Post by Jamie Crawford on Apr 5, 2022 15:09:56 GMT
Cornish Pirates preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Championship Cup Round 1, Doncaster Knights v Cornish Pirates Castle Park, Saturday 9th April KO 2.30pm
The Championship Cup (sorry, repeated it for Dave White
)
Ealing Trailfinders receive a bye into the quarter-final because they were table leaders after round 17, when the Championship Cup fixtures were drawn.
In Round 1, teams will play against one another, home and away. The result determines entry into the quarter-final.
Round 1, First leg:
Ampthill v Coventry (Tie 1)
Nottingham v Bedford Blues (Tie 2)
Doncaster Knights v Cornish Pirates (Tie 3)
Jersey Reds v London Scottish (Tie 4)
Richmond v Hartpury (Tie 5)
Round 1, Second leg:
Coventry v Ampthill (Tie 1)
Bedford Blues v Nottingham (Tie 2)
Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights (Tie 3)
London Scottish v Jersey Reds (Tie 4)
Hartpury v Richmond (Tie 5)
Quarter-final, First leg:
Tie 5 winner v Tie 4 winner
Best losing playing record 2/1 v Tie 2 winner
Tie 3 winner v Tie 1 winner
Best losing playing record 4/3 v Ealing Trailfinders
Unfortunately, the Knights and the Pirates have drawn the toughest first and second legs. The winner will go forward to play the winner between Ampthill and Coventry. The loser may play Ealing if their playing record is better than the loser of the Reds or the Scottish Exiles.
Cornish Pirates
The Pirates have not applied to the RFU for promotion this season but no doubt they will next season after their new Stadium for Cornwall has been constructed. It is due to commence operations in September 2003.
The timing for completion will fall neatly into benefactor Dicky Evans’ three-year “Sunset Plan” to complete his investment in the Cornish Pirates.
The Sunset Plan offers a £2.5m funding programme and security for up to three years for the Pirates, allowing the full-time professional side to continue to challenge for the Premiership while a graceful transition to new investors is executed. It was announced on Tuesday 15th March 2022. Over his 27 year ‘ownership’ Dicky initially saved the club from bankruptcy in Division 7 to a leading professional Championship team, competing to enter the Premiership. The Pirates have been in two Championship play offs and this season and may win the league. They will have a new stadium that comfortably surpasses any RFU requirements for entry into the Premiership and so interest in a new benefactor is expected to be high.
Last time out (in the Championship)
The Pirates welcomed Ampthill in their final Championship league fixture and drew 28-28.
The Knights had a successful conclusion to the Championship after returning from Nottingham’s Lady Bay with a bonus point win, 5-26. They could do more in their quest to be Championship leaders and laid down the gauntlet to Ealing Trailfinders. Trailfinders were up to the task and trounced Richmond 50-10. Credit to Trailfinders for winning the Championship, they scored 366 more points than the Knights (18.3/game) and this points scored difference was the key. It inevitably led to many bonus points being scored and this proved to be the deciding factor. The Knights won two more games than Trailfinders, conceded fewer points and did the double over them by beating them home and away.
Pirate danger men
There are no stats for the Championship Cup, with this being the first leg but, in the Championship, hooker Tom Channon is the equal-third top try-scorer in the Championship after scoring a dozen tries. Fly half Arwel Robson is the Championship’s fourth top points-scorer after scoring 123 points for the Pirates.
Back row Matt Bolwell and lock/back row Josh Caulfield scored against the Knights last March at Castle Park.
Team strengths and weaknesses
The Pirate rolling maul is legendary, two of their three tries scored against Jersey Reds were scored this way. Their Channon (hooker) - Danny Cutmore (lock) conveyor belt provides clean, rapid and regular possession for the backs. Channon is the most frequent try-scoring recipient from their rolling mauls or breaking off the set piece. Channon scored 16 tries from 20 games in the Championship but virtually all will have been from a collective forward effort.
This season Pirate’s defence has been exceptional with only the Knights and Trailfinders conceding fewer points.
Saturday’s game
The Pirates have played three games since the Knights beat them at fortress Castle Park but they will return intent on destroying that title.
A Knights or Pirates win would see them have the advantage going into the Second leg at Mennaye Field in Cornwall on 23rd April. The loser must look at gaining as many points as possible to have a chance of reaching the quarter-final against Ealing.
