Cornish Pirates

RFU Championship Round 8

Sunday 25th October 2009
Kick-off 2pm

Phil Westren's Preview

The teams for this Sunday's important 'Championship' clash between the Cornish Pirates and Birmingham & Solihull have been named.

A pleasing aspect is that we will be welcoming back a number of players from injury, including club captain Gavin Cattle.

Blair Cowan and Ben Gulliver also return at No. 8 and lock respectively, whilst scrum-half James Doherty, who was injured in the opening pre-season 'friendly' against Cardiff, and young Richard Bright are listed among the replacements.

Shaun Pammenter is named to play against his former club and will partner Gulliver in the second-row, enabling Luke Collins who has started in every game to have a well earned rest. Laurie McGlone, who has also been in the starting line-up for the first seven matches in the Championship, is named on a strong looking bench.

With Rhys Jones injured the versatile Jimmy Moore will partner Cattle at fly-half, whilst one other forced change in the backs sees Nick Jackson come into the side at outside centre because Mark Ireland, who showed up well against London Welsh, is injured.

The Pirates will quite rightly be aware that the challenge from the Bees is one not to be underestimated. They have their problems but have also shown considerable character, as indicated by the fact that despite being winless they have still rallied to score three tries in each of their last two games, against Bedford (53-25) and Exeter (21-51).

Remember kick-off is at 2pm.

Cornish Pirates:
W. Davies, R. Cook, N. Jackson, S. Winn, R. McAtee
J. Moore, G. Cattle (capt), B. Cowan, S. Betty, M. Evans
S. Pammenter, B. Gulliver, R. Brits, R. Elloway, A. Paver.

Replacements:
C. Rimmer, D. Ward, T. Holmes, L. McGlone, J. Doherty, R. Bright, A. Havili.

Birmingham & Solihull (team as named for the programme):
S. Hunt, W. Lawson, R. McLean, C. Mitchell, M. Culpin
R. Petty, J. Williams, L. Halavatau, A. Clayton, R. Connolly (capt),
S. Ault, A. Davidson, R. Davies, J. Preece, M. Long.

Replacements:
K. Dowding, D. Garner, C. Brightwell, W. Martin, R. Tomlinson, S. Brown, G. Thomas.

Referee: Paul Knowles (RFU)

Assistants: Ed Turnill & Nigel Higginson

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Background Story

The 2007-08 season was certainly one of change for the Bees on both the coaching and playing front. In all, five coaches were involved throughout, but from Steve Williams, Ben Harvey, Andre Bester, Alan Lewis and Russell Earnshaw, only the latter remained when a heroic away victory at Bedford was cancelled out by Rotherham's perceived capitulation to Sedgley Park.

With Earnshaw as Head Coach and player, the Midlanders set about their task to bounce straight back up and into the newly titled 'Championship', which they achieved with influential performers such as Mark Woodrow and Reece Spee playing their part. They also took much from their defeat against Leeds Carnegie in the quarter-final of the EDF Energy National Trophy, a tie which had seen them 24-12 up with just five minutes remaining.

There was a great deal of hope that the Bees could sell their current Sharmans Cross Road ground and wipe out their debts, as well as fund a proposed move to Damson Park (home of Solihull Moors FC), but they suffered a financial hammer blow when the sale collapsed. Considering this, plus the recent departures of a number of players, including Woodrow and Spee (and former 'Pirate' stalwart Dan Seal), the Bees have not had much in their favour this season, and it is perhaps no surprise that they are presently struggling at the foot of the Championship table.

Despite Birmingham & Solihull being 12th and winless in the division, the Pirates will wisely respect the challenge that their opponents will undoubtedly pose. To their credit their players who have stayed have shown considerable character and they are a team that can play adventurous rugby. Against Bristol in the second game of the season they scored 36 points in a 36-40 defeat, whilst in their last two games they have acquitted themselves pretty well by scoring three tries in each game against Bedford (lost 53-25) and Exeter lost (21-51).

Ahead of their game against Exeter Chiefs last week, an SOS message was issued in an attempt to recruit players to bolster the depleted Bees squad. A positive response was received from former centre/full-back Dave Knight, who has impressed against us in the past, and it'll be interesting to see who else will offer their services to help out a club in crisis.

England sevens coach Earnshaw has himself commented that as a club Birmingham & Solihull (which was formed in 1989 when the separate Birmingham and Solihull clubs merged) had put themselves in a pretty poor position but were doing their best to get out of it, and he has certainly been proud of the effort made by his team.