Match Preview - Cornish Pirates v Leeds Tykes
By Dick Straughan
February 7 2007
The Cornish Pirates and Leeds Tykes lock horns for the third time this season in the EDF Trophy 5th Round at Headingley Carnegie on Friday night. After two colossal battles in the league just shaded by the Yorkshiremen, many had felt prior to the draw this would have made a fitting final itself.
February 7 2007
The Cornish Pirates and Leeds Tykes lock horns for the third time this season in the EDF Trophy 5th Round at Headingley Carnegie on Friday night. After two colossal battles in the league just shaded by the Yorkshiremen, many had felt prior to the draw this would have made a fitting final itself.
It was not to be. The two best teams in Division One were cruelly paired together after 4th Round victories over Moseley and Tynedale respectively, and the battle lines once again drawn.
Few Pirates fans will forget the cruellest of last gasp defeats at Headingley in September when the Cornishmen were pipped by 21-20. Revenge of a sort was gained at Camborne in December when Tim Cowley`s stoppage time try secured a 21-21 draw against the Tykes. Victory could have been secured had Alberto Di Bernardo`s penalty awarded at the restart been successful. Alas as the wintry gloom gathered and the rain belted down his kick sailed wide of the right hand upright and the spoils were shared.
Leeds are unbeaten in all competitions since December 30th when they surrendered a six point lead to lose 22-19 at promotion rivals Earth Titans. They have not been beaten at home since their shock defeat to London Welsh on the opening day of the season. Since their pre-Christmas wobble against the Tykes and Plymouth Albion the Pirates have registered six straight victories in some trying conditions against determined opponents. Their last failure on the road came at Otley at the end of November in what was a thoroughly disappointing performance.
However, their recent form has propelled the Pirates into second place in the league behind Championship favourites Leeds, and morale in the camp is high. There have been no injury scares following last Sunday`s comfortable win against Sedgley Park. News that six of the squad, including leading try scorer Rhodri McAtee, have already signed new contracts for next season has been particularly welcomed by the Pirates supporters. Pirates Head Coach Jim McKay will have to do without the services of prop Sam Heard for the next two matches though. He has been banned following his red card in the last round of the cup against Moseley.
With the winner of Friday nights tie just two more victories from a trip to Twickenham on April 14th, the stakes for both teams could not be higher. The likely result is just too close to predict but the many Pirates supporters making the long and difficult trip may be excused for thinking this just could be third time lucky for the boys from Cornwall.
The match kicks off at 7.45pm on Friday and is live on Radio Cornwall 630-657 Medium Wave, and will also be streamed online at www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall and via the link on the Cornish Pirates official website - www.cornish-pirates.com
Few Pirates fans will forget the cruellest of last gasp defeats at Headingley in September when the Cornishmen were pipped by 21-20. Revenge of a sort was gained at Camborne in December when Tim Cowley`s stoppage time try secured a 21-21 draw against the Tykes. Victory could have been secured had Alberto Di Bernardo`s penalty awarded at the restart been successful. Alas as the wintry gloom gathered and the rain belted down his kick sailed wide of the right hand upright and the spoils were shared.
Leeds are unbeaten in all competitions since December 30th when they surrendered a six point lead to lose 22-19 at promotion rivals Earth Titans. They have not been beaten at home since their shock defeat to London Welsh on the opening day of the season. Since their pre-Christmas wobble against the Tykes and Plymouth Albion the Pirates have registered six straight victories in some trying conditions against determined opponents. Their last failure on the road came at Otley at the end of November in what was a thoroughly disappointing performance.
However, their recent form has propelled the Pirates into second place in the league behind Championship favourites Leeds, and morale in the camp is high. There have been no injury scares following last Sunday`s comfortable win against Sedgley Park. News that six of the squad, including leading try scorer Rhodri McAtee, have already signed new contracts for next season has been particularly welcomed by the Pirates supporters. Pirates Head Coach Jim McKay will have to do without the services of prop Sam Heard for the next two matches though. He has been banned following his red card in the last round of the cup against Moseley.
With the winner of Friday nights tie just two more victories from a trip to Twickenham on April 14th, the stakes for both teams could not be higher. The likely result is just too close to predict but the many Pirates supporters making the long and difficult trip may be excused for thinking this just could be third time lucky for the boys from Cornwall.
The match kicks off at 7.45pm on Friday and is live on Radio Cornwall 630-657 Medium Wave, and will also be streamed online at www.bbc.co.uk/cornwall and via the link on the Cornish Pirates official website - www.cornish-pirates.com
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