Pirates aim to avoid blue weekend

FOURTH-PLACED Cornish Pirates travel to sixth-placed Bedford Blues today (KO 3pm) in Round 19 of the RFU Championship, writes Phil Westren.

Matches between the two teams are invariably well contested and exciting, with the same expected this afternoon. In the corresponding fixture at the Mennaye Field in November, the Pirates won 39-24.

There are two changes in the Cornish Pirates starting line-up from the one that featured in the 19-0 victory at home to London

Scottish last weekend. Club captain Nicolas De Battista is named to partner Tommy Wyatt in the centre, and there is a return for the experienced Marlen Walker at loose-head prop.

Speaking ahead of today’s important encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle commented: “Firstly, credit to Bedford for their winning result against Ealing last Saturday. The side is well coached and always demands respect, and we have shared some great contests over the years.

“The Blues brand hasn’t changed. They have a talented and quick back three, plus have an appetite to play as a team, which has been ever present. Also, when forcing opponents into making errors, they can be very dangerous.”

Cornish Pirates: 15 Carwyn Penny, 14 Alex O’Meara, 13 Tommy Wyatt, 12 Nicolas de Battista (C), 11 Callum Sirker, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Alex Schwarz, 1 Marlen Walker, 2 Tom Channon, 3 Alfie Petch, 4 Josh Caulfield, 5 Danny Cutmore, 6 Matt Bolwell, 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 8 Tom Duncan (vice-captain). Replacements: 16 Tom Cowan-Dickie 17 Garyn Phillips 18 Jack Andrew 19 Cory Teague 20 Caleb Montgomery 21 Tom Kessell 22 Shae Tucker 23 Robin Wedlake.