Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 23, 2021 15:51:13 GMT
Cornish Pirates preview
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Round 4, Castle Park Sat 27th March, 2021 - 3pm
This game has been dubbed as Bodes’ first major test. In my opinion the league table will end up with Ealing Trailfinders and Saracens first and second or second and first, then either Cornish Pirates or us in third and fourth. The Pirates beat Saracens in the season opener but we had already lost to Sarries twice pre-season. However, the game was played at the Mennaye in Cornwall where the Pirates are stronger plus the Knights are visibly improving after every game. I hope its not too early to make predictions because they are many great teams in the Championship that could improve far beyond their early performances, especially after such a long time away from playing. What is your opinion on the top four league positions at the end of the season? Early, yes but remember that there are only seven games left!
Normally it’s too early to look at league positions after just three games but in this truncated season, three games is almost a third of the season! Ealing Trailfinders are top, two points above us. The Pirates are second by scoring an extra bonus point, we are third and Ampthill are seven points below us in fourth. Only Trailfinders, the Pirates and the Knights are unbeaten in the three games played this season. At the other end of the table, Jersey Reds and Nottingham Rugby have yet to win a game or even sore a league point.
As mentioned, the season opener saw the Pirates beat Saracens in a shock result. I assume that the Sarrie strong rolling maul was not as strong as the legendary Pirate rolling maul, especially at the Mennaye but I didn’t see the game. Again, Sarries were without their six England players (plus Ali Crossdale in the Shadow Squad) due to six-Nation duties, in addition to this two were in the Scotland squad. Not even Billy Vunipola played, who played in the Trailfinder Cup games immediately before the Six Nations.
Pirate tries were scored by No. 8 Tom Duncan, Hooker Daniel Frost and substitute Scrum Half Rhodri Davies three minutes before the final whistle.
The question for Sarries is if there are enough games left to rise to the top after the Six Nations Internationals return to play for them? Nine players! (Seven England players & two Scottish.)
Next up was Richmond at their Athletic Ground who lost 7-27. This time Pirate tries were scored by Scrum Half Jean Baptiste Bruzuler, Full Back Maliq Holden, No. 8 Tom Duncan and substitute Back Row Mathew Bolwell two minutes before Full Time.
Last Sunday the Pirates welcomed Bedford Blues to the Mennaye and won 27-12 (Tries: 5-2). The following Pirates touched down for five points; Hooker Daniel Frost, Wing Robin Wedlake-Millecham (see the Shades of Lomu link below), two by Wing Marlen Walker, Lock/Back Row Josh Caulfield.
Centre and MotM Shae Tucker was instrumental in a few tries.
The Blues never looked like winning. they started in defensive mode in the first half, trying to prevent tries rather than score them. Very passive but then second half the Blues were more aggressive and tried to score but their ball handling let them down, they left two very scoreable tries on the pitch. Who knows what the Pirates style of play would have been had they been scored?
The first try was a Blues try, an interception very much against the run of play.
Two of the Pirate’s tries were their renowned strength, the rolling maul.
Wing Wedlake-Millecham was strong in attack and defended very strongly. Caulfield scored a try from close range after bulldozing through five defenders. Caulfield also made some good runs and was surprisingly quick. Miss passes, often double were used quite often and led to one or two tries. Another try was a training ground move where a lineout ball from about five metres was passed back to Walker who raced through the middle of the lineout to score. Difficult to defend if the Forwards aren’t fast enough to react because the Backs are spread out over the pitch, nobody is behind the lineout. The Full Back must mark the opposing Full Back and if they are attacking from a five-metre lineout, they will have probably joined the attacking line of Backs,
Fly Half Luke Scully kicked for touch with pinpoint accuracy, usually providing the Pirates with a five-metre lineout, he also did a triple miss-pass to the hands! Dangerous to attempt in case of interceptions but would probably create a try-scoring opportunity if the defence isn’t ready, as was the case in the game.
The Knights have scored eight tries to the Pirates’ twelve over the three games played. Pirate Forwards have scored eight tries themselves, most of which are probably from their rolling maul. At the other end of the pitch, the Pirates have conceded six tries to the Knights’ nine. Tries have been predominantly scored by Full Backs and Wingers against the Pirates. Bomber, Chall et al (poet?) need to be ready to repel the marauding Pirate Forwards and Bacon, Evans, Kane, Packman, Spittle; well all Backs need to aim to break the line or score out wide. (Sorry if I missed anybody out, these five are the only players listed as Full Back or Wing.)
The Rugby Paper’s Championship Dream XV included two Pirates:
15. Kyle Moyle (Cornish Pirates)
12. Calum Patterson (Cornish Pirates)
Robin Wedlake was on Twitter last season, dubbed shades of Lomu against England at [HASH]RWC1999:
Definitely a player to be wary of!
