Moseley V Cornish Pirates Saturday 21st February
Kick Off 3pm | |  |
Despite
their exit from the EDF Energy National Trophy competition, there is still much
to play for during the remainder of the season, as the Pirates return to league
action this weekend at Moseley. Brett Davey,
who until the end of the season takes responsibility for all coaching at the club
following the termination of Mark Hewitt's contract as Coach, is unable to to
call upon the services of injured players Rob Elloway, Blair Cowan, Tom Luke and
Brian Tuohy. However, there are others who are now back to full fitness and should
be raring to go. In the back-row both Bertrand Bedes and
Sam Betty return, whilst prop Alan Paver, who was welcomed back to match action
when used as a replacement last week, is for this Saturday restored to the starting
line-up. Scrum-half Nicky Griffiths has also been given
the all clear, plus there are a number of interesting changes in the backs. Adryan
Winnan, who played on the wing against Nottingham, returns to his more accustomed
full-back role, a berth that has been ably filled by Marika Vakacegu. With 11
tries to his name, the club's equal top try-scorer alongside Brian Tuohy reverts
back to the wing, where he had his early outings in the Pirates colours. A
popular player who has regularly featured as a replacement in this campaign, but
has only started in a couple of matches, is Jimmy Moore, who is another to slot
in out wide. The midfield pairing is Steve Winn and Paul Devlin, the latter another
reverting to his more familiar outside centre position, and Simon Whatling is
selected at fly-half. Rhys Jones picked up a slight injury at Nottingham, but
has recovered to take a place on the bench. A tough examination
will be expected at Moseley's Billesley Common ground, as it'll be remembered
that the Pirates lost 29-20 at the same venue last April, and then only emerged
victorious (19-15) when a Tuohy try proved decisive at Camborne in October. Moseley
reached the quarter-finals of the EDF Energy National Trophy competition by beating
Bridgwater & Albion 43-10 last weekend. They crossed for seven tries in the
match, with one of them scored by Ollie Thomas, who was loaned from the Cornish
Pirates back to his former club earlier this season. By agreement, however, Ollie
will not be available to feature for 'Mose' in this weekend's game. And
so, after a week when the declaration has been made that it's time to move on,
the full Pirates selection is as follows:-
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