Cornish Pirates v Caldy: a ‘big punch’ to answer at the Mennaye

Gavin Cattle isn’t hiding from it. Last weekend’s 33-19 home defeat to Richmond hurt, and the Cornish Pirates have had a week to work out what went wrong.

Their chance to put it right comes with a second week of home rugby this Saturday (14 November), when Caldy visit the Mennaye Field for an earlier than usual 1pm kick-off.

Seventh against eleventh

The side from the Wirral arrive sitting eleventh in Elior Champ Rugby. The Cornish Pirates are seventh.

Changes in the starting line-up

Angus Mawson is named at full-back in place of the injured Will Becconsall, and Joe Elderkin comes in to partner Harry Ascherl in the centre.

There’s one change in the pack, with Hugh Bokenham returning at No. 8.

A new name appears on the bench too. Karl Keane, a 25-year-old Irish-born Washington (USA) native, has arrived at the Mennaye Field as a short-term signing to provide injury cover at scrum half.

The Cornish Pirates line-up

Cornish Pirates: 15 Angus Mawson, 14 Arthur Relton, 13 Harry Ascherl, 12 Joe Elderkin, 11 Henry Palmer, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Dan Hiscocks, 1 Alessandro Heaney, 2 Morgan Nelson, 3 Alfie Petch, 4 Milo Hallam, 5 Josh King, 6 Alex Everett (captain), 7 Jack Forsythe, 8 Hugh Bokenham.

Replacements: 16 Matt Pritchard, 17 Billy Young, 18 Jamie Clark, 19 Matt Cannon, 20 Tomi Agbongbon, 21 Karl Keane, 22 Josh Radcliffe, 23 Finn Love.

Referee: Ben Wood.
Assistants: James Pidding and Kevin Williams.
Official 4: Jeff Highcock.

Matchday timings

Hospitality arrivals start at 11am, which is also when the shop and gates open.

The fanzone runs from 11.30am to 12.30pm, with free squad photos handed out for signing. Warm-ups follow at 12.30pm before the 1pm kick-off.

There’s half-time entertainment with Thatchers Cider, the second half gets under way at 2pm, and the day finishes with the post-match awards at full time.

Roseworthy Farms is the match day sponsor.

“We had a big punch on the face”

Speaking ahead of the game, Cornish Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:

“We had no complaints in our defeat by Richmond last weekend. I think we have played worse and won in previous fixtures, but they took their chances really well on the day, plus they defended heroically.

“Clearly there are certain areas of our game we need to work on, and from last Saturday’s case learn from. Obviously, the boys are frustrated, but one thing I would say is that although our intensity was decent, it was our execution that let us down.

“For us, we had a big punch on the face, so it’s about how we come out fighting this week.”