Cornish Pirates

RFU Championship Round 13

Sunday 13th December 2009
Kick-off 2pm

Phil Westren's Preview

Father Christmas might well be making a visit to the Camborne Recreation Ground on Sunday to give goodies away prior to the Pirates v Knights 'Championship' clash.

However, once the match action begins the home side will strive to be anything but generous against their opponents from Yorkshire.

Another win for the Pirates would go a long way towards them cementing an important place in the top eight, whilst 'Donny' in turn will be desperate to avoid three defeats on the trot.

Being eleventh in the league is certainly misleading for a talented team that can beat the best on their day, so the Pirates will need to be wary of the danger that Doncaster clearly pose.

The Pirates are in the process of welcoming a number of players back from injury, three of whom are in the pack.

Alan Paver returns at tight-head prop in place of Carl Rimmer, and Ben Gulliver is named to partner Roderick Labuschagne in the second-row.

Fellow locks Shaun Pammenter and Luke Collins have both picked up minor injuries. In the back-row, No. 8 Laurie McGlone is fit again having recovered from a leg wound suffered against Leinster, and Sam Betty and Blair Cowan form the wing forward pairing withTyrone Holmes the player who makes way.

Changes in the outsides from the team that ran out against Moseley last week sees Jimmy Moore take over on the wing from Nick Jackson, who moves into the centre. Jackson will take the outside centre berth as Mark Ireland moves inside a place to the play the inside centre role ahead of Steve Winn.

A welcome face among the replacements is that of Chris Morgan, who last saw action in the away match against Doncaster in September. Now thankfully recovered from injury, he'll be keen to get his chance off the bench.

Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, R. McAtee, N. Jackson, M. Ireland, J. Moore,
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), L. McGlone, S. Betty, B. Cowan
B. Gulliver, R., Labuschagne, A. Paver, D. Ward, P. Andrew.

Replacements:
R. Storer, R. Elloway, C. Rimmer, M. Evans, C. Morgan, J. Dpoherty, R. Jones.

Doncaster Knights (as named for the programme):
C. Briers, D. Flockhart, A. Carter, H. Tonga'uiha, M. Williams,
A. Warnock, M. D'Arcy, A. Boyde, N. Cochrane, A. Kettle
G. Townson, G. Kenworthy (capt), M. Cusack, S. Lawrie, T. Davies.

Replacements:
N. Tau, S. Corsar, S. Boden, B. Griffiths, B. Armitage, J. Brooks, C. Hallam.

Referee : Roy Maybank (RFU)
Assistants: Philip Davies & Paul Burton

Match Day Sponsor : Ocean BMW Falmouth