Western Morning News (Saturday)
Paver and Pirates target revenge over Hartpury College
ABOUT to play their penultimate league game of the season at home against Hartpury today (2.30pm), the Cornish Pirates are keen to keen to put up a good performance in this fifth versus seventh RFU Championship round 21 clash.
Playing against a team that beat them 22-16 at Hartpury in December, the Pirates have made just two changes in their starting XV from the one that won 14-13 away to Doncaster Knights last Saturday.
Both are in the centre where Joe Elderkin and Shae Tucker are this week selected. Also, important to note, is that for fly-half Arwel Robson, this game will mark his 50th appearance for the club.
As for the bench, 23-year-old new arrival prop Jacob Morris, who is dual registered with Exeter Chiefs, will wear the number 17 shirt.
Speaking ahead of today’s encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver has said: “Hartpury are congratulated on having had a good year. This included beating us at their place earlier in the season, although I felt we didn’t do ourselves justice that day.
“We were though beaten fair and square, so at home this week, and in front of a big crowd for the last home league game of the season, we’ll be keen just to get out there and get a good performance under our belt.
“Overall, I am over the moon to see how the squad has galvanised and have moved on, with a focus to keep improving. A high level of spirit has been evolved and, as we have seen, the second half of the season has been very good for us.”
With reference to Arwel Robson’s expected 50th appearance milestone, Paver said: “It is fantastic for him. To get to 50 games so quickly is a fine achievement, and growing in his role he has been great for us.”
At the end of Saturday’s match, weather permitting certain end of season awards are expected to be presented from in front of the main grandstand.
Everett, Will Gibson, John Stevens. Replacements: Max Norey, Jacob Morris, Hayden King, Steele Barker, Jarrard Hayler, Tom Kessell, Harry Bazalgette, Will Trewin.
PLYMOUTH Albion have announced that Shae Cornish will be re-joining the club next season. Cornish will re-join the club from Exeter Chiefs, having spent most of this season loan to Coventry from Exeter, and comes back to Britain’s Ocean City briming with experience from playing Championship rugby. “Cornish will complement the ever-growing squad and I am hopeful that, next season, will be even better than this. We are aiming for a top three finish,” said Albion’s Ellie Venables.
Albion bring the curtain down on their season at home to Cambridge today where they will also be bidding farewell to long-serving forward Jamie Salter.
Salter has played over 200 games for the club, and he will be sorely missed by both the on-field team and off-field team. He has proved to have been an integral part of the senior playing squad, providing knowledge, experience as well as professionalism to the younger members of the team. A constant rugby ‘Dad’ as he is fondly known within the team.
Not only has Salter (pictured) represented Albion, but he has also made sure to concentrate on his career outside of rugby and is now leader of physical education at Newton Abbot College.