Cornish Pirates sold out for Saracens test at Penzance’s Mennaye

Every ticket for Friday night at the Mennaye is gone, and the visitors arriving in Penzance are used to rather bigger crowds than west Cornwall usually musters. Saracens, one of the powerhouses of the English Premiership, cross the county on the final weekend of pre-season for a game that already carries a bit of extra edge.

Two wins already banked

The Cornish Pirates arrive in good order. Two away pre-season friendlies have brought two wins, a 50-28 victory at Camborne and a 35-21 win at Plymouth Albion. Kick-off against Saracens is 7.30pm on Friday, and this one is the sell-out finish to that pre-season programme.

Saracens have history at the Mennaye

This is not a new fixture. Saracens first visited the Mennaye back in 1952, when the sides drew 3-3. Their last trip down was during Covid in 2021, a Championship match the Cornish Pirates won 25-17, a result arguably the greatest in the club’s history.

Guests from Camborne, and a captain who knows the occasion

Alex Everett captains the Cornish Pirates for Friday’s game. On the bench sit two well-known guest faces borrowed from Camborne, former Fiji international Josh Matavesi and Jon Drew, both added to give the squad extra experience for the step up in opposition.

The full Cornish Pirates selection: 15 Angus Mawson, 14 Arthur Relton, 13 Chester Ribbons, 12 Harry Ascherl, 11 Henry Palmer, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Dan Hiscocks, 1 Jamie Clark, 2 Morgan Nelson, 3 Tyler Gendall, 4 Milo Hallam, 5 Steele Barker, 6 Alex Everett (captain), 7 Jack Forsythe, 8 Hugh Bokenham.

Replacements: Matt Pritchard, Jon Drew (guest), Alfie Petch, Matt Cannon, Josh King, Luke Ratcliff, Barnaby Elderkin, Tomi Agbongbon, Will Becconsall, Josh Matavesi (guest), Joe Elderkin, Finn Love, Joe Cummins.

Alan Paver: “Giving it our all”

Cornish Pirates joint head coach Alan Paver has been running a shared training week with Saracens ahead of the game. “We have had a big training week with Saracens ahead of Friday night’s game, which we are really looking forward to, and it has been great,” he said. “It has been of benefit to both teams, and both have enjoyed it.”

Alan explained what he wants to see from the side he is putting out. “For us, for the side that we are putting out it will be about getting the emotion right, really ripping in and finishing the pre-season games with a bang. That doesn’t necessarily mean a win, but it does mean getting out there and giving it our all, and to try and get some of the things we have been working on firing. If we can do that then I’ll feel pre-season has ticked all the right boxes.”

Kick-off and key timings for Friday

Doors open well before the 7.30pm kick-off, with hospitality arrivals from 4.15pm, the shop open from 5pm and gates open at 5.30pm. There is a Q&A in hospitality with Saracens internationals at 6.30pm, warm-ups from 7pm, and half-time entertainment sponsored by Thatchers Cider. Post-match awards follow at around 9.15pm.

Friday’s match is refereed by Harry Walbaum, assisted by Emmerson Wood and Kevin Williams, with Will Williams the fourth official. Match day sponsor is Yeomans Car & Van Dealers, and the match ball is sponsored by Whyfield Accountants. Further supporter information for Friday is available at www.cornish-pirates.com.