Match Preview - Pirates v Bees
By Dick Straughan
September 20 2007
With just three weeks of the season gone both sides go into this game with much still to prove. The Bees currently prop up the table after three straight defeats whilst the Pirates, only narrowly beaten by Northampton thus far, have badly under-performed.
September 20 2007
With just three weeks of the season gone both sides go into this game with much still to prove. The Bees currently prop up the table after three straight defeats whilst the Pirates, only narrowly beaten by Northampton thus far, have badly under-performed.
The two teams last met in the league on the final day of last season when the Pirates ran out winners by 55-14 notching nine tries in the process. How Head Coach Jim McKay would welcome that kind of performance on Sunday as his team has once again struggled to pick up crucial bonus points.
That fixture last April was in fact the last time the Pirates won at Camborne in all competitions and they went into the game without a five point maximum for over two months. Jimmy Moore bagged a hat-trick of tries that day and his welcome return to the Number 9 jersey for Sunday`s game could very easily see history repeat itself, such is his hunger for a regular starting berth.
Much has been said during the fall-out from the Pirates narrow squeak at Coventry last weekend and McKay has predictably shuffled his line-up as he bids to inject some sparkle into their performance. With an experienced Moore replacing the promising Richard Bolt at scrum-half, Steve Winn has been drafted in to the Centre in place of Paul Devlin.
With Tim Cowley and Alan Paver still sidelined with injuries changes up front see Sam Heard take over at tighthead from Dan Seal whilst Nathan Kemp gets the nod at hooker in place of Rob Elloway. Gareth Steenson will continue as captain.
Pertemps Bees although yet to register a point this season will expectedly travel to Camborne as rank outsiders but with nothing to lose. Home defeats to Rotherham and Plymouth Albion have sandwiched their only other away fixture so far - a narrow defeat to deadly rivals Moseley. Another indecisive performance from the Pirates will make for a long and difficult afternoon.
The Pirates camp knows full well that this fixture followed next Saturday by a trip to Newbury, another current basement side, are vital in the build up towards the home clash with in-form Exeter Chiefs on October 7th. The Pirates goal has to be ten points from the Bees and the Blues. The question is, will they get them?
I certainly expect the cobwebs to be blown away on Sunday but doubt that we will witness the kind of rout served up in April. Despite my over-ambitious predictions to date I will stick to my guns and confidently predict five points for the Pirates.
Teams for Sunday.....
Cornish Pirates - 15 Adryan Winnan, 14 Rhodri McAtee, 13 Steve Winn, 12 Nick Buckley, 11 Brian Tuohy, 10 Gareth Steenson (capt), 9 James Moore, 8 Chris Cracknell, 7 Iva Motusaga, 6 Eniola Gisende, 5 Bruce Cumming, 4 Joe Beardshaw, 3 Sam Heard, 2 Nathan Kemp, 1 Peter Cook.
Replacements - 16 Rob Elloway, 17 Dan Seal, 18 Johnny Williams, 19 Scott Hobson, 20 Richard Bolt, 21 Simon Whatling, 22 Paul Devlin.
Pertemps Bees - 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Reece Spee, 13 Ashley Maggs, 12 Mike Hook, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Jon Higgins (capt), Nicky Griffiths, 8 Russell Earnshaw, 7 Will Matthews, 6 Andy Daish, 5 Alex Davidson, 4 Gareth McComb, 3 Peter Bucknall, 2 Stuart Pearl, 1 Matt Long.
Replacement - 16 Mark Gabey, 17 Phil Osborne, 18 Matt Larson, 19 Dave Campton, 20 Matt Mullin, 21 Jimmy Aston, 22 Paul Knight.
Referee - Chris Sharp (RFU) Touch Judges - Steve Leyshon & Kevin Obern
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