 |
 Doncaster
Knights v Cornish Pirates
Saturday November 10th Kick Off 2:30pm
Preview
By Phil Westren
For the second weekend running
the Cornish Pirates will journey 'up north', expecting a tough welcome from the
'Knights' at the ambitious Yorkshire team's Castle Park fortress.  |
Doncaster,
who are second-placed in the league, are unbeaten at home this season, their only
defeat in this campaign a 39-17 loss away to Northampton Saints. Having
lost the services of Simon Whatling early in the campaign with a serious shoulder
injury, and with injuries also to fellow centres Steve Winn and Paul Devlin, it
is perhaps no surprise that new signing Vunga Lilo, who was one of Tonga's heroes
in the recent Rugby World, has been quickly drafted into midfield for the trip
to Yorkshire, taking the outside centre berth alongside Nick Buckley. The
Pirates beat Doncaster three times last year, all matches closely fought affairs,
and none more so than the EDF Energy National Trophy quarter-final away tie early
in March. Incentive for Doncaster? Yes, the home team likely
to be fully focused for revenge. With Lynn Howells their
new Director of Rugby and former Ireland wing Justin Bishop a player-coach, they
have continued the good work kick-started last season by Welsh duo Clive Griffiths
and Jason Forster, which resulted in 'Donny' finishing third in just their second
season in National One. | | New
Signing Vunga Lilo | |
As
for other changes in the Cornish Pirates side from the one that started against
Sedgley Park last Saturday, Ed Fairhurst returns at scrum-half in place of young
Richard Bolt, and Chris Cracknell starts on the open-side flank as Iva Motusaga,
an ever-present these past couple of months, drops to the bench. Head
coach, Jim McKay, is in no doubt that a tough game lies ahead, commenting: "We
worked very hard for the win last week and we'll need to do the same this weekend. Hopefully
this challenge will bring out the best in us. We know what we are capable of and
it's up to us to go out and deliver a big performance for the club, supporters,
everybody." Cornish Pirates
O. Thomas,
J. Moore, V. Lilo, N. Buckley, A. Koko, G. Steenson, E. Fairhurst, M. Evans, C.
Cracknell, T. Cowley (capt), H. Senekal, J. Beardshaw, D. Seal, R. Elloway, P.
Cook. Replacements
N. Kemp, A. Paver, B. Cumming, I. Motusaga,
R. Bolt, B. Tuohy, R. McAtee. Referee: Nick Williams Last
time |
