Cornish Pirates

Leeds v Pirates - Friday 94th Febuary Kick Off 1945

PIRATES lock Joe Beardshaw is hoping it will be a case of "third time lucky" for the Cornish club when they go head-to-head with Leeds Tykes in tomorrow night's EDF Energy National Trophy fifth round tie at Headingley (7.30pm).

So far this season there has been little to choose between either of the two National One clubs, the Yorkshire club edged home 21-20 at Headingley in late September, then the pair fought a thrilling 21-all draw at Camborne back in December. Currently the two sit first and second in the league standings, the Tykes holding an eight-point buffer at the top.

That, however, will count for nothing in the wintry Dales as a place in the last eight of this season's National Trophy awaits tomorrow's victors.

For Beardshaw and his fellow Pirates, the game represents another massive challenge, but one they are relishing ahead of their long trek North. "We're really looking forward to the game," said the 30-year-old yesterday. "Of course it's going to be a tough test for us, Leeds are a very strong side, especially at home. "However, it's a Cup game so we know there will be no second chances and it will come down to what you do on the day. In a strange kind of way that's good, simply because it means you have a clear focus on what you have to achieve." Like Leeds, the Pirates have yet to taste defeat in 2007, their latest victory coming last Sunday at Camborne when they defeated Sedgley Park 39-13.

Joe Beardshaw

It's a sequence of victories which has not only propelled the Pirates to within touching distance of the Tykes in the league, but has helped bolster confidence within the camp following the disappointment of their pre-Christmas defeat to Plymouth Albion.

"Winning games is always good for any team's confidence," added Beardshaw, who joined the Pirates at the start of the 2005/06 season from Glasgow . "But we're not going to go up to Leeds and swagger about thinking we're the best side around. We'll have an air of confidence abous us, but mainly that will be in our ability and what we know we can achieve."

Indeed, the Duchy's finest will have taken great heart from their previous visit to Headingley when only an injury-time try from Tykes fly-half Jonny Hepworth prevented them from securing a memorable away win that day.

"We we're pretty devastated after that game," admitted Beardshaw. "We really gave everything that day and the tank was running empty come the end of the match. We were bitterly disappointed, especially after what we put in, but at the same time it created a baseline in terms of what we know we can produce in terms of performance."

Since then the Pirates have continued to deliver on the field, much to the delight of their ever-growing army of supporters from across the land. Now Beardshaw and his team-mates will be hoping to reward such support with a decent run in the Trophy.

"The support we get both home and away is just fantastic," added Beardshaw. "Before I came down I was told about the support for rugby in Cornwall , but didn't really think that much of it. It was not until I started playing here that I realised just how big and how fanatical it was.

"It's a big encouragement to you as a player and with the games we have with the likes of Exeter and Plymouth - I don't even think there is a rivalry like that in the Premiership - it just adds to the whole experience."

Pirates:
A Winnan; R McAtee, D Roke, D Bell, J Hylton; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt); A Paver
V Ma'asi, D Seal; H Senekal, J Beardshaw; S McKeen, I Motusaga, T Cowley.
Replacements (from): G Anderson, N Makin, S Hobson, MEvans, C Cracknell
R Wells, J Moore, L Vinnicombe

WEATHER NOTE
Pirates supporters who are intent on travelling to this game are asked to keep a regular watch on the Leeds Tykes website for updates following the recent adverse weather.

Last night (THURSDAY) officials at the Yorkshire club were confident the game would take place as the pitch has been covered by frost sheets since Tuesday and currently hot air blowers are being used on the South Stand side of the pitch due to the shadow cast by the stand.