Pirates seek progress in Championship Cup

AFTER recently emerging as narrow 26-24 winners away to Doncaster Knights in their first leg match in Round One of the Championship Cup, the Cornish Pirates will today welcome their Yorkshire opponents to the Mennaye Field, Penzance, for the second leg encounter (kick-off is at 2.30pm.)

In the selected side, there are starting roles for props Marlen Walker and Alfie Petch, with Tom Duncan making a return to skipper the team at No 8.

As for the backs, Tommy Wyatt will partner Shae Tucker in the centre, whilst included on the bench is a fit again Rory Parata. He will be mightily keen to get a taste of the action, as will young lock Steele Barker for whom making an appearance would be his first in a Championship contest.

Ahead of today’s Cup match encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver said: “When we met each other a couple of weeks back I thought both teams played the game in the right spirit.

“Similar sides, with a mix of established and newer players, will likely match up again on Saturday.

“Also, if the weather holds as expected, then I am sure there will be no lack of running rugby and it should be an exciting game for spectators.”

Paver added: “Having stayed unbeaten at home in the league this season, we’d love to carry that record forward in the Cup, and it is the vital extra support we so often get that can help get us over the line.”

Cornish Pirates: AJ Cant, Robin Wedlake, Tommy Wyatt, Shae Tucker, Callum Sirker, Harry Bazalgette, Ruaridh Dawson; Marlen Walker, Tom Channon, Alfie Petch, Cory Teague, Danny Cutmore, Matt Bolwell, Will Gibson, Tom Duncan (captain). Replacements: Syd Blackmore, Garyn Phillips, Hayden King, Steele Barker, Josh Caulfield, Tom Kessell, Arwel Robson, 23 Rory Parata.

Plymouth Albion welcome Taunton Titans in a National One Westcountry derby today where the home side need the points to rpeserve their status.

With a couple of games left in their season, they know a minimum of three league points from their remaining matches will be enough to secure their spot and there is no doubt they would be keen to achieve this before the trip to Rosslyn

Park next weekend.