Cornish Pirates

Cornish Pirates v Coventry
Saturday April 28th 2007 Kick Off 3pm

Pirates head coach Jim McKay admits he will look back at the 2006/07 season with somewhat "mixed emotions".

Tomorrow, McKay's side wrap up their National League One season with a trip to Coventry (3pm) knowing that a top four finish is still very much within their grasp. However, for that objective to be achieved, first the Cornishmen must secure victory, then they must hope other results go their way.

Fourth-placed Exeter Chiefs, who play host to Sedgley Park , seem odds-on to nail the tag of the Westcountry's top team, while fellow Devonians, Plymouth Albion, also harbour their own hopes of claiming the crown: they entertain Leeds Tykes at the Brickfields.

For McKay, though, the task ahead is pretty simple. He says: "We know we have to win the game, it's as simple as that. We are really determined to show what we can do - and we want to finish with some style and playing some good attacking rugby."

Certainly the signs were there in last weekend's 55-14 destruction of the Pertemps Bees at Camborne. The Pirates ran in nine tries along the way, three of which went to former Coventry back James Moore. Sadly, though, Moore misses out on facing his former club this weekend because of a twisted ankle.

His absence means a starting role for Welsh flyer Rhodri McAtee, while Lewis Vinnicombe also gets the nod from the outset as fellow winger Jon Hylton has this week undergone an operation on a troublesome groin injury.

The only other change to the Pirates line-up comes in the pack where Heino Senekal takes over from James Inglis in the second row.

	McKay admits he was encouraged by the way in which his team went about their work last Sunday, but it has been other times in the season which has ultimately left the Australian frustrated. "Winning the cup at Twickenham was obviously a massive breakthrough for the club," he said. "That was a very special day for all of us, but deep down we're all very disappointed we've not done better in the league. "Our aim for the year has been to do the best we can. For me, personally, the best is winning the league. We haven't done that, so that's very disappointing. That said, I do feel we have developed and we have moved certain areas of our game on and we hope to do even better next season."
Jim McKay

A run of three successive league defeats prior to the National Trophy final has meant the Pirates squandered their chances of a top three finish this season.

"If you want to be a top side in this division you have to be consistent for the whole season," said McKay. "We haven't shown that and losing the three games like we did has cost us."

With a number of the Pirates side set to pull on the famous red and black jersey, for the final time tomorrow, skipper Gavin Cattle is amongst that list, McKay knows he will have a busy summer ahead of him.

"There are a few of the boys moving on," he added. "It is disappointing to lose them because they have all played a big part in what we have achieved this season. However, the fact they are being recognised by higher clubs is a reflection of the work which has been put in by the players, the coaching team and the management of the club over the course of the season."

As well as Cattle, Vili Ma'asi, Alberto Di Bernardo, Duncan Bell, Nick Makin and Grant Anderson are among those heading for pastures new.

Cornish Pirates:
A Winnan; L Vinnicombe, D Bell, S Winn, R McAtee; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt); A Paver, V Ma'asi, D Seal; H Senekal, J Beardshaw; C Cracknell, I Motusaga, T Cowley. Replacements: G Anderson, N Makin, J Inglis, M Evans, S McKeen , H Barratt, S Parsons.

Adryan Winnan	Lewis Vinnicombe	Duncan Bell	Steve Winn	Rhodri McAtee
Alberto Di Bernardo	Gavin Cattle Cap'n	Alan Paver	Viliami Ma’asi	Dan Seal
Heino Senekal	Joe Beardshaw	Chris Cracknell	Iva Motusaga	Tim Cowley
	Grant Anderson	Nick Makin	James Inglis
	Stan McKeen	Henry Barratt	Sam Parsons Centre