CORNISH
Pirates back James Moore believes his side should use Sunday’s victory over
Newbury as the ideal springboard ahead of this weekend’s crunch clash at
Doncaster.  |
Having
lost on the road to both Waterloo and Leeds Tykes so far this season, Moore knows
a third successive slip-up on the road will leave the Pirates with a huge task
of trying to reel in the leading pack.
“Going
to Doncaster won’t be easy next weekend,” said Moore, who signed in
the summer from league rivals Coventry. “They’ve started the season
very well and they have assembled a pretty good squad. It’s going to be tough
because it’s a long trip for us and they are in a bit of form, but beating
Newbury is exactly what we needed after the disappointment of the Leeds game.”
Moore was used as a second half replacement for skipper
Gavin Cattle, who picked up a hamstring injury during Sunday’s 34-13 success.
It was the 23-year-old’s first taste of action on Cornish soil and he did
not disappoint with his display. | | James
Moore | |
“It
was nice to get out there and play a bit of rugby. Playing at nine, which is my
old position, was good and it has definitely given me a lot of confidence. But
the most important thing was that the team bounced back and got a win, which we
did.” Although Moore was not on the scoresheet,
fellow newcomer Stan McKeen was as he claimed his second try of the season late
on in the game. The Canadian international has been
an ever present so far this season and he admits full-time life with the Pirates
is just “awesome”.  |
“Coming
over here has been great,” he said. “To be training and playing full-time
is a whole new experience for me as I was only part time back home.
I
spoke to a few of the guys back home before I came over and they told me how good
a team the Pirates were and what the set-up was like. For me, the set-up here
is fantastic and I’m already adding things to my game.” Like
Moore, McKeen was delighted to see his side return to winning ways after their
slender defeat at Headingley the week previous. “Last week was very disappointing
to say the least. We played very well and the intensity of our game was very good.
It perhaps wasn’t as tough out there today, but the main thing was that we
got the win.” | | Stan
McKeen | |
Indeed, McKeen insisted
he would have been more than willing to give us his own try to ensure the Pirates
claimed success. “It’s all about getting the W’s [wins].
Scoring tries is a bonus for me, but I’d rather not be on the scoresheet
and win, than be on it and lose.” |
