Pirates thrashed by rampant Exiles
London Irish 64 Cornish Pirates 17
LONDON IRISH boasted nine different try-scorers as they thrashed Cornish Pirates at Madejski Stadium to stay top of their cup group.
The Exiles made six changes from their win at Hartpury College last week, including a 100th appearance for scrum-half Scott Steele and a debut for new signing Terrence Hepetema, and they again ran out convincing winners.
First-half tries from Lovejoy Chawatama,
Tom Fowlie and Greig Tonks opened up a 24-7 advantage at the break before further scores from Ollie Hoskins, Ben Loader, Max NorthcoteGreen, Jake Schatz and Napolioni Nalaga as well as a penalty try completed the rout.
“It was a good win,” said centurion Steele. “I think the score-line flattered us a bit. We had to work for it, especially at the end of the first half.
“We picked up that yellow card (on 29 minutes) and knew they were going to keep on coming. It was pretty similar in the Championship game (38-29 win) and they got a try right at the end which is credit to them.
“The boys dug in deep, came back and we’re really happy with the performance.
“It was a kick-on from last week so we’re happy in that way.”
Irish broke the deadlock in the sixth minute through a Stephen Myler penalty and did not wait long to cross the whitewash as Zimbabwean prop Chawatama burst through from around 20 metres to score his third try for the club.
The lead was soon extended when Steele turned the ball over in a dangerous area and it was eventually worked out to Fowlie to slide over in the corner.
Pirates responded with a quick break out wide by Alex O’Meara following a yellow card shown to Schatz, but Irish scored the final try of the half when Tonks sidestepped his marker to cross after more good work by Steele.
A big push from a scrum soon after the restart led to a penalty try to move the hosts 31-10 in front.
And the game was completely taken away from the Pirates after three tries in the space of just eight minutes. Hoskins was the first to score, forcing his way over under the posts, with Loader and Northcote-Green also finding their way through after neat moves.
With Myler keeping the score ticking along with a perfect record from the tee, there was time for two late tries to add some more gloss to the score through Schatz and Nalaga.
Irish host Bedford Blues in the third group game this Sunday (3pm). They currently occupy the top two spots in the group with the Exiles four points clear of this weekend’s opponents.
“We know we’ve got to prepare seriously well,” said forwards coach George Skivington.
“They’ve had a good cup run and when they came down here last time it was a tight game (29-20). It was on the edge and particularly up front they’ve got a big pack and they operate really well. We’ve got to do our homework and get ready for that one.”
LONDON IRISH: Tonks, Loader, Fowlie (Williams 55), Hepetema, Nalaga, Myler (Atkins 69), Steele (Brand 62), Chawatama (Hobbs-Awoyemi 40), Fainga’a (Porecki 50), Hoskins, Maddison (c) (Cooke 69), de Chaves, NorthcoteGreen, Curtis-Harris (Rogerson 61), Schatz.
Tries: Chawatama (15), Fowlie (20), Tonks (38), Penalty (48), Hoskins (57), Loader (59), Northcote-Green (65), Schatz (78), Nalaga (80)
Cons: Myler x6 (15,21,39,58,61,66), Atkins (78)
Pen: Myler (6)
Yellow card: Schatz (29)
CORNISH PIRATES: Holden (Moyle 50), O’Meara, Parata (Cargill 67), Strong, Cant, Rojas Alvarez, Schwarz (Ashby 50), Andrew (Gendall 46), Cowan-Dickie (Walker 46), Owlett (Concu 46), Clemson, Cutmore, Bolwell, Lee, Duncan (c). Rep not used: Morgan.
Tries: O’Meara (35), Walker (76) Cons: Rojas Alvarez x2 (36,76) Pen: Rojas Alvarez (42) Yellow card: Strong (53)
Referee: Alexander Thomas Attendance: 2,242