Post by Jamie Crawford on Apr 11, 2023 15:36:45 GMT
Cornish Pirates preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 20, Saturday 15th April, KO 2.30pm.
With just three Championship games until the end of the season, sixth-placed Doncaster Knights welcome fifth-placed Pirates of Penzance. Only two points separate the teams, so the winner goes or stays fifth and the loser stays or goes sixth.
Over the last eight years head to head in the Championship, the Pirates won 11 games to the Knights’ three.
The last five Championship matches the sides have played each other have favoured the home side but previously the Pirates beat the Knights 26-44 in October 2019.
Most recently the Pirates have won four of their last five games, losing to league-leaders Ealing Trailfinders. The Knights have won two and lost three of their last five games.
The Pirates have scored 59 fewer points than the Knights (3.1/game) and conceded 65 fewer (3.4/game). These points include seven more tries that the Knights have scored and four fewer the Pirates have conceded. The points scored/conceded difference between the teams is just six over 19 games, so very similar scoring stats. As ever, it’s not your points difference that matters, it’s when these points are scored and conceded. For example, it is much better to narrowly win all your games than to thrash a few teams and lose to others. Your points difference would be better but you’d have won less games!
Pirate Fly Half Arwel Robson is the Championship’s sixth highest points-scorer and Hooker Will Crane is their leading try-scorer, he has on average scored in nearly 40% of their games this season.
Last time out the Pirates beat Caldy 28-21 in Cornwall and the Knights lost 24-52 to Jersey Reds at Castle Park. The Pirates scored a try bonus point after scoring four tries, these were scored by Flanker John Stevens, Wing Robin Wedlake, substitute Prop Olly Adkins and a penalty try was awarded.
A close game between two old adversaries is expected, with both teams having very similar scoring stats. The Knights have scored a few more points and tries but the Pirates have conceded fewer points and tries.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Friday 14th April
Hartpury RFC (7) v London Scottish (12)
Nottingham (10) v Ampthill (8)
Saturday 15th April
Doncaster Knights (6) v Cornish Pirates (5)
Bedford Blues (4) v Jersey Reds (2)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Caldy (9)
Richmond (11) v Coventry (3)
Fifth place is in their own hands because a W for the Knights will swap places with the Pirates.
A Knight L could see the Knights drop to seventh if Hartpury beat London Scottish or Ampthill beat Nottingham, or eighth if both teams win. Both games are on Friday.
A Draw would not be sufficient to prevent being overtaken if Hartpury and/or Ampthill win.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 20, Saturday 15th April, KO 2.30pm.
With just three Championship games until the end of the season, sixth-placed Doncaster Knights welcome fifth-placed Pirates of Penzance. Only two points separate the teams, so the winner goes or stays fifth and the loser stays or goes sixth.
Over the last eight years head to head in the Championship, the Pirates won 11 games to the Knights’ three.
The last five Championship matches the sides have played each other have favoured the home side but previously the Pirates beat the Knights 26-44 in October 2019.
Most recently the Pirates have won four of their last five games, losing to league-leaders Ealing Trailfinders. The Knights have won two and lost three of their last five games.
The Pirates have scored 59 fewer points than the Knights (3.1/game) and conceded 65 fewer (3.4/game). These points include seven more tries that the Knights have scored and four fewer the Pirates have conceded. The points scored/conceded difference between the teams is just six over 19 games, so very similar scoring stats. As ever, it’s not your points difference that matters, it’s when these points are scored and conceded. For example, it is much better to narrowly win all your games than to thrash a few teams and lose to others. Your points difference would be better but you’d have won less games!
Pirate Fly Half Arwel Robson is the Championship’s sixth highest points-scorer and Hooker Will Crane is their leading try-scorer, he has on average scored in nearly 40% of their games this season.
Last time out the Pirates beat Caldy 28-21 in Cornwall and the Knights lost 24-52 to Jersey Reds at Castle Park. The Pirates scored a try bonus point after scoring four tries, these were scored by Flanker John Stevens, Wing Robin Wedlake, substitute Prop Olly Adkins and a penalty try was awarded.
A close game between two old adversaries is expected, with both teams having very similar scoring stats. The Knights have scored a few more points and tries but the Pirates have conceded fewer points and tries.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Friday 14th April
Hartpury RFC (7) v London Scottish (12)
Nottingham (10) v Ampthill (8)
Saturday 15th April
Doncaster Knights (6) v Cornish Pirates (5)
Bedford Blues (4) v Jersey Reds (2)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Caldy (9)
Richmond (11) v Coventry (3)
Fifth place is in their own hands because a W for the Knights will swap places with the Pirates.
A Knight L could see the Knights drop to seventh if Hartpury beat London Scottish or Ampthill beat Nottingham, or eighth if both teams win. Both games are on Friday.
A Draw would not be sufficient to prevent being overtaken if Hartpury and/or Ampthill win.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
