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Leeds Tykes v Cornish Pirates - Saturday 23 /09/06 Kick Off 1930 HAVING suffered away-day misery at Waterloo a fortnight ago, Cornish Pirates coach Jim McKay is hopeful his side will not have to endure another bout of travel sickness when they tackle Leeds Tykes at Headingley tomorrow night (7.30pm). Indeed, as the Pirates set off for Yorkshire today, the Aussie was in upbeat mood about the task awaiting his troops, who returned to winning ways in style last Sunday with a thumping 52-16 home win over Moseley. That victory, coupled with the 39-0 success over Otley on the opening weekend of the season, have once again underlined that the Cornish club will be a force on home soil. It is, however, on their travels that McKay knows the key battles will be won. "Leeds away will be a very tough game for us," said the Pirates chief yesterday. "We expect them to be very strong, even though they are a much different side from that which played in the Premiership last year. "They have some very good players in their squad, but really our main focus is on ourselves, not too much on the opposition. We too have some very good players in our side and the aim is to make sure they come up with the goods and deliver a really top draw performance." Certainly the Pirates heeded those words last Sunday when they blitzed visiting Moseley with a six-try blast at the Recreation Ground, Camborne. "There were positives to take from Sunday, but we still need to build on things," added McKay. "That win will give us some confidence going into this weekend, but we still need to find more consistency in our game." Despite that victory, there are changes to the Pirates 22 for tomorrow's game. Winger Jon Hylton - who scored two tries for the club's second string on Monday at Launceston - is recalled in place of Lewis Vinnicombe, while on the bench Duncan Roke fills the void left by Hylton and flanker Chris Cracknell comes in for Iva Motusaga. "Jonny Hylton did very well on Monday night, so we've brought him back into the side," said McKay, who was quick to highlight the importance of the club's Academy fixtures. "Monday's game was invaluable to us and shows just how far we've come over the last year or so. We were able to run our whole bench from Sunday in that game, as well as the younger guys. A lot of credit has to go to Robin Cowling for the work he's been doing with the Academy side. "These games mean we can not only keep guys match-fit, but it gives them an ideal opportunity to press their claims for selection."
Leeds, meanwhile, have made three changes to their side which won at the Pertemps Bees 23-20 last Saturday. One of the changes is enforced with Mike MacDonald away on international duty, so Tommy McGee comes in at loosehead prop. The Tykes had also hoped to recall Devonian-born captain Stuart Hooper, but he has failed a late fitness test on his knee, so Kearnan Myall continues in the second row. Elsewhere, Jon Dunbar is back from illness to return to the back row in place of former Plymouth Albion flanker Martin Schusterman who is ruled out with a slight groin strain. There is one change in the backs with Luther Burrell dropping out for Chris Jones, who made his comeback from a shoulder reconstruction last week. Meanwhile, one familiar face on the home bench will be former Pirate Richard Welding, who will make his debut for the Tykes if he comes off the sidelines. Winger Welding enjoyed a successful season in the Duchy last term, plundering 15 tries for the Pirates. 15 Adryan Winnan - 14 Jonny Hylton - 13 Henry Barratt - 12 Duncan
Bell 11 Rhodri McAtee Replacements:
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