Newbury v Cornish Piratess

Match Preview

Newbury v Pirates - Saturday 13/01/07 Kick Off 1500

The Pirates set sail for Newbury today with coach Jim McKay insisting it's time his side once again "crank up the gears".

Successive victories over Pertemps Bees and Coventry - both in atrocious conditions - have ensured the Pirates have kept pace with the National One frontrunners in recent weeks, but the Australian is clearly keen for his team to kick-on further, starting at Monks Lane tomorrow.

"It's been a tough period for us, but now is the time where we have to build again," said McKay last night. "The last two games have been real dogfights and the boys have really had to dig deep. Saturday is going to be another tough one for us. The forecast is not great and I'm sure it's going to be heavy going again, but this is the time where people have to stand up and deliver.

"We've had a good week in training and everyone is really looking forward to the game. We've worked really hard, especially in terms of our fitness, but now is the time to crank it up a level or two."

That said, McKay's preparations for tomorrow's clash have been somewhat hampered. Despite the strong showing on the training ground, the visitors have picked up a series of new injuries to Ravo Samo, Henry Barratt, James Moore and Lewis Vinnicombe.

Coach Jim McKay

It has meant the Cornishmen are almost down to the bare bones, particularly in the front-row where they have been forced to bring in prop Peter Joyce on loan from Redruth.

As well as the loss of the above-named quartet, the Pirates coach will again be without the services of Alan Paver, Sam Heard, James Inglis and Duncan Roke for tomorrow's trip.

"We're missing one or two for Saturday, but at the same time that presents an opportunity for someone else to put their hand up and stake their claim," added McKay, who has brought in Steve Winn and Rhodri McAtee to replace Barratt and Moore in the starting line-up.

As for the rest of the side, the Pirates' pack remains unchanged, although there are additions to the bench. As well as newcomer Joyce, Scott Hobson, Rhodri Wells and Sam Parsons are all named in the visiting 22.

Hosts Newbury - who will be captained by Cornishman Mal Roberts - are themselves unlikely to change too many of their side, who last weekend went down 32-15 at Rotherham.

Much-travelled Aussie fly-half Tim Walsh landed all their points with five penalties and is one of several dangermen McKay has identified ahead of the game.

He added: "Tim Walsh is a very good goalkicker who can really punish you - and they also have some other very good players, people like Dan Smaje, Mark Ireland and Ali James.

"We know it will be tough going up there, not just because of the threat Newbury pose, but because the conditions will probably help even things out a bit. Our aim will be simply to try and adapt to those conditions as quickly as possible, then try and stamp our authority on the game."

Certainly the Pirates will be hoping for a similar outcome to that of last season when they won 26-25 at Monks Lane. However, home fly-half Blair Feeney could well have snatched a late victory for Newbury that day had his injury-time conversion been successful.

Pirates:
A Winnan; R McAtee, D Bell, S Winn, J Hylton, A Di Bernardo, G. Cattle (capt)
G Anderson, N Makin, D Seal, H Senekal, J Beardshaw, S McKeen, I Motusaga, T Cowley.


Adryan Winnan	Rhodri McAtee	Duncan Bell	Steve Winn	Jonny Hylton

Alberto Di Bernardo	Gavin Cattle (Capt)	Grant Anderson	Nick Makin	Dan Seal

Heino Senekal	Joe Beardshaw	Stan McKeen	Iva Motusaga	Tim Cowley