Masterful Willis leads Trailfinders fightback

■By MIKE SINCLAIR

C Pirates ……….. 17pts

Tries: Walker 10, Stevens 25, McNab 63

Conversions: Houston 25

E Trailfinders ..26pts

Tries: Kernohan 32, de Vee 76

Conversions: Willis 32, 76

Penalties: Willis 21, 47, 57, 66

CRAIG Willis delivered a kicking masterclass in atrocious conditions as Trailfinders twice came from behind to win a fiercely-contested Friday night battle in the Mennaye mud.

As Storm Kathleen hit the West Country, he kept Ealing in contention with a pinpoint crossfield kick for Angus Kernohan's opening try, steered them ahead with his perfect place-kicking and launched a massive 50-22 to set up the try which finally scuppered Pirates' hopes.

Following their shock defeat by Ampthill, the significance of the victory could be seen as Trailfinders celebrated after this rain-lashed encounter.

“We've had a difficult few weeks with a couple of losses so it was nice to win what was an important game for us,” said 16-point Willis.

“It's always satisfying in conditions like that but we knew it was coming and had trained for it. It was a real gritty performance – they have been our fiercest rivals.”

Praising the “huge efforts of the boys up front” who created his kicking chances, Willis added: “It's about being calm and chilled and that's what I try to bring to the team.”

Dominant Pirates plundered two early tries, with Marlen Walker – called up with Lefty Zigiriadis ruled out under the terms of his loan deal from Ealing – mauled over for the opener following a penalty to the corner.

Trailfinders stopped the next lineout drive but three phases later Pirates skipper John Stevens went over and Bruce Houston converted for a 12-3 lead.

Willis, exploiting a penalty advantage, found Kernohan unmarked in the right-hand corner before landing the touchline conversion to cut the interval deficit to two points.

A mounting penalty count cost Pirates with Willis kicking two more to edge Trailfinders 16-12 ahead.

But opposite number Houston split the visiting defence with a grubber into the in-goal mud, Matt McNab touched down and Pirates led by a point.

Willis's fourth penalty put Ealing two points ahead and with four minutes left, following a scrum free-kick, his touch-finder from his own 22 to inside Pirates' 22, set up the final assault with Bobby de Vee squeezing over and the flyhalf converting from out wide to deny the Cornish side a losing bonus point.

“We had chances where we could have closed the game,” said Pirates joint boss Gavin Cattle. “Ealing won the kicking game and a couple of dropped balls in difficult conditions gave them good positions. It's fine margins.”