For
the last game in this 2008-09 season, we welcome a strong London Welsh side. An
inevitably tough game is expected against 'The Welsh', who will be led by former
Llanelli 'Scarlet' Jonathan Mills. The visitors have a
strong pack, including Fijian lock Wame Lewaravu and No. 8 Tom Brown, whilst in
the backs their wing pairing is former England player Paul Sampson and Fijian
international Michael Tagicakibau who is joining Saracens next season. Wales 7s
star, Aled Thomas, is selected at fly-half. The Pirates,
who are presently seventh in the league, will be looking to leapfrog their sixth-placed
opponents, but Ben Gulliver, who has captained the side for much of the season
and has appeared in every league game, knows it won't be easy. Wearing
one-off purple & yellow 'Pirates Trust' charity shirts for the game, it will
inevitably be a hard-fought end of season encounter, and one when a number of
the home team's favourites will be making their last appearance for the club.
Two such players are flanker Iva Motusaga, who thankfully returns from injury
for supporters to see him play for one final time, and the other is hugely respected
lock Heino Senekal. Both have been great servants of the club both since their
arrival in Cornwall back in 2004. Besides the visitors from
London Welsh, the Pirates will also warmly welcome Dicky Evans to Saturday's match,
and thank him once more for the sincere contribution he makes, which has enabled
the club to compete at National One level and provide supporters with the opportunity
to witness a high standard of rugby in the far south-west. Another
special guest will be Eric Tweedale, who played for Australia at Camborne against
a combined Cornwall & Devon side back in 1947.
Cornish Pirates:
M. Vakacegu,
A. Havili, P. Devlin, M. Ireland, R. McAtee
S. Whatling, E. Fairhurst, B.
Bedes, I. Motusaga, C. Morgan
B. Gulliver (capt), H. Senekal, S. Heard, R.
Elloway, A. Paver. Replacements:
S. Franklin, D. Dawidiuk,
M., Burak, B. Cowan, N. Griffiths, R. Jones, T. Luke.
London
Welsh (Named for the programme):
M. Harris, P. Sampson, T. Rock, P. Mackey,
M. Tagicakibau
A. Thomas, N. Runciman, T. Brown, T. Audley, J. Mills (capt)
W. Lewaravu, M. Corker, P. Doran-Jones, G. O'Meara, D. Williams. Replacements:
D. George, A. Liffchak, M. Powell, R. Bell, A. Chilten, P. Murchie, E. Pratt-Lewis. Referee:
Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistants: Steve Harland & Fred Spong
Match
Day Sponsors: A & P Falmouth
Match Ball Sponsors: Cape Cornwall
School Associate Sponsors:
St. Austell
Brewery, Midas Construction, Worldwide Financial Planning Limited,
Speedy
Hire, Minster Insulation, Gaymers, and Cornwall & Devon Media.
Post
Match Celebrations: At the end of the game the presentation of the club's
Annual Awards will take place from the main grandstand. Following the Awards
there will be a 'Hog Roast' available for all, plus live music in the clubhouse
with 'Breakthru'. For children there will be a bouncy castle opposite the
clubhouse from 4.30pm. |
