Pirates Under No Illusions Ahead of Cup Challenge

For the Cornish Pirates, their focus this week has been to prepare for what will inevitably be a tough British & Irish Cup quarter-final contest away to Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday (ko 3pm).

It will be a second time this season that the Pirates travel to Vallis Way, remembering they lost narrowly there, 29-28, on the Championship’s opening weekend in September.

This weekend’s hosts have enjoyed an excellent season, and comfortably second in the league arrive at this Cup game on the back of a 45-20 win over Nottingham.

Both teams and sets of supporters will be looking forward to what promises to be an enthralling Easter Saturday encounter. Yes, the Trailfinders will be favourites, keen to ultimately lift the silverware, but this is Cup action and the Pirates in turn will be determined to give a good account of themselves.

There are two changes in the Cornish Pirates starting XV from the one that faced London Scottish on Sunday. In the backs a fit again Will Cargill is selected, whilst in the forwards Tom Lawday returns at blindside flanker. The occasion will also mark skipper Nicolas De Battista’s 50th appearance for the club.

Cornish Pirates coach Gavin Cattle is under no illusions that a tough challenge awaits, commenting:

Confidence in the camp is good following recent performances, however we are under no illusions that this is a big challenge for us this weekend and we will have to be on our mettle against what is a very good Ealing team.

Both sides have improved as the season has gone on and for us it will be a good measuring stick, and in a Cup competition that provides a different focus. As for our aims, it will be to endeavour to apply and execute pre-set expectation, in what is clearly a big and important match.