Moseley v Cornish Pirates 09/12/06 match preview

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Moseley v Cornish Pirates
Saturday December 9th 2006 - Kick Off 3 pm

WITH Christmas crackers against high-flying Leeds Tykes and Plymouth Albion looming large on the horizon, Cornish Pirates coach Jim McKay insists he is refusing to look any further than this weekend's scheduled appointment with Moseley (3pm).

Sure, the mouth-watering offerings of the forthcoming fortnight have been on many supporters wish-list for some time, but for the Pirates chief and his players, tomorrow's trip to Billesley Common is uppermost on their minds.

"People have said that December is a really big month for us, but every month of the season is important to us," said the Australian yesterday. "There is no point in us singling out those two games now, Saturday's game is just as important."

Having kicked off their festive period with a 36-18 victory over Waterloo last Sunday, the Pirates find themselves up against another of last season's promoted sides this weekend.

Earlier in the season the Pirates ran out comfortable 52-16 victors at Camborne, but McKay is expecting a much tougher examination on away soil.

"They've changed their style from that which they were playing at the start of the season," said the Pirates coach.

"Last season [in Division Two] they played a style which was very effective for them and it got them results. Although I do think moving up into this division they've found it tougher to play that same style. That said, they do like to have a real go at sides and we have to be aware of that."

Coach Jim McKay

Sunday's return to winning ways was just what the Pirates needed after their setback at Otley the previous week. That was the Cornish club's third reverse of the campaign and was a result which saw them drop from top of the tree in National League One to fourth in the standings.

"It was good to get back winning again," said McKay. "The conditions were tough, but we got the five points which is all you want at the start of the game. I thought at times we perhaps tried to play too much rugby, but as they say: 'He who dares Rodney'.

"I thought we played some really good stuff at times and we showed a lot of endeavour in our play, which was good. Now we have to build on that this weekend and continue it over the next few games as well."

Like McKay, in-form flanker Chris Cracknell knows he and his team-mates can look no further than tomorrow's encounter.

"It's a massive period. Moseley is the first port of call for us this weekend and then we have got two massive games after that," said Cracknell, who lines-up in a back-row which sees Iva Motusaga come in for Sam Betty and Tim Cowley take over at No.8 from Matt Evans.

"We can't forget the fact we have got Moseley next up. They aren't going to be a pushover.

Every side in this league are good on their day. We have got to take that game and then move on from there, just build and build and play the best we can each weekend."

Chris Cracknell

The inclusion of both Motusaga and Cowley, the latter back in the squad following his one-week suspension, are the sole changes to the visiting starting line-up. Both Betty and Evans drop to the bench, where hooker Nick Makin is fit-again and replaces Darren Dawidiuk.

Tomorrow's match also represents a first-ever away-day to Moseley for the Pirates. As well as their earlier league meeting, the last time the two met was at the Mennaye Field in the Tetley's Bitter Cup in November 1999. On that occasion, Moseley - a division higher than the Pirates at the time - won 27-14.

Pirates
A Winnan; J Moore, D Bell, S Winn, J Hylton; A Di Bernardo, G Cattle (capt); A Paver, V Ma'asi, D Seal; H Senekal, J Inglis; C Cracknell, I Motusaga, T Cowley.


Adryan Winnan	James Moore	Duncan Bell	Steve Winn	Jonny Hylton

Alberto Di Bernardo	Gavin Cattle (Captain)	Alan Paver	Villi Ma’asi	Dan Seal

Heino Senekal	James Inglis	Chris Cracknell	Iva Motusaga	Tim Cowley