Always hopeful of a Christmas fixture to whet the appetite, Saturday’s Round 12 game in the ‘Champ’ between the now eighth-placed Cornish Pirates and unbeaten league leaders Ealing Trailfinders fits the bill well. Of no surprise a big seasonal crowd is expected at the Mennaye Field, where the match kicks off at 2.30pm.

The Cornish Pirates will inevitably be keen to show recovery after an unusually below par performance away to Chinnor last weekend. Changes to the side that lost 47-10 in Oxfordshire, include a return to action for fit again full-back Iwan Price-Thomas and a place on the wing for Ben Cambriani.

In the forwards, Billy Young and Alfie Petch are this week’s selected props, whilst Rory Suttor and Jack Forsythe are both named in the back row.

Two names to highlight on the bench, each on loan from Exeter Chiefs, are Bristol-born lock Joe Bailey, who has played for England under 20s, and back Zack Wimbush who made quite an impression when used as a replacement at home to Cambridge in November.

Pirates’ centre Joe Elderkin will proudly be making his 100^th appearance for the team, but three players, namely Tomiwa Agbongbon, Matt Cannon, and Harry Yates, are unavailable because of their dual registration with Ealing Trailfinders.

Speaking ahead of this Saturday’s encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Alan Paver has commented:

“Obviously, this week’s game comes on the back of a rare and disappointing performance in losing 47-10 away to Chinnor. There is a lot of soul searching when something like that happens, but after first recognising the unusual low quality of performance we have had to quickly look forward to the task ahead this weekend against a formidable Ealing Trailfinders side.

“Our reaction will be interesting, because when you have had a below par performance you normally get a psychological and emotional response, plus we’ll hope that the core skills are in place.

“Ealing deserve respect for having been on the journey now for a long time and for what they have achieved. They are winning and are the team to beat, their sustained effort having required a lot of stability. Having said that, however, on any given day any team can beat another, and I think support can play a big part. The bigger the buzz about the stadium, the bigger the performance, and with a good forecast and played in good conditions Saturday’s contest should make a great spectacle.”