Cornish Pirates

British & Irish Cup Cup Semi-Final

Camborne Rec
Sunday 25th April 2010  
Kick-off 3pm

Phil Westren's Preview

Whether from Cornwall, from Yorkshire, or wherever, rugby supporters present at Camborne this Sunday for the British & Irish Cup semi-final encounter between the Cornish Pirates and Doncaster Knights can expect an enthralling, exciting and inevitably tense afternoon, with a home place in the first ever final of the competition  the prize for the winner.

This is special, and with Munster and Ulster playing their semi-final 24 hours earlier, the winner on Sunday will know who their opponents will be at home on the 16 th May.  

Sunday's teams have already met in Stage 1 of the Championship this season.

The Pirates won 21-10 at Castle Park in September, but Doncaster got their revenge at Camborne in December, when the Knights departed Cornwall with a 12-10 points victory under their belts - or should that be shields!?

If we look at form of recent, it is obvious that the Pirates will be a little disappointed, having lost four of our last six games since securing Sunday's semi-final place with a 26-20 win against Newport at the beginning of March.

As for Doncaster Knights, by coincidence they have also only won two of their last six games, which were both incidentally against Nottingham. Winning 25-14 away at Meadow Lane last weekend was particularly impressive, it keeping their hopes for a Championship semi-final place alive and it also likely giving them conviction and a level of composed confidence to win at the 'Rec' this weekend for the second time this season.

Who will go forward to the final and have the chance of being the first British & Irish Cup winners?

Well, we'll know come 4.45pm on Sunday, so in the meantime it's a case of the Cornish Pirates simply calling for all rugby supporters about the Duchy to lend their support, as it really can help.

Boosting the pre-match atmosphere will be the inimitable Falmouth Marine Band, whose presence always adds something extra to a match day occasion, and provides enjoyment to so many.

Kick-off at Camborne on Sunday is at 3pm, but please arrive early to avoid congestion. Tickets will be available on the day.

The Cornish Pirates selection shows a number of changes in their line-up from the one that started at Plymouth last weekend. Rhodri McAtee returns on the wing in place of Nick Jackson, and Steve Winn is selected at inside centre with Mark Ireland moving to the outside berth.

In the forwards a fit again Rudi Brits, plus Dave Ward, return to the front-row in place of Scott Franklin and Rob Elloway.

Lock Ben Gulliver is injured, so the second-row pairing sees Laurie McGlone move from No. 8 to partner Mike Myerscough, whilst in the back-row Blair Cowan and Sam Betty return to play alongside Chris Morgan.

The Cornish Pirates side is as follows:-

Cornish Pirates:  
W. Davies, R. McAtee, M. Ireland, S. Winn, T. Luke
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), B. Cowan, S. Betty, C. Morgan
M. Myerscough, L. McGlone, R. Brits, D. Ward, A. Paver

Replacements:  
P. Andrew, R. Elloway, C. Rimmer, R. Labuschagne, M. Evans, J. Doherty, N. Jackson.

Referee:   Llyr Apgeraint Roberts

Assistants:   Luke Pearce & Gareth Copsey

Match Day Sponsor:   SITA