(sorry Whitey!)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Championship Cup Round 1, Doncaster Knights v Cornish Pirates Castle Park, Saturday 9th April KO 2.30pm
The Championship Cup (sorry, repeated it for Dave White
)Ealing Trailfinders receive a bye into the quarter-final because they were table leaders after round 17, when the Championship Cup fixtures were drawn.
In Round 1, teams will play against one another, home and away. The result determines entry into the quarter-final.
Round 1, First leg:
Ampthill v Coventry (Tie 1)
Nottingham v Bedford Blues (Tie 2)
Doncaster Knights v Cornish Pirates (Tie 3)
Jersey Reds v London Scottish (Tie 4)
Richmond v Hartpury (Tie 5)
Round 1, Second leg:
Coventry v Ampthill (Tie 1)
Bedford Blues v Nottingham (Tie 2)
Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights (Tie 3)
London Scottish v Jersey Reds (Tie 4)
Hartpury v Richmond (Tie 5)
Quarter-final, First leg:
Tie 5 winner v Tie 4 winner
Best losing playing record 2/1 v Tie 2 winner
Tie 3 winner v Tie 1 winner
Best losing playing record 4/3 v Ealing Trailfinders
Unfortunately, the Knights and the Pirates have drawn the toughest first and second legs. The winner will go forward to play the winner between Ampthill and Coventry. The loser may play Ealing if their playing record is better than the loser of the Reds or the Scottish Exiles.
Cornish Pirates
The Pirates have not applied to the RFU for promotion this season but no doubt they will next season after their new Stadium for Cornwall has been constructed. It is due to commence operations in September 2003.
The timing for completion will fall neatly into benefactor Dicky Evans’ three-year “Sunset Plan” to complete his investment in the Cornish Pirates.
The Sunset Plan offers a £2.5m funding programme and security for up to three years for the Pirates, allowing the full-time professional side to continue to challenge for the Premiership while a graceful transition to new investors is executed. It was announced on Tuesday 15th March 2022. Over his 27 year ‘ownership’ Dicky initially saved the club from bankruptcy in Division 7 to a leading professional Championship team, competing to enter the Premiership. The Pirates have been in two Championship play offs and this season and may win the league. They will have a new stadium that comfortably surpasses any RFU requirements for entry into the Premiership and so interest in a new benefactor is expected to be high.
Last time out (in the Championship)
The Pirates welcomed Ampthill in their final Championship league fixture and drew 28-28.
The Knights had a successful conclusion to the Championship after returning from Nottingham’s Lady Bay with a bonus point win, 5-26. They could do more in their quest to be Championship leaders and laid down the gauntlet to Ealing Trailfinders. Trailfinders were up to the task and trounced Richmond 50-10. Credit to Trailfinders for winning the Championship, they scored 366 more points than the Knights (18.3/game) and this points scored difference was the key. It inevitably led to many bonus points being scored and this proved to be the deciding factor. The Knights won two more games than Trailfinders, conceded fewer points and did the double over them by beating them home and away.
Pirate danger men
There are no stats for the Championship Cup, with this being the first leg but, in the Championship, hooker Tom Channon is the equal-third top try-scorer in the Championship after scoring a dozen tries. Fly half Arwel Robson is the Championship’s fourth top points-scorer after scoring 123 points for the Pirates.
Back row Matt Bolwell and lock/back row Josh Caulfield scored against the Knights last March at Castle Park.
Team strengths and weaknesses
The Pirate rolling maul is legendary, two of their three tries scored against Jersey Reds were scored this way. Their Channon (hooker) - Danny Cutmore (lock) conveyor belt provides clean, rapid and regular possession for the backs. Channon is the most frequent try-scoring recipient from their rolling mauls or breaking off the set piece. Channon scored 16 tries from 20 games in the Championship but virtually all will have been from a collective forward effort.
This season Pirate’s defence has been exceptional with only the Knights and Trailfinders conceding fewer points.
Saturday’s game
The Pirates have played three games since the Knights beat them at fortress Castle Park but they will return intent on destroying that title.
A Knights or Pirates win would see them have the advantage going into the Second leg at Mennaye Field in Cornwall on 23rd April. The loser must look at gaining as many points as possible to have a chance of reaching the quarter-final against Ealing.
(sorry Whitey!)
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
