There
are just a couple of changes in personnel from the team that ran out against the
Blues. Flanker Sam Betty, a half-time replacement for an injured Iva Motusaga
at Bedford, keeps his place in the back-row, and the club's top try-scorer, Marika
Vakacegu, makes a welcome return from injury and is selected on the wing in place
of Rhodri McAtee. On the bench, Matt Evans is named in place of Mike Burak who,
along with Ed Fairhurst, is on international duty with Canada. Last
season was Esher's first playing at National One level, and they acquitted themselves
well. They ended up 12th in the league, which is the position they presently hold
in this season's campaign. They have three wins under their belts, having beaten
Otley, Newbury and Manchester, and were disappointed not to add to that number
before they eventually lost 22-13 away to Moseley last Saturday. Having
a good link with Harlequins, there is doubt that Esher will provide genuinely
stiff opposition. Besides having a reliable kicker in full-back Neil Hallett,
they also have a number of gifted runners in their ranks. Scotland 'A' winger
Dougie Flockhart has impressed against the Pirates in the past, and he scored
two tries for the Barbarians in their win against the Combined Services on Tuesday,
whilst their likely centre pairing could be 16 times capped Italian international
Matteo Barbini, and young George Lowe, who was a try-scorer for the 'EEEs' at
Moseley, and is one tipped as a future Premiership star. In the pack, lock James
Inglis, who played for the Pirates a couple of seasons ago when on loan from Harlequins,
is also expected to feature, as could hooker Chris Brooker, who has played for
both Bath and Harlequins. Making the trip to Esher on Saturday
(ko 3pm) will be a contingent from the Cadgwith Singers, who will take the best
of Cornish entertainment to the capital, with Dave Muirhead MBE also arranging
for the provision of pasties - to give them sustenance! Cornish Pirates:
A. Winnan (capt), B. Tuohy, P. Devlin, S. Winn, M. Vakacegu
R. Jones, N. Griffiths,
B. Bedes, S. Betty, C. Morgan
B. Gulliver, H. Senekal, S. Franklin, D. Dawidiuk,
A. Paver. Replacements:
P. Cook, D. Seal, M. Evans, I. Motusaga, R.
McAtee, T. Luke, M. Ireland.
Esher
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