Pirates expect Coventry ‘to be a handful’

NEXT up for the Cornish Pirates is a Round 8 match in this season’s Greene King IPA Championship away to Coventry today (ko 3pm).

‘Cov’, who have to date played one less game than the Pirates, are presently fifth in the league table (the Pirates are fourth). They have won four of their six games played to date, including a convincing 47-24 victory away to Hartpury last Saturday.

Changes in today’s line-up see starting returns for the front-row of Marlen Walker, Dan Frost and Jay Tyack, along with lock Danny Cutmore and No. 8 Tom Duncan, who will once again take over the skipper’s armband. With John Stevens picking up a knock last week, Antonio Kiri Kiri is selected at open-side flanker. In the backs, there is also a first start in Pirates’ colours for fly-half Arwel Robson, plus a fit again Shae Tucker returns at inside centre to partner Rory Parata. With several wingmen out injured at present, Will Butler moves out onto the wing.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Coventry encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle has said:

“Firstly, for us we need to bounce back from last week. We have been disrupted by injuries but patches of the game against Ampthill were a step in the right direction, so our aim now will be to pick up the tempo in our unit focuses, build those combinations in the backs, and get a bit more grit up front.

“It will be the first time playing on a plastic pitch this season, so expecting a lot of oneman rucks and speed of ball, we have got a big job to do defensively.

“Coventry have some well settled combinations, including in midfield, and with the likes of backrower Ryan Burrows and prop Phil Boulton the team has a spread of experience throughout. In short, they are clearly going to be a handful and we will have to be on our mettle.”

As everyone will be aware, because of present Covid restrictions it will not be possible to accommodate supporters at this weekend’s game. However, the fixture against Coventry will once again be live streamed on a pay-per-view basis.

‘Tickets’ for the match, priced at £10, can be purchased via the following link: www.championshiprugby.co.uk/live-streams

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Saturday is as follows Cornish Pirates: 15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Alex O’Meara, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Shae Tucker, 11 Will Butler, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Alex Schwarz; 1 Marlen Walker, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Jay Tyack, 4 Josh Caulfield, 5 Danny Cutmore, 6 Matt Bolwell, 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 8 Tom Duncan (captain).

Replacements: 16 Tom Cowan-Dickie, 17 Jack Andrew, 18 Sam Rodman, 19 Cory Teague, 20 Paddy Ryan, 21 Jean-Baptist Bruzulier, 22 Will Cargill, 23 Rhodri Davies.

Referee: George Selwood

Assistants: Lionel Spooner & Peter Brunt Official 4: Dean Richards