Pirates Sense a Pivotal Game v ‘Donny’

Next up for the Cornish Pirates is a 4th versus 2nd clash in the Championship away against Doncaster Knights on Saturday, kick-off at 2.30pm.

There have been some hard-fought tussles between the two sides over the years, as was the case when the Pirates lost 39-28 at home to the Yorkshire side back in December. An occasion when the visitors deserved their victory, it will make the Pirates fully aware that a tough challenge awaits this weekend at the Doncaster team’s Castle Park home.

Selection for the Pirates sees fit again Kyle Moyle named at full-back, with Will Trewin moving to the wing. In the forwards Matt Johnson starts at tight-head prop, Steele Barker is back to partner Will Britton in the second row, and Hugh Bokenham is this week selected at number 8.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver has said:

“We are really looking forward to getting up there and getting the contest underway. It’s a good track at Castle Park, their surface has always been good, and I think this’ll be a pivotal game for us both.

“Doncaster have been going through a bit of a change in terms of their coaching structure, but we don’t expect it to make too much difference because we both have our own identities about the way we play and, as ever, I think it will always come down to who gets it right on the day.”

Alan added:

“When the two teams met at the Mennaye Field earlier this season we were outplayed and had to put our hands up and say were beaten by a better side. It was a bit frustrating tactically because we didn’t quite get it right. However, since then it is felt we now have a better balance in our side, and a better balance in our running our kicking, and we think it will be a more competitive game.”

The Cornish Pirates full selection for Saturday’s contest is as follows:

Cornish Pirates: 15 Kyle Moyle 14 Will Trewin 13 Ioan Evans 12 Joe Elderkin 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Alex Schwarz; 1 Lefty Zigiriadis 2 Morgan Nelson 3 Matt Johnson 4 Will Britton 5 Steele Barker 6 Alex Everett 7 John Stevens (captain) 8 Hugh Bokenham.

Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams 17 Jack Andrew 18 Fin Richardson 19 Josh King 20 Will Gibson 21 Ruaridh Dawson 22 Tom Pittman 23 Arthur Relton.