Don’t forget to watch the live stream available at: www.championshiprugby.co.uk/live-streams
Both the Pirates and the Knights are undefeated before the game, let’s hope the Knights keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 4, Castle Park Sat 27th March, 2021 - 3pm
This game has been dubbed as Bodes’ first major test. In my opinion the league table will end up with Ealing Trailfinders and Saracens first and second or second and first, then either Cornish Pirates or us in third and fourth. The Pirates beat Saracens in the season opener but we had already lost to Sarries twice pre-season. However, the game was played at the Mennaye in Cornwall where the Pirates are stronger plus the Knights are visibly improving after every game. I hope its not too early to make predictions because they are many great teams in the Championship that could improve far beyond their early performances, especially after such a long time away from playing. What is your opinion on the top four league positions at the end of the season? Early, yes but remember that there are only seven games left!
Normally it’s too early to look at league positions after just three games but in this truncated season, three games is almost a third of the season! Ealing Trailfinders are top, two points above us. The Pirates are second by scoring an extra bonus point, we are third and Ampthill are seven points below us in fourth. Only Trailfinders, the Pirates and the Knights are unbeaten in the three games played this season. At the other end of the table, Jersey Reds and Nottingham Rugby have yet to win a game or even sore a league point.
As mentioned, the season opener saw the Pirates beat Saracens in a shock result. I assume that the Sarrie strong rolling maul was not as strong as the legendary Pirate rolling maul, especially at the Mennaye but I didn’t see the game. Again, Sarries were without their six England players (plus Ali Crossdale in the Shadow Squad) due to six-Nation duties, in addition to this two were in the Scotland squad. Not even Billy Vunipola played, who played in the Trailfinder Cup games immediately before the Six Nations.
Pirate tries were scored by No. 8 Tom Duncan, Hooker Daniel Frost and substitute Scrum Half Rhodri Davies three minutes before the final whistle.
The question for Sarries is if there are enough games left to rise to the top after the Six Nations Internationals return to play for them? Nine players! (Seven England players & two Scottish.)
Next up was Richmond at their Athletic Ground who lost 7-27. This time Pirate tries were scored by Scrum Half Jean Baptiste Bruzuler, Full Back Maliq Holden, No. 8 Tom Duncan and substitute Back Row Mathew Bolwell two minutes before Full Time.
Last Sunday the Pirates welcomed Bedford Blues to the Mennaye and won 27-12 (Tries: 5-2). The following Pirates touched down for five points; Hooker Daniel Frost, Wing Robin Wedlake-Millecham (see the Shades of Lomu link below), two by Wing Marlen Walker, Lock/Back Row Josh Caulfield.
Centre and MotM Shae Tucker was instrumental in a few tries.
The Blues never looked like winning. they started in defensive mode in the first half, trying to prevent tries rather than score them. Very passive but then second half the Blues were more aggressive and tried to score but their ball handling let them down, they left two very scoreable tries on the pitch. Who knows what the Pirates style of play would have been had they been scored?
The first try was a Blues try, an interception very much against the run of play.
Two of the Pirate’s tries were their renowned strength, the rolling maul.
Wing Wedlake-Millecham was strong in attack and defended very strongly. Caulfield scored a try from close range after bulldozing through five defenders. Caulfield also made some good runs and was surprisingly quick. Miss passes, often double were used quite often and led to one or two tries. Another try was a training ground move where a lineout ball from about five metres was passed back to Walker who raced through the middle of the lineout to score. Difficult to defend if the Forwards aren’t fast enough to react because the Backs are spread out over the pitch, nobody is behind the lineout. The Full Back must mark the opposing Full Back and if they are attacking from a five-metre lineout, they will have probably joined the attacking line of Backs,
Fly Half Luke Scully kicked for touch with pinpoint accuracy, usually providing the Pirates with a five-metre lineout, he also did a triple miss-pass to the hands! Dangerous to attempt in case of interceptions but would probably create a try-scoring opportunity if the defence isn’t ready, as was the case in the game.
The Knights have scored eight tries to the Pirates’ twelve over the three games played. Pirate Forwards have scored eight tries themselves, most of which are probably from their rolling maul. At the other end of the pitch, the Pirates have conceded six tries to the Knights’ nine. Tries have been predominantly scored by Full Backs and Wingers against the Pirates. Bomber, Chall et al (poet?) need to be ready to repel the marauding Pirate Forwards and Bacon, Evans, Kane, Packman, Spittle; well all Backs need to aim to break the line or score out wide. (Sorry if I missed anybody out, these five are the only players listed as Full Back or Wing.)
The Rugby Paper’s Championship Dream XV included two Pirates:
15. Kyle Moyle (Cornish Pirates)
12. Calum Patterson (Cornish Pirates)
Robin Wedlake was on Twitter last season, dubbed shades of Lomu against England at [HASH]RWC1999:
Definitely a player to be wary of!
Don’t forget to watch the live stream available at: www.championshiprugby.co.uk/live-streams
Both the Pirates and the Knights are undefeated before the game, let’s hope the Knights keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
