Penzance & Newlyn Pirates -v- Pertemps Bees

Sun 9/01/2005 2:30PM 

The Mennaye Field, Penzance

Bees will face a tough trip to Penzance this Sunday against an up and coming Pirates side. Phil Maynard has stated in no uncertain terms his disapproval of the Pirates’ Sunday home matches, which are very hard to get to for a team of amateurs who have to work the day after.

Bees will travel down on the Saturday night and stay in Penzance over night which will certainly eat into club funds.

The Pirates have no such money troubles. They are a very rich side with a professional squad and serious ambitions to make it into the big time.

Bees have never lost to Penzance in National League One, but this season The Pirates have made some big money signings and have already amassed more points than the entire 2003-2004 season.

Having lost last time out to Plymouth Albion, former Bees coach Jim McKay hands starts to both Tim Cowley and Gerald Arasa. Cowley comes in at blindside flanker for Joe Bearman, while Arasa's inclusion means a reshuffle in the back division. Arasa will start on the left wing with Rob Thirlby switching to full-back and Wes Davies to the centre alongside Wade Kelly. Marc Sweeney drops to the bench.

Pertemps Bees will hope to welcome back Alex Davidson who broke and dislocated his shoulder in last year’s Powergen Cup campaign in Newcastle. He has now recovered and is fully training. Nick Baxter who scored last week against Henley will start on the bench and Shaun Woof will start inside him.

Either Paul Knight or Tom Richardson will start at scrum half.

New boys Ryan Lamb and Luke Narraway are likely to come into the squad due to injuries to Hese Fakatou and as a replacement for Mark Woodrow.

Aged 18 and 21 respectively they are on loan from Gloucester who regard both very highly and are hoping to gain match experience with the Bees. Both are very exciting prospects.

Steve McCormacks Preview

Fourth placed Penzance & Newlyn, who at the half way stage of this season have secured almost as many points as in the whole of last season, welcome a Pertemps Bees side to the Mennaye Field, looking to start 2005 in a far better way than they finished 2004.

Penzance only played the one game over the holiday period, going down to a very late try by Plymouth in front of a record crowd of 4662 at the Mennaye. They stay in fourth place in the league, but both Bedford and Otley have joined them on 39 points. They have played seven matches at home this season and only been beaten by top two Plymouth and Bristol.

Pertemps Bees beat Henley on Monday to end a run of five successive league defeats that saw them drop to eighth position in the league. They are though only five points behind fourth placed Penzance. They have played seven matches away from home this season recording wins at the three bottom clubs Orrell, Henley and London Welsh.

When the teams met earlier in the season Pertemps Bees ran out comfortable 33-12 winners. They have only met three times in league rugby and the Bees have won them all. Penzance are tipped to beat them for the first time on Sunday

Steve's Prediction: Pirates to win by 10 points

My prediction: 12-10 to Bees 

League Form Guide:

Pertemps Bees: W L L L W

Pirates: l w w w w

Other Matches:

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