15th December 2008 The Cornish Pirates have been drawn at home to
National Two side Southend in Round 4 of the EDF Energy National Trophy competition,
for what is thought will be a first ever meeting of the two clubs. Southend
presently 13th in the National Two league table are the premier club in Essex
and cannot be taken lightly. They have good links with Premiership outfit
Saracens, as is indicated by the fact that Kris Chesney helps coach their forwards.
Former club captain Ben Green is their Director of Rugby, and ex England fly-half
Mark Mapletoft is a coaching consultant. In total there are 16 Round 4
ties due to be played on the 17th January, 2009, including a visit to Dings Crusaders
for National One league leaders Leeds Carnegie. Mounts Bay, who won comfortably
at home to Barking on Saturday, will be home again, this time to Esher, whilst
the Cornish All Blacks will welcome Birmingham & Solihull to Polson Bridge,
but only if they win their rearranged Round 3 tie away to Wharfedale.
4th
round draw Ties to be played on January 17, 2009. Tynedale
v Bedford
Dings Crusaders v Leeds Carnegie
Broadstreet v Rugby Lions or
Bridgwater
Cinderford v Hull Ionians
Sedgley Park v Kendal
Cornish
Pirates v Southend
Rotherham
v Coventry
Moseley v Henley
Exeter v Preston Grasshoppers
Manchester
v London Scottish or Basingstoke
Otley v Cambridge
Nottingham v Blaydon
Wharfedale
or Launceston v Birmingham & Solihull
Doncaster v Plymouth Albion
London
Welsh v Newbury
Mount's Bay v Esher | 
