Match Preview - Cornish Pirates v Nottingham

By Dick Straughan
March 10 2007

It would be a brave man who would wager a large sum of money on a Nottingham victory at the Camborne Rec tomorrow. The formbook and the statistics simply do not add up. The Pirates have been on fire since Christmas whilst Nottingham have dithered in mid-table. So is it really a foregone conclusion?

Nottingham Coach Glen Delaney has gone on record this week stating that a win in the West Country is a team objective this season. Up to now his side have failed to deliver and if they lose on Sunday will have one last crack at the challenge when they visit Plymouth Albion. Nottingham have never won in Devon or Cornwall since returning to Division One and are desperate to take something from their stuttering season.

So what then of the formbook? The men from the East Midlands have not won away in Division One since a triumph at Blundellsands in early December. Their only other league success on the road coming at London Welsh. They have lost their last three matches in all competitions and went down 28-15 to the Tykes in their last away league fixture.

The Pirates, buoyed by their epic win at Doncaster last week, have tasted defeat just once in their last nine outings. The narrow 11-6 loss at Exeter heaping unwanted pressure on Jim McKay`s men in the race for a top three berth at the end of the season. With second-placed Earth Titans due to visit Camborne just a week later and an eagerly awaited Cup Semi-Final against Albion coming up right after that, their can be no room for complacency in the home ranks as they prepare to receive Nottingham.

The Pirates won the fixture at Meadow Lane on Guy Fawkes night by 24-20 with tries from Gavin Cattle and Iva Motusaga. It was however a scrappy affair with a high error count forcing the Pirates to withstand a late onslaught from the home side. Nottingham are always formidable opponents up front and will be sure to cause problems for the Pirates in the set piece. With the continued absence of Alberto Di Bernardo through injury and the form of James Moore a more fluid game plan from the Pirates looks likely. That may well be the telling factor in this contest.

Pirates Head Coach Jim McKay has delayed announcing his team as he ponders the possibility of resting players with such an intensive period of fixtures on the horizon. Competition for places is fierce with Twickenham beckoning.

The action kicks-off at 2.30pm at the Camborne Rec tomorrow. BBC Radio Cornwall wil as usual be providing live coverage on-line and on Medium Wave.