Semi-final Attention Turns From the ‘Mennaye’ To The ‘Mem’

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Bristol, Cornish Pirates

Following last Monday’s RFU Championship first leg semi-final match played at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, which saw the Cornish Pirates defeat Bristol Rugby 45-24, the attention now turns to the second leg, scheduled for Sunday at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol (ko 12.45pm).

The Pirates will carry a healthy 21 points lead into this return encounter, but they will be mindful that their job is not yet complete. This is, in effect, only half-time, and in the knowledge that Bristol have an unbeaten record at home in the Championship this season, it will also be noted that they have also registered some hefty victories along the way.

Recording such an emphatic result in the first leg certainly drew extra attention to the Pirates, and to the Championship competition in general, as nobody but nobody would have predicted a 45-24 outcome. Besides ‘Sky’ television, who had their best ever ratings for the Championship for this game, national press coverage was also unprecedented, not forgetting also that supporters of Newcastle Falcons quite understandably followed the match with added interest, as they will again this coming weekend.

For Sunday’s game Kyle Marriott continues at No. 8 for the Cornish Pirates, having been a second half replacement on Monday for the injured Ben Maidment, and lock Matt Smith is named on the bench. The full selection is as follows:-

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, G. Pointer, S. Hill, A. Suniula, D. Doherty, C. Thomas, G. Cattle (capt), K. Marriott, P. Burgess, C. Morgan, I. Nimmo, L. McGlone, A. Paver, D. Ward, C. Rimmer.

Replacements: R. Storer, R. Elloway, R. Brits, M. Smith, D. Ewers, T. Kessell, M. Evans.

Four uncapped players will make their England debuts against Spain

Posted on May 10, 2012 in England Women

Four uncapped players will make their England debuts in Saturday’s opening FIRA-AER European Cup campaign against Spain, kick off 430pm BST, in Rovereto, Italy.

Worcester’s Lydia Thompson, Bristol’s Sally Tuson and Darlington Mowden Park Sharks’ Ruth Laybourn will form a new look backs line-up for England, while Bristol’s Kate Newton will join an experienced front-row comprising of Rochelle Clark and Emma Croker who share 93 caps between them.

Worcester’s Danielle Waterman will start at fullback, her first game since the victorious autumn international series against world champions New Zealand, whilst Ceri Large and Georgina Rozario are the half backs.

In the forwards, Lichfield’s Sarah Hunter wears the captaincy armband and she is joined in the pack by fellow Six Nations winners Emily Braund, Tamara Taylor, Marlie Packer and Harriet Millar Mills.

On the bench Fiona Davidson (Richmond) and Lauren Cattell (Chesham) are also set to make their England debuts.

Graham Smith, England’s Head Coach for this tournament, said: “Despite this being a relatively new look England side, training has gone well and the squad have come together really well. I have been impressed with the squad’s approach to training and their discipline and they are working together really well. There will obviously be some challenges for the new caps on Saturday and that is where our experienced players will be vital.”

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It’s Bristol vs Pirates & It’ll Be Big – In The Semis!

Posted on Apr 25, 2012 in Bristol, Championship, Cornish Pirates, English Rugby

At the end of Stage 2 in this season’s RFU Championship competition, the Cornish Pirates finished second in Pool B. They will now play Pool A winners Bristol Rugby in the two-legged semi-final.

The first ‘semi’, which is of mighty importance and is big in every way, will be played at home on Monday the 7th. May, the early May Bank Holiday, and because SKY television is covering the match it will kick-off at the rather unusual time of 1205.

Clearly a big big crowd will be present at the Mennaye Field for this match, with there a likely invasion of Bristol supporters. It is an ‘all pay’ game and the obvious advice is to purchase your tickets needs early. They are available from the club’s ticket office 01736-331961 (open Mon – Fri from 9am – 12 noon), on-line at www.cornish-pirates.com, and from various Warrens bakers shops about the county. Season tickets holders who wish to book their usual seats in the stands have until Friday midday to do so and are advised to please telephone the ticket office accordingly.

The return semi at the Memorial Ground, Bristol, is to be played on Sunday 13th May (ko 1245), and the two-legged finals are scheduled to take place on Wednesday the 23rd and 30th May.

London Welsh look to secure Pool A top spot

Posted on Apr 13, 2012 in Championship, English Rugby, London Welsh

London Welsh entertain Bristol at Old Deer Park on Sunday in front of the live Sky Sports cameras knowing that victory will secure the Exiles top spot in Pool A.

However, should Nottingham fail to pick up a bonus-point win when away to Doncaster 24 hours earlier then the Exiles’ place in the Championship semi-finals for a third consecutive year will be assured.

Sunday’s meeting will be the fourth between London Welsh and Bristol this season, with the sides sharing one win a piece and a 12-12 draw at the Memorial Stadium last month. Former Exile Matthew Jones’ penalty with the last kick of the game giving Bristol a share of the spoils.

With the largest margin of victory being just six points, Sunday has the potential to be another tight affair.

That came when Bristol travelled to Old Deer Park in January, with tries from Saul Nelson and Hudson Tonga’uiha giving the Exiles a 23-17 win.

