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Pirates On Standby To Repel Northern Raiders

Pirates v Doncaster - Sunday 28th January Kick Off 1400

IN a week when bounty hunters stripped a Devon beach bare of its treasure, Cornish Pirates coach Jim McKay is hoping his own band of buccaneers can withstand the threat of some northern raiders.

This Sunday the Duchy's premier rugby club outfit play host to Doncaster in a top five showdown, one which is sure to have a significant bearing on who does what in National League One's final shake-up this season.

Having already defeated the Yorkshire visitors back in early October - the Pirates still remain the only club to have won at Castle Park this term - McKay's men are all too aware they will have to be on top of their game if they are to prevent the visiting Knights from gaining some timely revenge.

Just two points and one rung in the league ladder is all that separates third-placed Doncaster from their Cornish hosts, who since losing to Plymouth Albion just before Christmas have strung together a run of four successive League and Cup victories.

The most recent of those successes came at Camborne last Sunday when the Pirates swept aside the challenge of Moseley 48-0 in the EdF Energy National Trophy fourth round.

Sunday, however, is guaranteed to be a much stiffer test for the Pirates, who welcome back a host of key names for the match. Skipper Gavin Cattle heads a list of six changes made by McKay to his starting line-up.

Others primed for action are Alan Paver, Vili Ma'asi and Heino Senekal in the pack, while former Worcester pair Duncan Roke and Jon Hylton are added to the back division.

Certainly McKay is delighted to welcome back a whole host of his front-line performers, but the Australian was also quick to praise the displays shown by others in recent weeks.

"Selection was tough this week, but that's what you want as a coach," said McKay yesterday. "It's not about individuals doing this, that or the other, it's about everyone striving for one goal, which is what we want to do."

This weekend's goal is to overcome Doncaster, who themselves warmed up for Sunday's clash with a thumping 62-7 National Trophy victory over Rosslyn Park.

"Sunday will be a massive step up compared to last weekend against Moseley," warned McKay. "With due respect to Moseley they didn't field their strongest squad, whereas we know Doncaster will.

"They are a very, very good side and they have a lot of experience right throughout their team. For sure they'll be dangerous, so we have to be prepared for them. That said, we're really looking forward to the game and producing a real good performance."

Coach 'Jim McKay'

Certainly McKay and his team will be hoping to replicate the same winning formula they showed back in October, when they won 29-23 in the Dales.

"That was a good win for us, but that's gone. It's what happens Sunday that counts most, not what happened in the past," added the Pirates chief. "They have improved a lot since we last played them, but I think we have as well, so it should be a really entertaining game.

"Our focus is on making sure we get the right result and that we turn in a decent performance. If we have serious aspirations about being among the top sides in this division, then these are the types of games you have to win. It's as simple as that."

Meanwhile, McKay has also spoken of his delight after Academy hooker Darren Dawidiuk was named in the 30-man England Under-20s Six Nations squad.

"It's great for him, good on him," said McKay. "He has done very well this season and been involved with the first team a couple of times now. He's 19, he's Cornish, so he ticks all the boxes in what we are trying to do as to the long-term strategy."

Darren Dawidiuk

Pirates:
A Winnan; J Hylton, D Roke, D Bell, R McAtee; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt); A Paver, V Ma'asi
D Seal; H Senekal, J Beardshaw; S McKeen, I Motusaga, T Cowley.


Adryan Winnan	Jonny Hylton	Duncan Roke	Duncan Bell	Rhodri McAtee

Alberto Di Bernardo	Gavin Cattle	Alan Paver	Viliami Ma’asi	Dan Seal Prop

Heino Senekal	Joe Beardshaw	Stan McKeen	Iva Motusaga	Tim Cowley