Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF

Jamie Crawford
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,859

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 8, 2016 15:17:12 GMT

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Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 8, 2016 15:17:12 GMT

After we beat the Pirates 19-26 at the Mennaye in Cornwall a fortnight ago and then travelled to the Capital to beat the Scottish exiles in a nail-biter. We return to the Mennaye to face the Pirates in the quarter-finals of the B & I Cup for our third away game on the bounce. The Knights will look to maintain their impressive recent away performances but hope that it will be more comfortably than last week’s 20-26 victory over London Scottish.

The Knights finished top of Pool Five with a near-perfect record of four wins from five games, scoring 21 league points in the process. The Pirates finished second in Pool Four again recording four wins from five games but they scored 18 league points. The Knights had a points difference of 94 and scored four winning bonus points. The Pirates recorded a points difference of 47 and scored one winning plus one losing bonus point. Both teams scored virtually the same number of points but the Knights’ defence was superior (Knights 60 v Pirates 75 points conceded). The Knights scored 22 tries (sixth highest) and the Pirates scored 15 (twelfth highest).

The Pirate Laurence May (Fly Half/Full Back) was the top scorer in the Cup with ten conversions and nine penalties. Jack Arnott (wing) has been the Pirate’s leading try-scorer and equal fourth of all teams in the Cup.

According to the West Briton paper, the Cornish Pirates' director of rugby Ian Davies has warned his players they can expect an even tougher test when Doncaster Knights return to the Mennaye Field in the British & Irish Cup. The Pirates won the Cup in 2010, so it’ll be a hard-fought battle against the ex-finalists versus the winners six years ago.

Other quarter-final taking place this weekend are:

Friday
Bedford v Jersey ?

Saturday
Bedford v Jersey POSTPONED
Pirates v Knights POSTPONED
Carnegie v Moseley POSTPONED
Leinster A v London Welsh

Sunday
Pirates v Knights
Carnegie v Moseley

A BBC website states those 3 matches are cancelled but it also states Bedford v Jersey on Friday and Saturday with Saturday’s being postponed? The games at the Pirates and Carnegie are postponed on Saturday but on on Sunday?
(www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/british-irish-cup/fixtures)

The Pirates game is on Sunday KO 3pm.

A brief diversion onto Championship matters; after our 20-26 win and Jersey’s 22-15 win over Nottingham last Friday, we are now definitely in the Championship Promotion Play-offs. It’s now a matter of where we finish in the top four and who we play.
Fifth place is now 21 points away with four games left, so a maximum of 20 points with four bonus point wins.

COYK

DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…

Last Edit: Mar 8, 2016 15:19:44 GMT by Jamie Crawford

tomthepom
Mascot

Posts: 22

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 8, 2016 20:48:48 GMT

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Post by tomthepom on Mar 8, 2016 20:48:48 GMT

Should be a good contest at the Mennaye. Pirates' motivation always high in the Cup. Some of this has rubbed off on Harvey Biljon - Jersey are taking it seriously…

Regarding fixture info, BBC is pretty rubbish for Championship and almost totally rubbish for B&I.

Bedford v Jersey Friday 1945
Leinster v Welsh Saturday 1900
other games Sunday afternoon

RFU site isn't flawless, but much improved and IMHO the best option…

www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/the-british-irish-cup/

Jamie Crawford Director of Rugby Posts: 1,859	Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 9, 2016 9:09:36 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 9, 2016 9:09:36 GMT Thanks Tom, forgot the RFU as they're not normally that accurate but the Beeb...! I note your comment that they're much improved. Couldn't find any B & I Cup QF fixtures on Statbunker or Rugby Round-up.

Jamie Crawford Director of Rugby Posts: 1,859	Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 10, 2016 16:24:27 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 10, 2016 16:24:27 GMT SY Times: Knights turn attention to B & I Cup
	Last Edit: Mar 10, 2016 16:26:11 GMT by Jamie Crawford

justdoit Mascot Posts: 48	Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 13, 2016 14:15:55 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by justdoit on Mar 13, 2016 14:15:55 GMT Some interesting results in the quarter final games on Friday and Saturday. Looking forward to keeping up with the Knights v Pirates on the Twitter feed this afternoon. Hope it goes well. COYK

billhunt
Player

Posts: 492

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 13, 2016 17:08:39 GMT

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Post by billhunt on Mar 13, 2016 17:08:39 GMT