Welsh won both meetings between the two sides at Old Deer Park during the 2010/11 season. Aled Thomas scoring 21 points as the Exiles won 39-14 during the regular season, while 54-9 was the margin of Welsh’s victory in the play-offs.

Bristol’s last win at Old Deer Park came in March 2010 when they won 28-3, on their way to reaching the Championship final.

London Welsh: 15. Alex Davies, 14. Joe Ajuwa, 13. James Lewis, 12. Hudson Tonga’uiha*, 11. Nick Scott, 10. Gordon Ross* ©, 9. Rob Lewis, 1. Tom French, 2. Vili Ma’asi*, 3. Greg Bateman, 4. Gary Johnson, 5. Matt Corker, 6. Lee Beach, 7. Mike Denbee, 8. Ed Jackson.

Replacements: 16. Dan George, 17. Shawn Pittman*, 18. James Tideswell, 19. Adam Brown, 20. Ben Russell, 21. Jack Moates, 22. Simon Whatling.
* Denotes full international

Jones lays down a challenge to London Welsh

Posted on Apr 12, 2012 in Latest Rugby News

London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones has challenged his players to pick up from where they left off against Doncaster Knights, when Bristol visit Old Deer Park on Sunday (kick-off 3:15pm).

The Exiles face Pool A rivals Bristol in front of the live Sky Sports cameras needing just a solitary point from their final two fixtures to secure their third consecutive Championship semi-final appearance.

However, that could prove academic should Nottingham fail to come away with a bonus-point win when they travel to Doncaster 24 hours earlier.

Jones doesn’t believe the two-week break will have an adverse affect on the Exiles, but he’s challenged his players to make sure that’s the case on Sunday.

“I don’t anticipate it being difficult, but it’s down to the individual,” said Jones. “Players should realise that every time they cross that white line they get measured – their livelihoods depend on the strength of their performance.

“All you’re looking for is boys to be more consistent in the way they prepare during the week, and consistency and continuity in performance. If you can do that you’ve got a future, and a successful one.”

Last time out, Welsh ran in five tries in a 40-19 win over Doncaster at Castle Park to leapfrog Bristol in the table, after they were held to a draw at the Memorial Stadium by the Green & Whites.

Jones admits that on balance the Exiles would probably have preferred to have kept going, after their win at Doncaster maintained Welsh’s unbeaten start to play-offs.

“Momentum is a wonderful thing, it’s like playing well in the first half – you just don’t want half-time,” he said.

“Likewise now, we’re really pleased with the way we’ve played and the way we prepared for Doncaster. We’ve built up some momentum, so it will be interesting to see how we respond after the break.

“I think players can take the break for what it is and that’s a chance to recharge physically and mentally and come back bigger and better, and build on the things they’ve progressed on. Bad players can’t do it.”

With Nottingham holding Bristol to a draw, the Exiles knew that victory over Doncaster would send them top of Pool A, while the Knights needed victory to keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the last four.

The home side trailed by a point at the break, but the Exiles controlled the second half with Nick Scott completing his hat-trick to ensure Welsh got the win they needed to leapfrog Bristol in the table.

“Doncaster are a very good attacking side and going away from home is never easy,” said Jones.

“Having said that, I would say our away record this season is better than our home record and that’s an area of concern that the players need to address before the next fixture.

“To score 40 points (v Doncaster) in a game of rugby is fantastic, so for us to do it away from home in the play-offs against one of the better sides is a double-whammy.

“It wasn’t a case that Doncaster were short of players through injury or played badly, they played well. It’s just that we took our chances in attack and played well.”

Victory over Bristol on Sunday would guarantee the Exiles top spot in Pool A, but Jones does not believe that will be of any discernable advantage to Welsh.

“Normally it’s good to finish on top because you avoid the better side in the other pool, but I think the four teams that qualify for the semi-finals will be of equal ability and can beat each other on the day,” he said.

As for the Exiles only requiring one point to book their place in the semi-finals, or for Nottingham to drop a point, Jones is not unduly concerned by such permutations.

“What’s important to us now is building on the performances we’ve put in so far by looking at consistency, realising our potential as individuals to reflect our team performance and if we can do that then league positions look after themselves,” he said.

Sunday will be Welsh and Bristol’s fourth meeting of the season. Jack Tovey’s late try gave Bristol a 35-33 win over the Exiles in an eight-try thriller in front of the live Sky Sports cameras in October.

Tries from Saul Nelson and Hudson Tonga’uiha then saw Welsh run out 23-17 winners at Old Deer Park, while Bristol needed a penalty from former Exile Matthew Jones with the last kick of the game to earn a 12-12 draw when the sides met in the play-offs at the Memorial Stadium last month.

Welsh will be particularly keen to reverse that last-gasp defeat to Bristol in front of the Sky cameras – a game the Exiles led from Rob Lewis’ first minute try. And Jones believes the fact that Sunday’s game is live on Sky is sure to have a bearing.

“People are measured by their peers and everyone will want to put in a good strong performance. It’s going to bring out another edge in the 30 players who start the game,” he said.