Pirates face tough examination up north

AFTER a week off over Easter, the Cornish Pirates are in action away to Doncaster Knights this afternoon (KO 2.30pm), writes Phil Westren.

The round 20 league game in the RFU Championship sees a sixth versus fifth contest.

The Pirates won 37-15 at home to the Knights in January but will expect a much tougher examination ‘up north’ at Castle Park where they suffered a 22-15 defeat in the league last season.

There are five personnel changes in the Pirates starting line-up from the one that two weeks ago ran out at home to Caldy. In the pack, hooker Will Crane and tight-head prop Matt Johnson return, and with skipper John Stevens this week moving from open-side flanker to number 8, Will Gibson comes back into the side to wear the ‘seven’ shirt.

As for the backs, Ruaridh Dawson and Arwel Robson will form a fresh half-back pairing.

Speaking ahead of this Saturday’s fixture, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver said:

“Doncaster away is always a tough challenge at Castle Park, plus there is the travel aspect to contend with, although we are used to that.

“We have not hit our straps fully but have just come into a bit of winning form, and I would say that they are in a similar place. I also think both teams are evenly matched, and both are ambitious, so from our perspective it is important that we do ourselves justice and go up there to deliver a good performance.”

Cornish Pirates: 15 AJ Cant, 14 Robin Wedlake, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Garyn Smith, 11 Arthur Relton, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Ruaridh Dawson; 1 Jack Andrew, 2 Will Crane, 3 Matt Johnson, 4 Cory Teague, 5 Will Britton, 6 Alex Everett, 7 Will Gibson, 8 John Stevens (c). Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Marlen Walker, 18 Hayden King, 19 Steele Barker, 20 Jarrard Hayler, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 Harry Bazalgette, 23 Joe Elderkin.