Predictable result I think. The result of sending a weak side down there to avoid an expensive trip to Dublin in the semis - except that Welsh beat Leinster and it would have been Richmond instead. hey-ho. But a week off to prepare to do the double over Bristol on TV.

martinc
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,738

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 15, 2016 7:39:36 GMT

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Post by martinc on Mar 15, 2016 7:39:36 GMT

A poor performance, listened on radio and it was error strewn - if that was players trying to assure themselves of a place in the squad for next season then no contract renewals there. It smacked of we don't want to be in the cup, ergo we won't perform. Embarrassing.

oldeknight
Player

Posts: 281

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 15, 2016 9:49:29 GMT

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Post by oldeknight on Mar 15, 2016 9:49:29 GMT

very harsh words martin
i dont think any player goes out on the park to purposely under perform.
just not a strong enough side on the day to take on pirates who were up for it.
a rest for the boys now then the big one.
lets do the double over them.
any news of ollie making a comeback

martinc
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,738

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 15, 2016 12:47:52 GMT

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Post by martinc on Mar 15, 2016 12:47:52 GMT

I think 12 changes to the normal squad was where I was directing the comment, I appreciate that the comment could be misinterpreted for which I apologise I too wouldn't expect a player to purposefully under perform. But playing a team that hasn't had much match time together will make things appear poor.

I am hopeful that we will get the double against Bristol and then follow that up with the double on Bedford...............wouldn't that be grand. Hope the lads are well rested, and the tactics for the game are sinking in nicely.

Jamie Crawford Director of Rugby Posts: 1,859	Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 15, 2016 21:15:31 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 15, 2016 21:15:31 GMT ...and London Welsh. So the call is out to do the double over Bristol, Bedford, Moseley and the Welsh please Knights. In other words four wins to see Phase One of the season out. COYK DONNY, DONNY, DONNY...
	Last Edit: Mar 15, 2016 21:15:47 GMT by Jamie Crawford

martinc
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,738

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 16, 2016 7:34:37 GMT

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Post by martinc on Mar 16, 2016 7:34:37 GMT

Mar 15, 2016 18:53:06 GMT John Bale said:

Don't forget the double against Moseley MC

Of course, how could I forget that one. Definitely travelling on the Friday for that game - apart from which this could be Moseley's farewell season to the championship (although they are very good at pulling things out of the bag so not a certainty by any counts).

Jamie Crawford
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,859

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 16, 2016 8:25:20 GMT

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Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 16, 2016 8:25:20 GMT

Good point Martin, we gave them too much respect. So 'just' the three doubles and don't let the Welsh beat us.

Nice to hear that Ollie is back.

Bring on Bris, I can't believe that I'm not here but I'll be watching live on Sky in Scotland. C'mon Knights

Last Edit: Mar 16, 2016 8:26:38 GMT by Jamie Crawford

Jamie Crawford
Director of Rugby

Posts: 1,859

Cornish Pirates in B & I Cup QF Mar 16, 2016 8:39:35 GMT

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Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 16, 2016 8:39:35 GMT

Looking at Moseley’s (12) and Ealing Trailfinders (11) remaining four games:

Moseley:

Cornish Pirates (9)
Knights (2)
Bristol (1)
London Scottish (8)

Ealing Trailfinders:

London Welsh (7)
Nottingham (6)
Jersey (5)
Rotherham Titans (10)

The league positions are as of today 16th March) but Moseley appear to have the toughest finish. Therefore the Knights must be wary because the tighter your back is against the wall, the harder you can push back. They’ve got nothing to lose so why not go all out for a win.

To add Mose are two points below Trailfinders and the Titans are seven points above...

Last Edit: Mar 16, 2016 8:42:07 GMT by Jamie Crawford

thomasmachin: It would appear that if we are to replace the departing players we had better be quick or all the available players will be signed by Ealing ,Coventry and Cornish Pirates! Apr 20, 2018 8:14:16 GMT

donnyknightsfan: that was absolutely dire today almost from start to finish apart from a spell in the 2nd half when we looked OK. players don't look motivated enough to me. they need a kick up the backside. the next two games v Bedford and Irish look a tough ask now. Oct 6, 2018 21:04:32 GMT

rodders: A bit random this one but are any Knights fans travelling to the Jersey game on Friday 1st March flying from East Midlands on the 10.55 flight out. 2 of us are looking for a lift to East Midlands airport unexpectedly. Happy to share costs of travel Feb 17, 2019 19:52:21 GMT