Pirates’ Prompt Return to the ‘RAG’

After playing London Scottish away last Friday evening, the Cornish Pirates travel again this Saturday – for a return to the Richmond Athletic Ground – this time to face Richmond.

Saturday’s Round 10 match at the ‘RAG’, which kicks off at 3pm, will present another tough challenge. Richmond are presently sixth-placed in the league, whilst it will be remembered that the Pirates lost 26-23 at home and 35-32 away when the teams met for the first time in last season’s competition.

With several in the squad presently injured or unavailable, the Cornish Pirates have for a second time this season loaned back-rower Kieran Westlake from Camborne. He is named on a bench that also includes a fresh on-loan face in hooker Danny Toolan from the Pirates Amateurs. Having made two appearances for the Pirates to date, Redruth’s Chris Fuca is selected to make his first Championship start.

Speaking ahead of their return to the ‘RAG’, player/coach Alan Paver has said:

Our experiences at the ‘RAG’ have not been great, but it’s a nice pitch and a fine club and we hope to settle the score from having lost against them last year. Having said that, we of course have a lot of respect for Richmond, as they like to get stuck into sides and play with immense spirit, and with a never-say-die attitude. Discipline on the day will, as ever, be a factor. You have to stay gritty but at the same time you have to stay controlled and as we know if you lose a player for ten minutes then it invariably means trouble.