Sunday Independent March 27, 2016 c ☎ sports desk (01579) 556 972 (wed-sat) 45 [email protected] www.sundayindependent.co.uk All Blacks aim Not such a to tackle debt ‘Good Friday’ to secure a PIRATES HAVE for Golds with brighter future double defeat AUNCESTON UGBY League supporters were supporters Lgiven a large POINTS WON Rwere treated to dose of reality at an two matches at open forum at the Cheltenham’s club’s Polson Bridge Prince of Wales home on Tuesday. Stadium on Good Club officials were Friday where the keen for fans to know University of the facts, and to ‘instill confidence and Gloucestershire All transparency going Golds sides faced forward’. BY HALF-TIMEutes from time a second Atkinson 53), W Graulich, A some strong DUCHY DIARY A RARE Saturday feast CORN PIRATES ....32 RUGBY LEAGUE Well, they certainly of rugby at The Men- penalty goal was converted Cheesman, T Duncan. Yellow card: opposition. delivered what it said on MOSELEY ..............0 by Will Cargill, who had The main event was the tin to a packed naye was well-received Cheesman. by Nigel Walrond a repeat of the iPro by John Harding meeting, with standing been on the field less than Moseley: C Foley (M Penn 4, C Foley by an enthusiastic and ten minutes as a replace- Sport Cup first-round room only in the club’s by Stewart Castle 8), K Evans, T Molenaar, A Pinches, appreciative crowd. ment for Laurence May. tie at the Butts Park Lanson Suite – and it D Hudson, G Hughes (M Penn 66), D Arena where the All appeared to end with a real air of positivity, with And they saw Pirates GKIPA Championship PIRATES: Tries: Arnott, Evans , T May, Brazier, C Voisey (S Gardiner 73), A Golds’ attacking prowess laid the foundations for a several supporters declaring their determination to roll at their best. Duncan. Convs: L May 3; Pens: L Caves (S Tolmie 69), T Fidler (T War- 48-24 triumph over Coventry Bears. But on Friday it up their sleeves and help the club out. Cornwall’s top club raced 15th minute before Matt May, Cargill. was Kingstone Press League One action. The club’s first team, the All Blacks, will be playing to 30 points and denied their Evans touch down to give Pirates: T May, J Arnott, T Hendrick- ren 73), H Casson, G Charlton, E in National Three South West next season after a torrid The All Golds, playing their third game in nine Midlands visitors even a the kicker another pot at the son (James 62), A Dancer, M Evans, Siggery (T Fidler 79), W Keenan (H days, were 28-29 losers to the Bears, who had campaign in which they are yet to win a match. L May (Cargill 66), A Day (S consolation score. posts, but this one failed to Hone 73), C Brightwell. Yellow card: recently suffered heavy defeats against two of the Relegation has mainly been caused by the loss of Townsend 50), M Walker, R Elloway eight players to National One side Plymouth Albion on The game was over by clear the woodwork.. Toby Gardiner. promotion favourites, Rochdale Hornets and (J Innard 53), A Paver (J Andrew 62), Toulouse Olympique XIII. the eve of the season. But the club’s current plight has half-time with the Pirates May added a third try, and J Parker (M Garratt 66), M Bolwell (J REF: Dean Richards (RFU).. persuaded the Board of directors that it is a good time running in three tries, Mose- Laurence May converted it The All Golds were looking to bounce back after to tackle off-the-field problems that have seen them ley, bottom of the IPA as Moseley’s troubles really their exit from the 2016 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup struggle financially for a while now. Greene King Championship, began to mount. when Toulouse Olympique XIII ran in 11 tries in a 69- Treasurer Roy Webb reported that the club had were always struggling, both In fairness, the Birming- 28 home victory despite the visitors coming back recorded financial losses in three of the last five from being 32-6 down at the break. seasons since going into administration in 2010, with the conditions and the ham-based visitors applied The home side had led 16-6 at the break after tries including 2014-15, and had taken out loans, mainly power and skill of the Pi- themselves with more pur- from Courtney Davies, Steve Parry and Lamont with individuals, of just over £100,000 over the past six rates and never looked re- pose in the second period Bryan plus Davies adding two conversions. The years, with little of that money paid back so far. motely like adding to their but, apart from the occa- Bears reply coming from a Jack Morrison converted He said the club hoped to just about break even this tally of just four League sional sortie, they rarely by Joel James. season, and said: ‘It has been a very tight year and wins this season. looked like getting on the The visitors struck early in the second half when cashflow wise, we are pretty much hand to mouth, Within two minutes Jack scoresheet. waiting for money to come in before we can pay Eddie Medforth crossed the whitewash, James money out. It is quite difficult at the moment.’ Arnott had punished poor In fact, the next score converted, before All Golds' Joe McClean was sent He said all revenue streams were well down year on defending to touch down and came from the Pirates with to teh sin-bin. But his side kept their composure year, such as match-day sales, bar takings and food, Laurence May added the ex- Tom Duncan weighing in HOOKERS CLASH: Pirates hooker Rob Elloway and Davies added a penalty. and that was due to three main factors. tra. with a 66th-minute try to On the hour James converted a touchdown from ‘The World Cup did not do for this club what the A penalty goal from May which the reliable May duly hands off his Moseley counterpart Adam Caves Matt Reid which was followed almost immediately RFU said it would do, and people had better rugby extended their lead in the added the extras. Six min- Picture: Simon Bryant / Pinnacle - by his second try to give the Bears the lead. A Chris elsewhere to watch on their televisions,’ he told the meeting. ‘We rely heavily on the home games the mini Barlow touchdown put the All Golds back on level junior section have for food and drink sales and we terms with ten minutes to play. had so many called off this winter due to the bad Richie Hughes’ try, converted by Jones, was weather; and people do not want to pay £10 to come cancelled out Parry's second touchdown which down and see the first team lose.’ Davies converted with three minutes to play. But the He added: ‘We are in a sticky situation financially, Davies happy Pirates All Golds hearts were shattered by James last-gasp and going forward, that needs to be addressed next drop goal to give the Bears victory. season. I feel going down a league will help us to look The All Golds are in action again next Sunday in very closely at what we’re spending and reconsolidate, the quarter-finals of the iPro Sport Cup when they and know where we stand to come back up.’ will host Newcastle Thunder, who were 36-12 home Board member Ian Warren, who chaired the meeting victors over Leigh Miners Rangers from the in the absence of holidaying club chairman Paul will be in ‘safe hands’ Conference League Premier Division. Harrison, said: ‘We are a club desperately in need of OUTGOING Cornish years ago from a director of nationally. The curtain-raiser saw the University’s some reinvestment. We lost hosting the Tamar Cup rugby position with Wor- Davies, Harvey Biljon, this year because the ground is not up to scratch, Pirates director of Conference League (South) side face the Royal which is not acceptable. thing in Sussex. Chris Stirling, Paver and Logistic Corps, who are looking to regain their ‘The pitch needs some fairly serious work done to rugby Ian Davies He also studied at Chich- Cattle have all played a part crown as Army champions having won the title in the top end this summer to sort the drainage out, and says the club will be ester University, where he in that, and the Welshman 2013 and 2014. the clubhouse is starting to look a bit tatty. in ‘safe hands’ with stayed on to become the Di- admitted it gave him great Before the start All Golds CLS coach Alex ‘The club is trying to keep up with the off-field rector of Student Sport until pleasure to turn on the tele- Davidson said he thought that the Corps would demands of National Two rugby, and at the moment, it Alan Paver and 2002, and he also taught at vision and see former Pi- provide an exciting test for his young boys who, literally just can’t, as much as we want to. Gavin Cattle in Bishop Luffa School and rates players in action. ironically, start their Conference League (South) ‘We need to start putting back a bit of a war chest so charge of coaching Bourne Community College ‘When you look at the list campaign on Saturday away to Coventry Bears’ we can reinvest in the club, and as well as that, we do in the county.