Pirates Expect A Different Test ‘On the Road’

Next up for the Cornish Pirates is a trip to Hartpury RFC on Saturday, where there is a 2.30pm kick-off at the Gloucestershire team’s Gillman’s Ground.

This weekend’s opponents, who finished 10th in last season’s Championship – their first playing at the level – have performed well in their opening two games. They won 16-5 at home to Yorkshire Carnegie and last weekend lost a closely fought contest, 28-17, away to Doncaster Knights.

New faces at Hartpury RFC include the half-back pairing of Richard Bolt and Luke Cozens, who join from Rouen in France. Scrum-half Bolt is a former ‘Pirate’, whilst for Cozens it is a second spell with Hartpury for a player who has also performed for Bath.

The Cornish Pirates won all four games (two in the League and two in the Cup) played between the teams last season, however they are expecting a much tougher examination this weekend.

Coach Gavin Cattle has commented:

After two home wins, our first game on the road away to Hartpury this weekend provides a different test. It is also against a team that has clearly made improvements over the off season.

We wanted a fast start to this campaign and improve on last year, so results thus far have been pleasing. With good performances both individually and collectively, which we will be looking to build upon, there is a deep belief in what we are doing – although at the same time realising there is still with a long way to go yet.