Cornish Pirates Face Hartpury Test With Play-Off Hopes Hanging by a Thread

Win or bust. That is the reality facing the Cornish Pirates this Saturday as they travel to Hartpury knowing anything less than victory could end their play-off ambitions.

The 9th May fixture marks the final Elior Champ Rugby league match of the season, a sixth versus seventh Round 26 clash with kick-off at 3pm.

A Must-Win Encounter

For the Pirates, the maths is simple. To stand any chance of breaking into the top six and progressing to the play-offs, they need to win, just as they did last weekend when they edged past Coventry 29-24 at home with a bonus point.

Hartpury will not make life easy. The hosts beat the Pirates 22-21 down in Cornwall back in October, and last weekend they were in flowing form, putting 70 points on basement side Cambridge in a 70-14 away win. The Cornish side knows exactly what is coming.

Two Changes to the Line-Up

Joint head coach Gavin Cattle has made two alterations to the starting fifteen. Joe Elderkin comes in to partner Chester Ribbons in the centre, and Ollie Andrews takes the loose-head prop role. Exeter Chiefs loanee Ehren Painter is again named on the bench.

Speaking ahead of the match, Gavin said:

“Saturday will feel like another Cup final, as we are fully aware that Hartpury are a very tough team to beat at home.

“Following last weekend’s result, we have had a good week to prep well, so to be ready to go again it’s a case of maintaining focus, having confidence in what we are capable of, and executing our game plan well.

“All in all, it promises to be an exciting and fiercely fought contest between two good sides.”

The Full Selection

Cornish Pirates: 15 Iwan Price-Thomas, 14 Arthur Relton, 13 Chester Ribbons, 12 Joe Elderkin, 11 Harry Yates, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Ollie Andrews, 2 Morgan Nelson, 3 Alfie Petch, 4 Milo Hallam, 5 Matt Cannon, 6 Alex Everett (captain), 7 Jack Forsythe, 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements: 16 Sol Moody, 17 Billy Young, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Charlie Rice, 20 Rory Suttor, 21 Will Becconsall, 22 Angus Mawson, 23 Matty Ward.

Referee: Joe James. Assistants: Hamish Grant and Neil Chivers.