Advantage Worcester Warriors
Worcester took a step closer to Premiership promotion with a 12-21 win over the Cornish Pirates at Menaye Field.
Tries from Miles Benjamin and Andy Goode were enough to give the Warriors a first leg advantage ahead of their clash at Sixways next week.
Goode kicked a further 11 points as the Pirates struggled to match the powerful pack of the former Premiership side.
The men from Penzance lacked the cutting edge they had shown in their last match against London Welsh with all their points coming through the boot of Rob Cook.
Worcester will now have to defend a nine-point advantage heading into the second leg in what will be a tasty encounter.
First Half
Worcester started the better using their powerful set-piece to pressure the home side and were rewarded on seven minutes when Miles Benjamin crossed over from an easy overlap. Cornish Pirates 0 Worcester 5
The away team extended their lead on 17 minutes with a long-range penalty from Goode. Cornish Pirates 0 Worcester 8
But the Pirates replied immediately from the boot of Cook with a straightforward penalty on 21 minutes. Worcester penalised for entry from the side. Cornish Pirates 3 Worcester 8
On 30 minutes Andy Goode cut a great line and went over under the posts after heavy pressure at the scrum resulted in penalty after penalty. Cornish Pirates 3 Worcester 15
Bentley spurned a great chance for the Cornish side; the Fly-Half glided through the Worcester defence but chose to kick instead of finding support. But they did grab another three points when Crockett was punished for not releasing. Cornish Pirates 6 Worcester 15
The Pirates were struggling to keep in touch with their opponents and from the kick off conceded a penalty for offside. Goode slotted accordingly and the 12-point deficit was restored. Cornish Pirates 6 Worcester 18
Second Half
The second half started with the home side on the back foot, but the best defence in the league, having only conceded 34 tries this season, were standing firm and mounting an attack of their own.
Both sides missed penalties as the pressure intensified in Penzance, but Goode showed a cool head to convert a penalty on 54 minutes from 34 metres out. Cornish Pirates 6 Worcester 21
Then on 54 minutes in a dramatic piece of attacking play by the Pirates, the away side were temporarily reduced to 14-men as Neil Best was sent to the sin bin for slowing play. Cook showed why he is the league's leading points scorer to reduce the lead. Cornish Pirates 9 Worcester 21
The Cornish-men looked to attack and made a couple of half-breaks, but you could sense it wasn't to be their day as the move continually broke down.
On 69 minutes they did get within nine through a Cook penalty- Jake Abbot penalised for not rolling away. Cornish Pirates 12 Worcester 21
And in the dying embers of the game the Pirates launched a late series of attacks, spreading the ball across the field and playing in open game style- something they had failed to produce all game.
Cook in the final minute had the chance to get the Pirates back within a converted try but pushed the ball wide of the posts from a very kickable position. The game finished in a sevens style attack but with no direction.
Worcester will be pleased to take their nine-point advantage back to Sixways next week.
Cornish Pirates 12 Worcester 21
