Doncaster v Cornish Pirates

McKay Set For Test At Doncaster

Doncaster v Cornish Pirates
Saturday October 7th 2006

CORNISH Pirates coach Jim McKay is hopeful his side can overcome their recent bouts of travel sickness with victory over Doncaster at Castle Park tomorrow.

At home it has been plain sailing for McKay's men as they've comfortably swept aside the challenges of Otley, Moseley and more recently Newbury. However, on the road it's been a different storiy with defeats at Waterloo and Leeds Tykes.

Defeat for a third time away from Camborne would not only leave McKay with another headache, but it would leave the Duchy's finest with yet more work to do in their quest to be among the division's high-flyers.

"We're expecting a very tough game up at Doncaster," said McKay yesterday. "It's a challenge we need to be right up for, but it's a challenge we believe we can do well in.

"We'll give Doncaster full respect, like with all the teams we play. They have some very good players in their side, but so do we and it's up to our guys to make their mark."

Buoyed by last Sunday's 34-13 win over Newbury at Camborne, the Pirates will head to Yorkshire looking to claim their first back-to-back success of the new season.

"We'll go up there in confident mood," added the Australian. "Last week was a pretty good performance, especially considering the tough conditions. It was very windy, but we adapted well and we came away with the five points, which is good.

"We're expecting this weekend's game to be much more intense than Sunday's game. Like I said, Doncaster have some very good players in their side, they like to play rugby, but they've also got other aspects to their game, like a good maul and a good kick and chase game.

Those are areas we have to be aware of, but at the same time we've got to look to impose ourselves and our game on them."

Duncan Roke comes in at centre for Henry Barratt

Team news for the visitors sees just one change, Duncan Roke comes in at centre for Henry Barratt, who was forced off during the Newbury game with a knee injury. However, the former Harlequins player is fit enough to take his place on the bench.

Meanwhile, skipper Gavin Cattle has shaken off the effects of a troublesome hamstring injury and he again starts at scrum-half for the Pirates.

Doncaster make just one change to their line-up from that which won 29-8 at London Welsh a week ago. Experienced scrum-half Dave Scully starts in place of Ben Jones.

Also included in the home line-up is former Pirate Wes Davies, who starts on the left wing. The versatile back enjoyed two successful seasons down in the Duchy before opting for a return back North.

However, Donny's new Fijian signing Netani Talei is unlikely to figure in tomorrow's clash. The 23-year-old No.8 only jetted into England earlier this week. He comes fresh from playing in the Pacific Five Nations tournament this summer and also featured in Fiji's 29-18 victory over Italy in June.

Pirates Team

15 Adryan Winnan - 14 Rhodri McAtee - 13 Duncan Roke - 12 Duncan Bell - 11 Jonny Hylton
10 Alberto Di Bernardo - 9 Gavin Cattle(Capt) - 8 Matt Evans - 7 Iva Motusaga - 6 Stan McKeen
5 Joe Beardshaw - 4 Heino Senekal - 3 Sam Heard - 2 Viliami Ma’asi - 1 Alan Paver


Adryan Winnan 15	Rhodri McAtee 14	Duncan Roke 13	Duncan Bell 12	Jonny Hylton 11

Alberto Di Bernardo 10	Gavin Cattle (Capt) 9	Matt Evans 8	Iva Motusaga 7	Stan McKeen 6

Joe Beardshaw 5	Heino Senekal 4	Sam Heard 3	Viliami Ma’asi 2	Alan Paver 1