Western Morning News (Saturday)
Pirates expect tough challenge from familiar foes
FOLLOWING their recent Championship Cup encounter away to Ampthill, the Cornish Pirates visit the Bedfordshire side at Dillingham Park once again today, but on this occasion in the league. The nineth versus eighth encounter kicks-off at 2pm.
The teams have already met three times this season, the Pirates winning 15-13 at home in the league in October, while also emerging victorious from two Cup games played – 27-18 at home in November and then 23-14 away last month.
Changes in the Cornish Pirates’ XV from the one that faced Ampthill last time out sees Arthur Relton selected on the wing and AJ Cant moved to full-back, with Garyn Smith also returning to partner Rory Parata in the centre.
In the forwards, there are starts for props Jack Andrew and Matt Johnson, and for hooker Will Crane, while fresh faces on the bench include experienced prop Marlen Walker and fit-again scrum-half Ruaridh Dawson.
For replacements Steele Barker and Jarrard Hayler, should they get a call to action, it will be their first appearance in a Championship league game.
Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s contest, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle said: “Playing Ampthill only recently there were lessons for us to learn from that contest. We know they are very physical at the breakdown and are overall very tough customers, as we also found out in other games this season when they pushed us close.
“So, knowing what to expect, it will be another challenge when we must be ready to go again.”
“Naturally, the league will be our focus for the next couple of months, and holding a belief that our actual league position belies our potential we will inevitably be striving to achieve results that will hopefully see us climb the league ladder into the top half of the table.”
Cornish Pirates: 15 AJ Cant, 14 Arthur Relton, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Garyn Smith, 11 Robin Wedlake, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Alex Schwarz; 1 Jack Andrew, 2 Will Crane, 3 Matt Johnson, 4 Josh Williams, 5 Will Britton, 6 Alex Everett, 7 Will Gibson, 8 John Stevens (captain). Replacements: 16 Morgan Nelson, 17 Marlen Walker, 18 Harvey Beaton, 19 Steele Barker, 20 Jarrard Hayler, 21 Ruaridh Dawson, 22 Harry Bazalgette, 23 Tommy Wyatt.