the Gloucester line and under the posts from close range in the 16th minute, after a series of defensive penalties saw Gloucester backed up in their own 22 yard line. Bruce Houston slotted through his first conversion of the game.
Ollie Thorley got Gloucester off the mark in the 23rd minute when a well worked backs move saw the experienced winger break through the defensive line and send the fullback the wrong way for an easy put down under the uprights. Gloucester Fly Half Rory Taylor kicked through an easy conversion to level up the scores 7-7.
Alfie Petch was sent to the sin bin in the 27th minute as the Gloucester tight head was seen to be cynically off his feet in the breakdown preventing the Pirates from getting the ball out quickly.
Gloucester took the lead for the first time in the game, despite Petch being in the sin bin, when Max Knight powered through and converted from close range in the 37th minute. Taylor missed the extras giving the premiership side a five point lead just before the half.
Half time: Gloucester Rugby 12-7 Cornish Pirates.
The Pirates started the second half on top with a sustained period of pressure that resulted in Josh King rolling over the Gloucester try line in the 51st minute. Houston maintained his perfect record from the Tee with a beautiful curling kick which sneaked in between the posts which put the Pirates back in front for the second time of the afternoon.
Gloucester thought they had retaken the lead less than five minutes later when Jack Reeves dived for the line but unfortunately for the Cherry and Whites he dropped the ball on the line.
Gloucester quickly made up for this mistake however when Morgan Adderly-Jones picked up a loose ball from a ruck breakdown and scored under the posts for Gloucester’s third try of the night. Taylor got his second conversion of the afternoon putting the premiership side up 19-14 just before the hour.
Morgan Nelson got Gloucester’s bonus point try in the 61st minute when a driving maul proved too much for the Pirates pack and the hooker scored against his former side. Taylor once again got the extras.
Pirates put themselves back within a score of the hosts when replacement hooker Sol Moody got the Cornish sides 3rd try of the game after a strong carry that overpowered the Gloucester defence. Houston once more got the extras reducing the deficit to four points.
Jack Reeves got on the score sheet in the 70th minute after a great kick-off chase from Gloucester put the Pirates under pressure and a well worked turnover allowed for the ball to be shipped out wide to the winger who made up for his earlier drop on the line. Taylor once more got the extras putting the score at 33-21 with ten minutes left.
Gloucester finished the game with 14 men when Freddie Clarke was sin binned for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Pirates got their bonus point try directly from the penalty after a quick tap and go caught the Gloucester defence off guard.
Player of the match: Morgan Adderly-Jones
Gloucester Rugby
Tries: 5 (Thorley 23’ Knight 37’ Adderly-Jones 57’ Nelson 61’ Reeves 70’)
Conversions: 4 (R. Taylor 23’ 57’ 62’ 71’)
Penalties: 1 (R. Taylor 80’)
Yellow cards: 2 (Petch 27’ Clarke 77’)
Red cards: 0
15. Ioan Jones 14. Ollie Thorley 13. Max Knight 12. Morgan Adderly-Jones 11. Jack Reeves (78’) 10. Rory Taylor 9. Charlie Chapman 1. Archie McArthur (52’) 2. Morgan Nelson (75’) 3. Alfie Petch (52’) 4. Freddie Clarke 5. Danny Eite (77’) 6. Deian Gwynne 7. Caio James (52’) 8. Harry Taylor (captain) (67’)
Replacements
16. Gareth Blackmore (75’) 17. Aristot Benz-Salomon (52’) 18. Jonathon Benz-Salomon (31’ 52’) 19. Jack Clement (52’) 20. Lewis Ludlow ( 67’) 21. George Knowles (77’) 22. Harry Gipson 23. Iwan Glynn (78’)
Cornish Pirates
Tries: 4 (Gibson 16’ King 51’ Moody 67’ Hiscocks 78’)
Conversions: 4 (Houston 16’ 52’ 67’ 78’)
Penalties: 0
Yellow cards: 0
Red cards: 0
15. Will Trewin (67’) 14. Robin Wedlake 13. Tom Georgiou (50’) 12. Harry Yates 11. Matt McNab 10. Bruce Houston 9. Cam Jones (70’) 1. Billy Young (57’) 2. Harry Hocking (57’) 3. James French (57’) 4. Buster Rice 5. Eoin O’Connor (70’) 6. Josh King (62’) 7. Will Gibson 8. Hugh Bokenham (captain)
Replacements
16. Sol Moody (57’) 17. Oisin Michel (57’) 18. Ollie Andrews (57’) 19. Matt Canon (70’) 20. Tomiwa Agbongbon (62’) 21. Dan Hiscocks (70’) 22. Iwan Price-Thomas (67’) 23. Charlie McCaig (50’)
Five talking points: Gloucester Rugby 36 – 28 Cornish Pirates
1. Back to back wins for Gloucester Rugby
The reigning Premiership cup champions maintain their perfect start to the competition in their effort to retain the cup title. Although looking shaky at times, the experience off the bench in the form of Lewis Ludlow and Jack Clement was enough to push the premiership side to a victory.
2. Unlucky at times for Pirates
The Cornish outfit will feel hard done by when a last minute penalty from Rory Taylor denied them of two losing bonus points. Last years championship runners up put on a very solid display in front of a hostile Kingsholm crowd.
3. Ollie Thorley shines once more
The England international was a standout player from the first whistle to the last. A try and a strong set of carries was enough to change the momentum in Gloucester favour.
4. Gap between Premiership and Championship closer than ever
A very strong performance from Pirates may prove that the gap between the top ten teams in the country and everyone else may be closer than ever before. In a game many thought would be a blowout, the Cornish side put up a great show for fans.
5. Can Gloucester do it again?
An unexpected cup win for the Cherry and Whites last season was a great surprise for the team and the fans alike and with two back to back wins to start the campaign, the Gloucester faithful will be hoping another cup success will be on the cards for 2024/2025.
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