Cornish Pirates

Pre_season 1

Saturday 15th August 2009
Kick-off 5pm

Phil Westren's Preview

After over two months of pre-season training, the Pirates will eagerly welcome the opportunity to test themselves in a match environment when we play Cardiff RFC in a 'friendly' at Camborne on Saturday.

Cardiff are the present Principality Premiership Champions, having secured the title by defeating Pontypridd 27-22 in a match played at Cardiff Arms Park at the end of last season, so they are guaranteed to provide suitably stiff opposition.

Founded in 1876, the same year as Penzance RFC, Cardiff first played at Sophia Gardens before taking up camp at the famous Cardiff Arms Park – so named after the local Cardiff Arms public house.

 

Many famous players have worn the 'blue & black' of Cardiff, including such greats as Wilf Wooller, who also played cricket for Glamorgan.

He is pictured with many other great rugby players in an archive photo taken before playing Penzance at St. Clare in the 1930s. Included in the town's team were Cyril Mann, Bill Monckton and Irvin Uren, all who had sons (David-Brian-Arthur) that have played for the Pirates.

The Pirates first played Cardiff in our first season back in April, 1946, a time when the opposition was led by one of Cardiff and Wales's best ever centre-threequarters, Dr. Jack Matthews. It was Jack's first Cornish tour, made even more memorable because he met a girl with a real Cornish surname – Combellack, who was his wife to be.

In the early years of our history Cardiff were frequent visitors when many of their 'greats' such as centre Bleddyn Williams and scrum-half Haydn Tanner, both who only recently passed away, played at the Mennaye Field.

Proud moments in a club's history are to be cherished, and one of our very best was the occasion when we beat Frank Trott's Cardiff side 5-0 in 1950. Our vice-captain who played at lock that day was loyal supporter Harry Matthews, who will no doubt be looking forward to Cardiff's fortchcoming visit.

A number of former Cardiff players, besides Jack Matthews previously mentioned, have also played for the Pirates over the years. These have included such as Malcolm Collins, John O'Shea, Roger Lane, Mark Ring, Gerald Cordle, Chris Mills and Lee Jarvis (one of their present coaches), whilst Ed Fairhurst and Heino Senekal, along with present 'Pirate' Rhys Jones, have played for the Cardiff Blues regional side.

A role of Cardiff RFC nowadays is clearly to develop budding playing talent, as indicated by the fact that young Wales star Leigh Halfpenny visited Cornwall with them just two years ago. Experience, however, is also an essential ingredient, and Cardiff have recently captured a mighty fine signing with the news that former Wales flanker Jamie Ringer is making a return to the Arms Park from Gwent Dragons.

Having mentioned the word 'experience', it also aptly applies to Cornish Pirates prop Alan Paver, who joined the Pirates from Plymouth Albion in 2002.

Alan is the longest serving player of the club's present squad, and should he feature against Cardiff then he will be making his 200 th appearance in the Pirates colours. A great student of front-row play, 'Paves' is immensely popular with supporters who'll be keen to congratulation him when he reaches the milestone.

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