Pirates Await the Knights

An opening game in March will see the Cornish Pirates welcome Doncaster Knights to the Mennaye Field on Sunday, for what is invariably an entertaining affair. The kick-off is at 2.30pm.
Having beaten Yorkshire Carnegie last weekend the Pirates will be keen to record a second consecutive victory, once again against tough opposition from ‘up north’.

Ahead of Sunday’s seventh versus fourth clash in the Greene King IPA Championship a pitch inspection took place at the Mennaye Field today, when an independent official deemed the pitch playable. However, in consideration of the recent weather conditions, for understandable reason a further pitch inspection will take place tomorrow morning prior to the Doncaster team’s departure, after which a further update will be announced.

The one change in the Pirates starting line-up from the team beat Yorkshire Carnegie sees Josh Caulfield named to partner Brett Beukeboom in the second-row, with club captain Chris Morgan dropping to the bench. Also listed among the replacements is Dan Frost who will be keen to make an appearance since returning to the club on loan from Taunton.

Tickets for Sunday’s match will be available at the gates on the day (open 12.30pm), whilst they can also be purchased on-line.

For further information please visit www.cornish-pirates.com/tickets

Following the sudden death last week of Doncaster’s 27-year-old tight-head prop forward Ian Williams, the rugby world has responded to express condolences to the former Oxford Blue’s family and close friends, whilst many matches about the country from Premiership to grassroots level also observed a minute’s silence before games played last weekend.

With the approval of the RFU and British & Irish Cup Organising Committee, the Knights No 3 jersey has been ‘retired’ for the remainder of the League and Cup season.

There will be another minute’s silence before kick-off on Sunday.