With Cornwall For Cornwall

Gans Kernow Rag Kernow

Westholme, Alexandra Road,

Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 4LY

Tel: 01736 331961 Email: [email protected]

Richmond

VS

Cornish Pirates

29 April, 2023

News & Fixtures

All the Latest News & Fixtures...

League / Cup

Championship Rugby Round 22

Stadium

The RAG

Date

saturday, 29 April, 2023

Kick Off

15:00

Home

Richmond

Away

Cornish Pirates

This Saturday will see the fifth placed Cornish Pirates play their last Championship league game of the season away to Richmond (ko 3pm).

 

Their hosts presently lie at the foot of the table having been leapfrogged last weekend by London Scottish who won 49-3 in their derby encounter played at the Richmond Athletic ground.

 

The Cornish Pirates should travel with confidence but will be aware also that Richmond can be dangerous opponents. Last season’s away game in the league was drawn 24-all, whilst at the Mennaye Field in September the Pirates only emerged narrow 21-14 winners. Richmond will also be scrapping with all their might to avoid relegation.

 

Selected at scrum half this weekend is Tom Kessell, who will be proudly making his 150th appearance for the Pirates. Him and his named halfback partner Harry Bazalgette are two changes in the backs from the starting line-up that ran out against Hartpury at home last Saturday. As for the forwards, Ben Grubb is named at number 8, with skipper Johns Stevens moving to open-side flanker, whilst lock Cory Teague steps back a row to this week slot in on the blindside berth. Steele Barker will now partner Will Britton in the second row, and Morgan Nelson is the chosen hooker.

 

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s encounter, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle has commented:

 

“As ever, we expect Richmond to be tricky opponents on their home ground, and especially so because they have so much to play for to give them any chance of not going down. They will inevitably bring a lot of emotion to the game because theirs is a proud club with a great history.

 

“The emotion is something we will have to match, and to put our best foot forward to get a result that will cement our fifth place in the league. When in ninth position at the turn of the year, our focus was to climb to into top half of the table by the season’s end, and with credit we have achieved that aim.”

 

With reference to Tom Kessell’s expected 150th appearance milestone, Gavin also said:

 

“Cornishman Tom is a very fine and experienced rugby player, who has strengths and qualities acquired during a long and proud career.

 

”We were obviously delighted to welcome him back to the club a couple of years back and to now reach the 150 games milestone is a great achievement.”

Cornish Pirates Line Up

Starting 15

15

AJ Cant

14

Robin Wedlake

13

Shae Tucker

12

Joe Elderkin

11

Will Trewin

10

Harry Bazalgette

9

Tom Kessell (150)

1

Jack Andrew

2

Morgan Nelson

3

Matt Johnson

4

Steele Barker

5

Will Britton

6

Cory Teague

7

John Stevens (C)

8

Ben Grubb

Replacements

16

Max Norey

17

Jacob Morris

18

Hayden King

19

James Fender

20

Will Gibson

21

Alex Schwarz

22

Carwyn Penny

23

Garyn Smith