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BIG MATCH PREVIEW - |
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by Joe Heaton |
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at Billesley, Saturday, April 19th 2008 kick-off 3pm (but come for
lunch!) |
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As last Saturday, our welcome visitors are from Cornwall. Although now officially listed as ‘Cornish Pirates’, the club is perhaps still better known as Penzance & Newlyn RFC. The Pirates currently play on the Recreation Ground in Camborne after having had a somewhat nomadic existence during the last few years. Whilst Cornwall is usually associated with beaches, holidays and sunshine, a century ago Camborne was the centre of tin and copper mining and boasted the deepest pit in Britain. Several of today’s players are descendants of the tough miners of that era and, as many Moseley players know to their cost, are mightily proud of their Celtic heritage. Penzance & Newlyn Rugby Club was formed after the end of World War Two. The club was promoted to National League Two in April 2002, and then to National League One at the end of the following season 2002-03. In the first season in the higher division (2003-2004) the Pirates were tenth; in 2004-05 fourth; in 2005-06 third; but last season slipped back to fifth. The club currently occupies fifth place this season. The Cornish Pirates rugby operation is fully professional and had been coached by Australian Jim McKay until March. However he had recruited wisely and this is reflected within the squad’s strength. The club’s declared ambition is to gain promotion to the Premiership and field a full squad of Cornishmen. When it was decided that the home ground in Penzance (Mennaye Field) did not match this high ambition, the Pirates moved to Truro for a season and then on to Camborne (all the while continuing to train in Penzance!) Last season (2006-07) the Pirates dominated Moseley winning by 52-16 at home and then 42-13 at Billesley. To add insult to injury, the Cornishmen beat Moseley on their way to winning the EDF Energy Trophy. However this season, on December 2nd in Cornwall, the hosts only managed a 15-7 win after a 0-0 draw at half time. Their was much local criticism of Moseley’s tactics that day in keeping the ball tight although high winds and driving rain are not usually the best conditions in which to play expansive rugby! Last season the club scored over 800 points led by the Italian stand-off half, Alberto di Bernardo, who scored 293 points (2 tries, 56 conversions, 56 penalties and a dropped goal) in the League and 329 in all competitions. The results of the Pirates’ last three games are: April 6th April v Plymouth H Drew 17 – 17 29 March v Rotherham A Lost 10 – 20 23rd March v Doncaster H Won 63 – 36 In company with most of the teams in National League One the Pirates did not have a game last Saturday. . After two consecutive games against teams struggling against relegation, the Moseley players now have an opportunity to test themselves against one of the best sides in the Division. The outcome will be a marker for next season. Comments on the West Country Club’s Message Board suggest that some revenge is in store for the way Moseley approached the reciprocal game in Cornwall in December. The encounter on Saturday should therefore be interesting and certainly not be one to miss! |
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