| 'Daddy Kool' Rallies The Boys | |||
Pirates v Sedgeley Park - Sunday 4th Febuary Kick Off 1400 Experienced Cornish Pirates back Duncan Roke has called on his team-mates to maintain their impressive start to 2007 by defeating visiting Sedgley Park at the Recreation Ground on Sunday (2pm). Since coming unstuck against near neighbours Plymouth Albion just prior to Christmas, the Pirates have since strung together a run of five successive league and cup victories, the latest of which was last Sunday's hard-fought 26-23 win over fellow high-flyers Doncaster. It was a result which helped lift Jim McKay's side back into third spot in National League One, hot on the heels of divisional front runners Leeds Tykes and Rotherham. However, Roke is keen for the rich vein of form to continue against the Manchester-based outfit, who they defeated 55-3 back in October.
It was the highlight of an absorbing encounter a week ago, but Pirates supporters will need to make the most of Roke's on-field activities, particularly as the Maltese-born back will be heading for pastures new at the end of the season. "When I came down here it was only ever going to be for two years," said the former Leicester, Henley and Worcester player. "My body knows that professional rugby isn't for me anymore. I may play a bit of mess around rugby next year, but come the end of the season that is going to be it for me in regards to full-time rugby. "My wife still works in Birmingham during the week and it has nothing to do with the Cornish Pirates. I have really enjoyed my time here and I know the club is moving in the right direction." Indeed, having helped Worcester to finally realise their ambitions of dining at English rugby's top table, Roke is confident that the Pirates could one day follow suit. "At Worcester you could see everything was happening at a real pace and there were no real obstacles in the way. Down here, there are some considerable obstacles that need to be overcome first, but hopefully with time that can happen. "The support for the game down here is just fantastic. I remember Worcester was good in that respect, but the crowd here are just so passionate and they want to see the Pirates progress further. Hopefully with time things will continue to move on and that the whole of Cornwall embrace the vision of trying to get Premiership rugby here." Such a thought remains for the future. In the meantime, the priority for Roke and the Pirates is making sure they gain five points against a Sedgley Park side who themselves gleaned a vital bonus point in their 27-20 reverse by league leaders Leeds a week ago. Not since early December - away to Moseley - have the Pirates secured a five-point haul in the league. It is a statistic that has not gone unnoticed by Roke and his fellow players. "If you look at the games and the table, we are way down on others in terms of our bonus points," added Roke. "But if you look at the games we have won recently and the opposition we have faced, we're just happy to have got the wins. "The opportunity to score four tries and play with a bit of width and pace, like we were at the start of the season hasn't really been there. If you think of the Coventry, Birmingham and Newbury games for examply, to score four tries in those conditions, against quality opposition like that, would have been a huge achievement. "Unfortunately we haven't been able to score the tries, but the wins are the most important thing. Had we scored those tries, then maybe we'd be in an even better position than we are." A similar train of thought could be expressed had the Pirates won at either of the division's bottom two clubs, Waterloo or Otley, earlier in the season. Roke added: "I don't think you could say any of the other top sides have lost to those two sides away from home. In the final analysis that may end up costing us. "That said, I still think there is one or two twists and turns to go. The weather may play a part, the odd refereeing decision or even injuries, the race isn't run yet. We still have a lot to play for this season and hopefully we can deliver something." With a testing trip to Leeds in the National Trophy awaiting next week, the Pirates are hoping to head for Yorkshire having claimed yet another addition to their wins column for the year. "Everyone thinks 'oh god' going up to Leeds, but once you get away from from all that we feel we have got a really good chance to beat the side that are top of our league," said Roke. "If we can go up there, play well and win, then it may dent their confidence and increase ours until the end of the season." "We have played Leeds for 160 minutes of rugby this season and there has only been one point between us - that speaks volumes I think." Roke will line-up in a strong Pirates squad, which is the same as last Sunday, but is boosted with the inclusion of powerhouse prop Sam Heard, who has now served a one-week ban imposed on him by the club following his red card against Moseley. Among those pushing for starting spots will be Steve Winn, James Inglis and Nick Makin. Pirates:
|
