MIGHTY SARACENS HUMBLED BY PIRATES
Paver hails ‘iconic moment’ as brilliant Pirates deliver on a promise to upset Saracens
ALAN Paver has described Cornish Pirates’ 25-17 win over rugby union giants Saracens as an ‘iconic moment’ - and a result which will send shockwaves throughout the sport.
Saracens, European champions in 2016, 2017 and 2019, were relegated from the Gallagher Premiership last season after having a points deduction because of financial irregularities.
But, despite playing this season in a reorganised Championship, most onlookers before the game had the Londoners pencilled in for an instant return to the top division at the first attempt.
However, Pirates, who were going well when last season was cancelled, were confident going into day one of this new campaign with joint head coach Paver saying they wanted to ‘showcase what they were about’.
Well, they certainly did that – and more.
Paver said: “I think it’s an iconic moment – it’s really special. I am so pleased for the lads.
“I am not going to go into the journey that we have had to endure through Covid but it has been tough. We said we were going to bring meaning to the season.
“We have lost bodies and to get that today – what an arm wrestle, what a game, what a special moment!
“The only thing it was missing was 5,000 Cornishmen shouting their heads off – but they were there in spirit and I hope they can be proud of what we did today because it was physical, big, heavy-duty, set-piece, scrums, mauls ... I really enjoyed it. It had everything for me.”
Fans were able to log on to the club’s live stream to watch the game which was Pirates first of 10 in the Conference A division of this year’s Championship.
Pirates did go a try behind at the start with Scottish international Sean Maitland scoring for the visitors. However, Luke Scully kicked a straightforward penalty from in front of the posts and Tom Duncan went over to put Pirates ahead.
It was the penalty count against Pirates that held them back in the first half. Alex Lewington scored a second Saracens try but Manu Vunipola missed a second conversion.
After the break, any thoughts of Saracens finding their feet were quickly dispelled when hooker Dan Frost powered over for the Cornishmen’s second try. Scully’s conversion extended their lead – but only briefly – as Saracens skipper Nick Wray scored and Vunipola slotted the extras for a twopoint lead.
Scully’s second penalty from the Saracens’ 10-metre line edged the hosts back in front and it was a lead they would never relinquish.
Replacement Rhodri Davies, announced his arrival with the game-winning try three minutes from time and Scully’s conversion even denied the visitors a losing bonus-point.
Saracens centre Juan Pablo Socino said: “Obviously we are really disappointed. It is not the result we wanted and, more importantly, not the performance we wanted.
“First game, we knew it was going to be tough. It is just one game. It is a short season and we just need to keep going. We let ourselves down a little bit with our performance but we move on to the next game.”
Next Saturday, Pirates will be in action at Richmond for a more low key fixture, but no lesser an important one. There is one promotion place available from the Championship to the Premiership this season and although Saracens will remain clear favourites in most people’s books, Pirates really have made a case for their inclusion in the title discussion.