Cambridge record first ever victory over fully professional RFU Championship side with late win at expense of Cornish Pirates

Cambridge head coach Richie Williams has hailed his side’s ‘landmark’ 29-22 victory over Cornish Pirates on Saturday.

The win – which was secured by an 80th-minute converted try scored by Archie Richard Vanes – was the first that Cambridge have achieved at the expense of a full-time professional outfit since their promotion to the RFU Championship last year.

And it also was the perfect response to the team’s disappointing 43-10 defeat last time out away at Hartpury.

Williams told the Richie & Jacko Podcast: “I’m delighted for all of the players that have worked really hard to get that type of performance and result against a side that finished second in the Championship last season.

“That’s the first victory we’ve had against a fully professional team so that’s a bit of a landmark occasion.

“And more importantly, to get the win off the back of that poor performance last Friday – we said before the game in the changing room that a week is a long time in sport and rugby.

“We looked unrecognisable from the team that took to the field last Friday.

“We had a plan going into today in terms of our selection and the boys that we put on the bench – and massive credit to all of the players, they executed that gameplan perfectly.

“That was probably the difference today – the guys coming off the bench made a tangible impact and we just managed to get over the line at the end.

“We’ve done things our way this week. I think sometimes we’ve been guilty of trying to be something we’re not as a team and a club.

“But what we did this week in terms of our preparations on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, we did it our way and an authentic way. There was a lot of love for the players.

“That energy, effort and desire that has been missing at times this season, we brought that in abundance. We’ve said at the end to enjoy these wins – the five-point wins don’t come around often in the Championship.”

Tries from Sam Hanks and Matt Hema – making his 150th appearance for the club – sent Cambridge into the break level at 12 points apiece.

The visitors from Cornwall then took control of the scoreboard with a try and a penalty, only for tries in the final four more minutes from Seb Brownhill and Vanes – both converted by Louis Grimoldby – to wrap up Cambridge’s second win of the campaign.

Cambridge’s next outing will be on 15 November when they travel to face Chinnor in the recently-launched Not The Premiership Cup.

The two clubs opted to put on the fixture – with a return game in Cambridge scheduled for next March – to help generate some funds after both were omitted from this season’s Premiership Cup.

Williams said: “It’s a little bit of consolation for missing out on four fixtures against Premiership sides. I think it’s great to have two more competitive fixtures against Championship opposition, especially with a trophy to play for.”