Cornish Pirates v Plymouth Albion

Cornish Pirates v Plymouth Albion
Saturday March 24th 2007 Kick Off 1500

IF the Cornish Pirates are to reach Twickenham for the first time in the club's history, coach Jim McKay knows his team are going to have to do it the hard way.

Having overcome Moseley, Leeds Tykes and Doncaster en route to the last four of this season's EDF Energy National Trophy, the Pirates yet again have National One opposition standing in the firing line of their potential path to the nation's capital.

Near neighbours Plymouth Albion are the visitors to Camborne tomorrow (3pm) for what will be a full-blooded derby encounter that has plenty riding on it. Not only does a final berth await the victors, but it's bragging rights and - in the case of the Cornishmen - revenge which adds a little extra spice to these latest proceedings.

To date, Albion remain the only side to have triumphed at the Rec this season, the visitors heading home just before Christmas with a 26-13 league success under their belts. It was the perfect smash-and-grab from the Devon club who, having withstood a heavy home battering in the first period, then turned their sterling defensive display into the perfect counter attack.

However, as McKay readied his side for this latest battle, the Australian insisted that game and that result would count for little come kick-off tomorrow.

"We have got an enormous amount of respect for Plymouth , but Saturday is another day and it's another game," said McKay yesterday. "The December game has gone and we've all moved on since then, it's what happens this weekend that counts, nothing else." McKay admitted his side had been left disappointed following the previous game between the two clubs, but insisted that the result had been used to highlight certain areas within the Pirates game. "We have definitely learnt from that game," added McKay. "It highlighted a few areas and made us look at some of the things we were doing. We've moved on since then and I'm sure Plymouth have as well. For now it's all about Saturday because it's winner takes all."

Jim McKay

Not since Cornwall lost 47-19 to Yorkshire in the 2001 Tetley Bitter Challenge have Duchy supporters had the chance to descend en mass to the home of English rugby. McKay is well aware the rugby-loving county is keen for another big day out.

"We are aware of the situation we are in and the players know the prize that is on offer," said the Pirates coach. "We know how much this means to the people down here and that is a very good driver for us.

"To reach Twickenham would be a fantastic achievement for the club and the supporters, but first we have to beat Plymouth which is no easy thing. Throughout this competition we have had to show a lot of character and resilience and Saturday won't be any different. That said, it should be a real crackerjack of a game."

Likewise, Albion coach Graham Dawe knows what it would mean to his club's supporters if they could reach a Cup Final at Twickenham for a second time in their history.

"It is always good to go down to West Cornwall, but it is going to be another hard old game," said Dawe, who guided Albion to the 2005 Powergen Shield final, only to see them lose narrowly 14-13 to Bedford Blues.

"It's a game that certainly whets the appetite of the players and the spectators. There is certainly a big prize waiting for the winner. A Twickenham final at the end of it is a nice fillip, but for the Albion 's players and spectators, the pride in not losing should act as a big enough incentive."

Albion head into tomorrow's tussle with doubts still lingering over the fitness of both Wihan Neethling and Federico Genoud, although Dawe remains confident that both players will be fit for duty.

The visitors have named an unchanged starting line-up from that which beat Sedgley Park last Saturday: the sole change in their squad comes on the bench where Ben Gulliver - back after a broken leg - replaces the cup-tied Dan Smith.

Meanwhile the Pirates will finalise their squad following a final team run today. It is unlikely McKay will tinker too much with the side which drew 16-16 with Rotherham in last Sunday's televised clash. However, Grant Anderson, Chris Cracknell and Lewis Vinnicombe have all been added to the provisional 25-man squad.

One man who will be lining up for the home side will be skipper Gavin Cattle, a player earmarked yesterday by Dawe as a key component in the Pirates' ranks. "Gavin Cattle is the key to a lot of things they do," said the Albion boss. "He's pacy, he's got a great left foot, and he can move as quick going sideways as he can going forward. He's like one of those sand crabs, he goes like a bomb. He can take three defenders out in a second, so we're going to need a pretty big fishing net to catch him. "Certainly if you can snare up Gavin Cattle that is one aspect of their game under control, but they have so many good players so we're going to have to work hard. However, I don't think that will be too much of a problem, our boys are well up for this."

Gavin Cattle

Whether or not Albion can muster up the same winning formula they showed back in December, only time will tell. However, Dawe will no doubt have plotted another speedy plan of action he hopes will come to fruition. "It is like trying to pinch a pot of honey from a hornets' nest. You need to be in and out pretty quick," he added. "You can't compare Saturday's game with the league game before Christmas - it is a new dawn, it's a new day."

Pirates (from):

A Winnan; R McAtee, D Roke, S Winn, D Bell, J Hylton, L Vinnicombe, J Moore, A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt), R Wells, A Paver, G Anderson, D Seal, V Ma'asi,, N Makin, S Heard, H Senekal, J Beardshaw, J Inglis, S McKeen, I Motusaga, T Cowley, C Cracknell, M Evans.

Adryan Winnan	Rhodri McAtee	Duncan Roke	Steve Winn	Duncan Bell
Jonny Hylton	Lewis Vinnicombe	James Moore	Alberto Di Bernardo	Gavin Cattle (Capt)
Rhodri Wells	Alan Paver	Grant Anderson	Dan Seal	Viliami Ma’asi
Nick Makin	Sam Heard	Heino Senekal	Joe Beardshaw	James Inglis
Stan McKeen	Iva Motusaga	Tim Cowley	Chris Cracknell	Matt Evans

Albion:
N Saumi; W Neethling, R Van Eyk, K Fisilau, N Sestaret; E Barnes, E Lewsey; T Mathias, R Oxley, S Zimmerman; M Lewis, T Hayes; F Genoud, D Thomas (capt), C Lowrie.

Replacements: G Evans, J Owen, B Gulliver, B Stroud, M Newman, A Cruickshanks, T Arscott.

Referee: M Fox (RFU)