Can the Cornish Pirates Conquer League Leaders Ealing Trailfinders This Saturday?

The Cornish Pirates face a formidable challenge this Saturday as they take on league leaders Ealing Trailfinders in Round 12 of the Championship. The match, scheduled for 3 pm, follows the Pirates’ recent 34-10 defeat to Hartpury, leaving them keen to turn things around.

Squad Changes Shake Things Up

The Pirates, currently sitting sixth in the league, have made several changes for the upcoming game. These include the absence of three on-loan players—Tomiwa Agbongbon, Matt Cannon, and Harry Yates—who are unavailable to play against their parent club.

Key changes in the backs include Iwan Price-Thomas starting at full-back, with Will Trewin moving to the wing. Joe Elderkin will partner Charlie McCaig in the centre, while Iwan Jenkins will make his first league start of the season at fly-half.

In the forwards, Alfie Petch has returned on loan from Gloucester, having recently featured in their Challenge Cup game against Bayonne. Alfie Bell, who debuted off the bench last week, will start alongside Fintan Coleman in the second row. Sol Moody has been named at hooker, Harry Hocking moves to the back row, and recent Redruth signing Matt Pritchard is set for debut action as a replacement.

Aiming for Their Best Effort

Speaking ahead of the match, joint head coach Alan Paver acknowledged the challenges the Pirates face, highlighting the squad’s significant personnel changes in recent weeks.

“We fully recognise that the journey our present group of players are on is obviously at a different level to where Ealing are at, but again we will prepare to the best of our ability and will be putting out what we feel is the strongest selection available,” Alan said.

“Our aim and mindset will be to go into the game looking to get something out of it and, whether we will or won’t, the proof will be in the pudding. The bottom line also is that we be going up there and we will give it our best effort.”

Match Coverage

For fans unable to attend, BBC Radio Cornwall will provide live commentary, and Ealing Trailfinders will stream the game live on YouTube. Watch the match here.

Cornish Pirates Squad

Starting XV:
15 Iwan Price-Thomas, 14 Arthur Relton, 13 Charlie McCaig, 12 Joe Elderkin, 11 Will Trewin, 10 Iwan Jenkins, 9 Dan Hiscocks; 1 Billy Young, 2 Sol Moody, 3 Alfie Petch, 4 Alfie Bell, 5 Fintan Coleman, 6 Alex Everett, 7 Harry Hocking, 8 Hugh Bokenham (captain).

Replacements:
16 Matt Pritchard, 17 James French, 18 Ollie Andrews, 19 Josh King, 20 Chris Mills, 21 Cam Jones, 22 Bruce Houston, 23 Robin Wedlake.

Will the Pirates rise to the occasion or will Ealing prove too strong? Tune in to find out!