EDF ENERGY NATIONAL TROPHY RUGBY NEWS

Penzance & Newlyn RFC are looking to create club history this Sunday with victory in the final of the EDF Energy National Trophy.

The Cornish Pirates, who take on South West rivals Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham stadium, have never before won a competition of this magnitude but head coach Jim McKay is hoping new boundaries can be broken this weekend.

McKay said: “Sunday is going to be a great day for the club. The nearest we have ever got to the final before was the losing to Bristol in the semi-finals in 2004 so we have already achieved something new. Obviously though we want to push even further.

“This is a real break though for us and Cornish rugby and we delighted to be in the final. Even though we have been decimated by injuries of late, I rate our chances as good.”

Indeed there is little to choose from between Penzance & Newlyn and Exeter Chiefs if their league record is anything to go by.

The Camborne club currently head Pete Drewett’s Exeter outfit by two places on the league ladder in fifth, but only five points actually separate the two teams with both clubs having won the same amount of league games this season.

“I think this could be a classic cup encounter,” added McKay. “We both have had a very similar season and there’s also the added factor that this is a Cornwall versus Devon match.

“Exeter are also clearly in good form at the moment but I think the final will come down to which ever team settles down first on Sunday. They have got some talented players but so have we and we are as determined as ever to win this competition.

“The Cornish Pirates have never won anything like this before in terms of competition stature. This is all part of the club’s development and certainly as good as it gets at the moment.”

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