Cornish Pirates hoping to make cup history

Penzance & Newlyn RFC could be set to create history this Saturday in the EDF Energy National Trophy semi-final clash against South West rivals Plymouth Albion.

The Cornish side are just one step away from the Twickenham final and with the semi-finals against Bristol in 2004 the nearest the Camborne club have got to reaching the final of the domestic cup head coach Jim McKay is hoping boundaries can be broken.

He said: “We are really looking forward to the match. We have a lot of respect for Plymouth and what they do, they do very well but we also believe we are a very good side. This will be a good opportunity for us and it would be nice to create a bit of new history for the club.”

With Penzance & Newlyn just edging above Graham Dawe’s Devon outfit on the National Division 1 league ladder the clash at the Recreation Ground certainly promises to be a thriller.

McKay, however, is adamant that although Albion is the only side to have beaten the Pirates on home turf this season, there are no old scores to settle.

He added: “Yes, Plymouth are the only side to have beaten us at home and everyone loves to talk up those sort of stories but for us track records between teams means nothing. This is a fresh match and one that certainly promises to entertain. With very little between us in the league, Saturday is clearly going to be a close, cracker-jack of a game.

“At the end of the day rugby in the South West is going to be the winner. There is definitely going to be one team from either Devon or Cornwall in the final.”

Also in action on Saturday will be Exeter Chiefs who take on Birmingham & Solihull at Sandy Park. Exeter are looking to book their place in the final for the first time since losing to Orrell in the cup final four years ago.

This Saturday’s game also sets-up the return of a former Exeter Chief player  Mark Gabey. The experienced lock joined the Bees from Exeter last summer and is relishing the opportunity to face his old club.

 “I’m looking forward to going back to Exeter and seeing the new ground for the first time,” Gabey said. “I was there when the stadium was being built but I haven’t been there since they opened it.

“I had to miss the game down there earlier in the season because I had just had my knee done and I couldn’t travel so this will certainly be a chance for me to catch up with some old team mates but most of all I’m looking forward to the game. I certainly think that we have got a chance of winning and going through to the final.

“We beat Exeter at home on the second day of the season and we played very well in defeat down there. We would have liked a home draw but our next preference after that would have been a trip to Exeter or to Plymouth Albion because we have already beaten them this season.

“We’ve had a reasonable season in the league and our comfortable in mid-table so reaching the National Trophy final has become a big incentive for us.”

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