Plunder in Leeds gives Pirates top four vision
PERFORMANCE has been the Cornish Pirates’ focal point this season but following their stunning win at Yorkshire Carnegie, Alex Cheesman admits they now have to think about results.
The Cornwall side broke Carnegie’s home record in emphatic fashion last Saturday, recording a 42-27 bonus-point win to move within two point of fourthplace Ealing Trailfinders with a game in hand.
They have to look at the other end of the table today with lowly Rotherham travelling to Penzance but openside Cheesman is adamant they will not take the Titans lightly.
“We wanted to make our goals performance-based rather than achievements or positions in the league,” he said.
“But going forward we have got a realistic understanding of where we are and we’ll do everything we can to get into the top four and the play-offs.
“We have some real diehard fans down here in Penzance. It will be great to give them something to be excited about.
“We are going to have to tighten up against Rotherham because we know what they can do. They beat us away from home the other side of Christmas. So we are not underestimating them.
“You don’t want to be robotic in a game but there are points in the match when you have to fall back on your structures. We realised that and it has given us a really good launch-pad for our attack recently.
“Carnegie’s home record was brilliant, it’s still a brilliant home record. But it was great for us to go up to Leeds and put a good performance in because we have gone up there a few times in the past and not been able to do that.
“It made for a much better trip back. It’s a long old trip back normally.”
Rotherham went down 36-21 to Bedford at Clifton Lane last time out and head coach Justin Burnell is looking for big improvements.
“I’d like to say there were some positives to take out of the game, but I can’t,” he said. “We started off pretty well but then went on to constantly put ourselves under pressure.
“We missed an unacceptable number of tackles and our skill set was poor. We’re looking to put in a much better performance against Cornish Pirates.
“And we’ll need to make sure we do, because they will undoubtedly punish us if we are lacking in any areas.”
Cheesman is being rested by head coach Gavin Cattle who picked John Stevens at openside. The other change sees Jake Parker chosen in the second row.
Burnell has made six changes to his starting XV with Will Goodwin, Tom Collins, Callum Wilson, Connor Murphy, Luke Cole and Lewis Ludlam named.