By Frank Stormont
December 22 2006

with Albion and Pirates sitting 3rd and 5th in the table and only one point between them this will be a tight local derby that will be closely fought. With teams as per the probramme.  

Spy in the Camp Pirates

Pirates season's record is something that needs to be considered when visiting Cambourne on Saturday they have lost 3 matches, to Waterloo, Otley and Leeds away, and drew last week at home to Leeds tykes 21 - 21. The 21 - 21 result keeps the top 5 close with only 4 points between them.

Pirates have not lost at home and Albion will need to take a strong side and play to the end of the match as they scored against Leeds on the 80th minute and last time we travelled west to play them they pushed a try over in the last play of the game.

They have managed to pick up 5 penalty tries and have 13 yellows and a red cards shown.

Although Cornish Pirates or more correctly Penzance & Newlyn RFC as RFU refer to them as have been up with the leading pack at the top of the table they will not be promoted should they win the league. They have not submitted forms for promotion and it has been widely reported recently that it was never in their three year plan to move up to premiership status at this stage.

 

See in-depth preview on Pirates unofficial

Team

Pirates team: Duncan Roke; Rhodri McAtee, Henry Barratt, Duncan Bell, Jonny Hylton, Alberto Di Bernardo, Gavin Cattle (capt); Alan Paver, Viliami Ma'asi, Sam Heard, Heino Senekal, Joe Beardshaw; Chris Cracknell, Stan McKeen, Matt Evans.

Replacements: Nick Makin, Dan Seal, Tim Cowley, Iva Motusaga, James Moore, Steve Winn, Lewis Vinnicombe.

 

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Last meetings

The last meeting of the two clubs was towards the end of last season when Pirates stole the win in the last play of the the match.

Alllbion Report  This Plymouth Report  Pirates Report

Not for the first time last season a game of two halves that Albion almost won but managed to be beaten in the very last second of the match when the Pirates pushed over the line to score under the posts and win by just one point. With tries for Martin Rice, Ed Barnes, Regardt van Eyk and  Luke Arscott and all four tries converted by Ed Barnes Albion.

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Last three matches

 

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Tables

Plymouth remain the best defensive team in the league despite letting Otley score 4 tries against them last Saturday. We also have the second best point difference second only to Titians but this is only the third thing taken into account when setting the league positions. We need wins and bonus points to continue to move up the table.

With 2 tries against Otley last week Nic moves into 2nd place in the most tries scored this season  in National League One.

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Predictions

BetFred 

 Prediction for match - To close to call - handicap showing scratch

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Terrace Talk

Fifth placed Cornish Pirates take on third placed Plymouth Albion looking for a win to seen them climb above the Devon side in the league table. 

The Pirates lost their 100% home record last Sunday when they were held to a 21 all draw by league leaders Leeds Tykes. 

Prior to this they had won seven in a row all by at least 17 points. 

Plymouth Albion returned to winning ways last Saturday after losing away at Doncaster the week before. Prior to that on the road they had won five of their seven matches with two defeats, at Exeter Chiefs and Nottingham. 

Prediction: Tough call this one but will go with Pirates by six points. 

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Rugby Round up

Fifth takes on third in Camborne in an eagerly anticipated West Country derby. Both sides have only lost three times this season and the Pirates crucially have home advantage. Last week’s draw with the Tykes cost the Pirates two league positions and their 100% home record. Albion lost their last away game at Doncaster and I expect a similar reverse here by three points.

RurgbyRoundup is currently offline due to technical problems, expected back before the end of the year

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Frank's prediction.

It will be a close match and only won by the odd point possible scored in the last few minutes of the match. There will be a penalty try but it could be to either side and provided the rain holds off and we don't get the fog that has closed Heathrow to internal flights it will be a nail biting match to watch. I wish I was going to be there but will have to make do with listening on line from the Radio Cornwall website.

Pirates 22 Albion 23

Don't forget you can register your own predictions!

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Visiting fans

Tickets are £2 more if purchased at the gate and the match is expected to be a sell out I suggest you check with Pirates office on 01736-331961, visit their website or attempt to buy a ticket on he way at one of their many outlets:

Ground Information

Car park - £2

Programme £2

Food/beer
No information on website

How to get there

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Clear sky max 8^o light winds

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Officials

No information on the RugbyRugby website

Other Matches

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Other top team matches this weekend

Other top 5 team matches that might effect the league lead

Saturday

Doncaster(2) v Earth Titans(4) (Donny by *3 ⁺4 Titans by ^#5)

Leeds(1) v Otley(12) (Leeds by *24 ^#32 ⁺12)

Leeds like Pirates usually play on a Sunday but have both chosen to play their Christmas fixture on Saturday 23rd

*BetFred prices
⁺Terrace Talk
^#Rugby Roundup

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Albion matters

Two players are defiantly un available for selection Wihan Neethling and Ben Gulliver and are both expected to be out for some weeks to come.

Sila Va'Enuku made such an impression against Otley on Saturday that he may have claimed his place in the starting line-up at Cambourne but if not he is sure to be on the bench.

Ed Lewsey has played so well at scrum half while Nigel Cane has been unfit that he may keep his place ahead of Nigel.

Tom Arscott was seen limping on Saturday but his speed in the first half really helped Albion to a win. If Nigel Cane starts then Tom may well be back to the bench.

Francisco De Formes played well in his first full match for Albion but has he done enough for such a key match.

At 36 Nat Saumi is the most experienced player on the pitch and will probably stay at full back until Wihan returns to fitness.

Mike Lewis has been returning to fitness but with no recent match practice will he be considered fit enough for the bench.

Until Friday this is my best guess for the line up.

Frank's Team: Nat Saumi, Tom Arscott, Regardt van Eyk, Sila Va'Enuku, Nic Sestaret, Ed Barnes, Ed Lewsey, Martin Rice, Richard Oxley, Scott Zimmerman, Colin Stewart, Tom Hayes, Federico Genoud, Danny Thomas, Chris Lowrie.

Replacements: Nigel Cane, Francisco De Formes, James Owen, Keni Fisilau, Brett Stroud, Tim Matias, Dave Delaney.

Team announced on Unofficial website, presumable from the programme entry and now confirmed on the Albion Official site:

Albion
N Saumi; T Arscott, R van Eyk, K Fisilau, N Sestaret; E Barnes, E Lewsey;
M Rice, R Oxley, S Zimmerman, C Stewart, T Hayes, F Genoud, D Thomas, (capt), C Lowrie.

Replacements (from):
N Cane, D Delaney, A Cruickshanks, S Vaenuku, F Deformes, T Mathias, J Owen, B Stroud.

 

Westcountry Warriors

There is no match for the Warriors this weekend but a new match arranged against Brixham on the 30th at 2:30

Ladies

With the ladies having won their match last weekend at Rosslyn Park 15-20 there are no fixtures for the next few weeks and have time off for good results. They would liked to have come away with a bonus point but have had to make do with just the 4 points. They sit in 6th place and seem clear of the relegation zone.