Scottish Love story breaks Cornish Pirates' hearts
Cornish Pirates 17 London Scottish 20
The Cornish Pirates slumped to only their second home defeat of the season as a spirited second half revival from London Scottish saw them overturn a 17- point deficit to snatch victory at the Mennaye Field, writes Dick Straughan.
It had all looked so good for the Pirates as wing Matt Evans scored their second try and his tenth touchdown of the season after 46 minutes with Kieran Hallett's conversion making it 17-0.
But the Scottish had other ideas and after tries from Mark Bright and James Love helped level the scores, Love won the game with a 75th minute penalty.
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The Pirates defended well to thwart a strong start by the Exiles and took the lead with a Kieran Hallett penalty.
Scottish scrum-half Jamie Stevenson was yellow carded for an illegal tackle on McGlone before a prolonged forwards battle was broken up by Evans' first try after half an hour.
The Canada international rounded off a sharp break by Tom Kessell as the Scottish defence failed to mark up properly, and Hallett landed a fine touchline conversion to make it 10-0.
Former Redruth centre PJ Gidlow also received a stint in the sin-bin after a midfield collision with Tom Riley, and Evans' second score early in the second half left the Cornish side poised for victory.
It all changed though on the hour as Mark Bright forced his way over from close range to score and Love added the extras. Suddenly the Scots were in control and it was no surprise when Love squeezed in at the corner for their second try.
The former Plymouth Albion man converted his own try to level the scores before putting a big dent in the Pirates' play-off ambitions slotting a routine penalty near the end.
Cornish Pirates: Davies, Mercer (Pointer 71), Riley, Fatialofa, Evans (Smith 71), Hallett, Kessell; Andrew (Storer 59), Elloway, Prescott (Joyce 71), Lyons (Johnson 55), Barry, Marriott (capt), Burgess, McGlone (Maidment 48, sin-bin 67-77). Replacement (not used) – Semmens.
Scorers. Tries – Evans (2); Cons – Hallett (2); Pen – Hallett.
Yellow card: Maidment.
London Scottish: Thompson, Love, Grove, Gidlow (sin-bin 40-50, Reay 76), Mantella, Godman, Stevenson (sin-bin 19-29); Mayhew (Irish 47), Kwasnicki (Allen 47), Fry (Mackenzie 47), Spivey (Karonias 79), Hotson, Russell, Calder (Pennycook 47), Bright (capt). Replacement (not used): Bolt.
Scorers. Tries – Bright, Love; Cons – Love; Pens – Love (2)
Yellow cards: Stevenson, Gidlow.
Referee: S Harding (RFU).
Attendance: 1,857.
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