Match Preview - Newbury v Pirates

By Dick Straughan
September 27 2007

The Cornish Pirates travel to Berkshire on Saturday to face Newbury Blues hoping that it will be third time lucky in their quest to secure a valuable winning bonus point on the road. Having triumphed in both previous away fixtures at Polson Bridge and the Butts Park Arena, Jim McKay`s men know that a much more consistent performance is required on Saturday.

In fairness the Pirates were a much sterner proposition last weekend against bottom of the table Pertemps Bees and whilst securing a five point maximum result, should have beaten the Bees by far more than 43-20. Four tries in nine sublime second-half minutes destroying the visitors and slowing the pulse rates of the home faithful.

With just a week to prepare after this fixture for the visit of in-form Exeter Chiefs to Camborne the Pirates simply have to produce the goods if they are to cement their current fourth-place in the table. Nothing short of a good win will do - again! However, recent history suggests that nothing short of a battle will face them at the impressive Monks Lane ground.

Back in January the Pirates stole victory in the mud as a gigantic fifteen man maul roared on by the massed travelling support, drove Vili Ma`asi over the line for a late Pirates try. The 20-15 winning margin was slightly harsh on Ben Ryan`s Newbury team who at the beginning of the previous season missed a last minute conversion attempt to hand a patched up Pirates side a 26-25 victory.

This season though things have changed at Monks Lane. Ryan has departed for a job with the RFU and Newbury, noted for their cavalier style of play, have faltered. But do not be deceived by their current lowly position. They may have lost both home fixtures to date but have registered twenty-two points in each fixture against Bedford (22-37) and Doncaster (22-49). Sandwiched in between came a narrow 23-25 defeat at London Welsh, but last weekend the Blues travelled north and came up trumps with a hard fought 14-13 victory at Sedgley Park. A result that will have done a huge amount for their confidence.

The Pirates welcome back skipper Tim Cowley at Number 8 with Chris Cracknell reverting to the flank and Eni Gesinde dropping to the bench. Summer signing from Moseley, Ollie Thomas, makes his first start in Pirates colours at full-back in place of the injured Adryan Winnan whilst Ali Koko slots in on the right wing for his first full start. Dan Seal is preferred at tighthead to Sam Heard and Richard Bolt resumes at scrum-half in place of Jimmy Moore who is on the bench. Nick Buckley also drops to the bench along with Brian Tuohy who dislocated a finger prior to the match against Bees

A sizeable Pirates contingent are once again expected on the touchlines and they will no doubt enjoy renewing acquaintances with popular ex-Pirate Jonny "Paris" Hylton, as he loiters on the Newbury wings.

I`m going to stick to my guns prediction wise and forecast a Pirates win and a secured five points. It won`t be easy though and it may just be a try-fest of an afternoon.

Team News

Cornish Pirates – 15 Ollie Thomas, 14 Ali Koko, 13 Paul Devlin, 12 Steve Winn, 11 Rhodri McAtee, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Richard Bolt, 8 Tim Cowley (capt), 7 Iva Motusaga, 6 Chris Cracknell, 5 Bruce Cumming, 4 Joe Beardshaw; 3 Dan Seal, 2 Nathan Kemp, 1 Peter Cook.

Replacements – 16 Rob Elloway, 17 Sam Heard, 18 Scott Hobson, 19 Eniola Gisende, 20 Nick Buckley, 21 James Moore, 22 Brian Tuohy