Cornish Pirates

RFU Championship Play Off Round 5

Friday 16th April 2010
Kick-off 7:45pm

Phil Westren's Preview

Pride will be at stake for the home side when the Pirates take on Plymouth Albion at their Brickfields base

Albion have no chance of progressing to the semi-finals of the RFU Championship play-offs, but for the Pirates there is still some hope, despite the defeat away to Bedford Blues last weekend.

If the Pirates can cross the Tamar and achieve a victory, ideally with a bonus point added, then it could set up an enthralling encounter at home to Bristol on Saturday 1st May.

However, they are aware that their task will not be easy, as Albion will undoubtedly pose a difficult hurdle to overcome.

The Pirates lost 16-8 at the Brickfields in Stage 1 of the Championship last October, but scraped through 13-9 when the two teams met at the same venue in the British & Irish Cup competition in February

A blow for the Pirates is the unavailability of Rob Cook, their top points scorer, who broke a bone in his hand at Goldington Road. The experienced and fit again Wes Davies is named to take over the number 15 shirt, whilst one other change in the backs sees Tom Luke selected on the wing because Rhodri McAtee has picked up a slight injury.

In the forwards there are a number of changes. Rob Elloway comes in at hooker in place of Dave Ward, and Mike Myerscough partners Ben Gulliver at lock. Laurie McGlone steps back a row to his more familiar No. 8 position, taking over from Blair Cowan, with the one other change seeing Tyrone Holmes named on the open-side flank in place of Sam Betty.

The Pirates have named a strong bench, including prop Carl Rimmer who has recovered from the injury that saw him miss the match at Bedford.

Cornish Pirates:
W. Davies, T. Luke, P. Devlin, M. Ireland, N. Jackson
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), L. McGlone, T. Holmes, C. Morgan
B. Gulliver, M. Myerscough, S. Franklin, R. Elloway, A. Paver.

Replacements:
R. Storer, D. Ward, C. Rimmer, B. Cowan, S. Betty, J. Doherty, S. Winn.

As this match will be shown live on SKY TV, it will not be on Pirates TV
Watch It On the Big Screen in the Clubhouse (Penzance)
Doors open 7pm KO 7:45pm.

Also showing at

Bar Sport Walsall
Bridge Street, Walsall Town Centre
First beer free to anyone wearing a Pirates shirt

Barracuda Bar - Aldgate London EC3A
Vineyard - Angel London N1
Nobody Inn - Newington Green London N1
Jamesons Distillery Pub Koln/Cologne Germany