Western Morning News (Saturday)
Pirates relishing challenge of facing free-scoring Trailfinders
THIRD-PLACED Cornish Pirates welcome Greene King IPA Championship leaders Ealing Trailfinders to the Mennaye Field this afternoon (kick-off 1.30pm).
Wing Robin Wedlake returns to the Pirates’ starting line-up on Saturday. Both he and lock Danny Cutmore are set to make their 50th appearances for the team.
Fly-half Luke Scully, back from injury, and Alex Schwarz will form a fresh half-back partnership, and in the back-row Antonio Kiri Kiri starts on the open-side berth.
In the absence of club captain Nicolas De Battista, Shae Tucker continues a centre partnership with Rory Parata, with No.8 Tom Duncan once again wearing the skipper’s armband.
One player keen for action off the bench is AJ Cant, who has recovered from a hamstring injury and is raring to go if the oppportunity arises for his first appearance of the season.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s contest, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver said: “At present, looking at their performances this season, the Trailfinders are the team to beat.
“They not only turned over Saracens twice in pre-season, which was no easy feat, but have also started the league so impressively well.
“Their side has amassed a high number of points for, and at the same time have made it incredibly difficult for opposition outfits to break them down, therefore Saturday’s challenge is a really tough one.
“They have a lot of firepower, including from the bench, enabling them to step up a gear when teams start to fatigue. Saying that, however, we are at home and, as seen on occasions in the past, we have been capable of turning fine sides over.”
Cornish Pirates starting XV: 15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Alex O’Meara, 13 Rory Parata,12 Shae Tucker, 11 Robin Wedlake, 10 Luke Scully, 9 Alex Schwarz; 1 Marlen Walker, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Jay Tyack, 4 Fa’atiga Lemalu, 5 Danny Cutmore, 6 Josh Caulfield, 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 8 Tom Duncan (captain). REPLACEMENTS: Jack Andrew, Tom Channon, Sam Rodman, Matt Bolwell, John Stevens, Rhodri Davies, Will Cargill, AJ Cant.