Cornish Pirates Prepare to Face Unbeaten League Leaders Coventry

Mennaye Field showdown set for Saturday, 2.30pm kick-off

After a convincing Championship victory over Caldy last weekend, the Cornish Pirates are ready to welcome unbeaten league leaders Coventry to Mennaye Field this Saturday. The clash, kicking off at 2.30pm, promises to be a high-stakes match as the sixth-placed Pirates aim to challenge the league frontrunners.

Team Changes Announced

The Pirates’ starting XV will see a few adjustments from the team that played in The Wirral. Chester Ribbons has been named at inside centre, with Dan Hiscocks taking on the scrum-half role and James French starting at tight-head prop.

Additionally, two Exeter Chiefs players on short-term loans, Lewis Pearson and Martin Moloney, are set to bolster the squad. Lewis will return to the lock/back-row position, having featured as a replacement against Caldy, while Martin is set to make his debut.

Coach Gavin Cattle on the Match

Joint head coach Gavin Cattle reflected on last weekend’s victory and the challenge ahead:
“Firstly, our win away to Caldy was satisfying for a variety of reasons. We were a little up against it at halftime, so to ultimately come away with a convincing result made a good outcome.

“As for this weekend against Coventry, they have had a fantastic start to the season. Well coached, and having recruited strongly with certain recognised names, we’ll have to put our best foot forward against them at the Mennaye.

“We have been close to some of the top teams in the league, but I think it’ll be post-Christmas when we see the true measure of where we are at. Like most squads, we have missed certain key players through injury, though off the back of that we should be in a better place when they return. In the meantime, we’ll keep soldiering on.”

Pirates Line-Up

The full Cornish Pirates squad for Saturday’s game has been confirmed:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Will Trewin 14 Arthur Relton 13 Charlie McCaig 12 Chester Ribbons 11 Matt McNab 10 Bruce Houston 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Billy Young 2 Harry Hocking 3 James French 4 Charlie Rice 5 Lewis Pearson 6 Martin Moloney 7 Will Gibson 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Replacements:   16 Sol Moody 17 Oisin Michel 18 Jay Tyack 19 Matt Cannon 20 Josh King 21 Cam Jones 22 Iwan Price-Thomas 23 Robin Wedlake.

Match Day Details

Referee George Selwood will oversee the game, with James Cornell and Simon Adams assisting. Tickets will be available at the gates from 12.30pm on Saturday or can be purchased online via the Cornish Pirates’ website: www.cornish-pirates.com/tickets.

The match is sponsored by Mike Drown, with ARW Scaffold Contracting Ltd sponsoring the match ball.

This is a game not to be missed as the Pirates look to challenge the league leaders and continue their strong form.