Club News May 2006

Cornish Pirates - Ground Share Next Season 2006/07

The Cornish Pirates and Camborne RFC are pleased to announce their agreement on a joint venture to ground share the Recreation Ground at Camborne for the next rugby season 2006 - 2007 and possibly the following season.

The joint venture will be for the mutual benefit of both the Cornish Pirates and Camborne.

Discussions have taken place between the two parties and Kerrier Council have been involved from the outset. Both parties are indebted to Kerrier and particularly the management for their wholehearted support in this venture, including the endorsement of the relevant Portfolio Holders councillors Malcolm Moyle and Mike Clayton.

The Cornish Pirates will, as such, play all of their games at the Recreation Ground on Sundays next year and continue to use the home facilities at the Mennaye as the training base. This training option worked very well last season and was a major improvement on previous years.

The whole story >>

4 players from the Cornish Pirates in The Rugby Times National One Dream Team

The Rugby Times National One Dream Team, as voted for by the 14 coaching teams in the division, contains four players from the Cornish Pirates.

Skipper Gavin Cattle was the most popular pick in the backs, securing nine nominations from admiring opposition coaches

The other selected Pirate representatives were wing Richard Welding, prop Nick Adams, and lock Will James.

The full team was as follows 15 Luke Arscott (Plymouth Albion), 14 Richard Welding (Cornish Pirates), 13 Mark Fatialofa (Exeter Chiefs), 12, John Cannon (Doncaster), 11 Ugo Monye (NEC Harlequins), 10 Andrew Mehrtens (NEC Harlequins), 9 Gavin Cattle (Cornish Pirates),

8 Nick Easter (NEC Harlequins), 7 Andre Vos (NEC Harlequins), 6 Martin Schusterman (Plymouth Albion), Simon Miall (NEC Harlequins), Will James (Cornish Pirates), 3 Nick Adams (Cornish Pirates), 2 Chris Johnson (Bedford Blues), 1 Soane Tongauiha (Bedford Blues).

Lock Will James, who has left the Pirates to join Premiership outfit Gloucester, holds the distinction of being the only ever-present member of the national One Dream XV since it began in 2003/04.

Roke Leads Pirates To Victory!

Following the successful Healthy Food and Fitness Evening held at Mounts Bay School in February, the Friends of the School, a committee of parents and teachers, organised a second fund-raiser at the school last Thursday evening 13/05/06, the proceeds going towards the provision of a school mini-bus.

Advertised as a multi-sensory quiz night, the event turned out to be just that, teams with names ranging from the Misfits to the Mega Fantastic Linguists having to answer a range of questions, there also being tests for sense of smell, taste and feel. Those taking part included school staff, parents, pupils and guests.

Headteacher Mrs. Sara Davey welcomed all of the competitors, introducing also quiz master Phil Westren from the Cornish Pirates and score-keeper Mrs. Jenny Hick.

From early on it was evident that two sides, the Amazing Aces and the Cornish Pirates, were likely to have a neck to neck race as to who would be the winner. In the event, with three and a half points to spare, it was the Cornish Pirates who were victorious, their team represented by Sallys Emery and Westren, Gemma Rowe, Duncan Roke, Phil Davies and Rob Bowden.

And what of the £30 prize money awarded? Well, skipper Duncan Roke, on behalf of the winning team, generously donated the prize money back to the mini-bus appeal fund.

The evening proved an enjoyable occasion, with further fund-raising events being planned for the future.

Cornish Pirates confirm another four new signings

The Cornish Pirates are delighted to confirm another four new signings to boost their squad for what looks likely to be a most interesting 2006-07 National 1 campaign.

Alberto Di Bernardo fly-half

Age: 25 Height: 510 Weight: 13st. 7lbs.

From the LAquila club, who have played in the European Challenge Cup and also in the Super 10, the main national rugby union competition in Italy, Alberto has played for Italy A. LAquila is an area that a number of Pirates will be familiar with, it being a place in Italy where a number of Junior sides have toured over the years.

Stan McKeen No. 8

Age: 24 Height: 64 Weight: 16st. 5lbs.

Having made his debut against the USA in 2004, this impressive back-rower has been capped 13 times for Canada. A former college student whose hometown is Vancouver, his club rugby has been with Pacific Pride.

Steve Winn centre

Age: 28 Height: 6 Weight: 14st. 7lbs.

Steve is a quality midfield performer, a good passer who is deceptively quick, as witnessed when he played for Gwent Dragons at the Mennaye Field two years ago. Capped by Wales A, he has played 29 games for the Dragons.

Chris Cracknell flanker

Age: 21 Height: 63 Weight: 16st. 6lbs.

Joining us from Newbury, along with centre Duncan Bell, this former NEC Harlequins and England U21s player is really looking forward to coming to Cornwall. Topping Newburys try-scoring list with 10 in the league this past season, this young player is also a useful Sevens performer, having previously played for the Crusaders alongside Rhodri McAtee.

Villiami (Villi) Ma'asi Signs New Contract

Besides the above new signings, we can advise that Tongan hooker Viliami Maasi, who joined the Pirates back in 2001, has also signed a new one year contract, thus ending speculation that the popular figure was about to move elsewhere.

Pirates in the Community

With the a successful league season behind them, one in which they finished third in National 1, their highest ever position, a number of Cornish Pirates have been busy this past week continuing to support a number of community events

Penwith Schools Gifted and Talented Physical Education Sports Event
Last Wednesday saw the Pirates working in liaison with Mounts Bay School and Penwith College at a Penwith Schools Gifted and Talented Physical Education Sports Event incorporating the 'Physical and Mental Preparation for High Level Performance in Sport'.

The twenty pupils present at Penwith College took part in theoretical and practical demonstration with members of the Cornish Pirates. They came from Cape Cornwall, Hayle, Humphry Davy, Mounts Bay and St. Ives Schools,

Following lunch Matt Jess, a former Penwith College student, provided a presentation on physical and mental preparation and high performance, ther folowed a practical training session in the sports hall involving warm up and stretching, SAQ, fitness conditioning and rugby skills, led by coaching staff members Simon Raynes, Adrian Edwards and John McKee.

Penzance Small Schools Tag Rugby Tournament
Also on Wednesday, but down at a sunny Mennaye Field, a Penzance Small Schools Tag Rugby Tournament took place, this formed part of a two day event organised in conjunction with Penwith Sports Partnership members Jon Coleman and James Davidson.

Bolitho, Mousehole and Trythall were the three schools involved on Wednesday, winners Bolitho and runners-up Trythall qualifying for the West Cornwall Finals which will be held at Redruth on June 14.

On completion of the matches Cornish Pirates players Alan Paver and Rhodri McAtee presented certificates to all the youngsters who taken part.

Penzance Large Schools Tag Tournament
Come Thursday the weather changed dramatically for the Penzance Large Schools Tag Tournament,with Alverton, Gulval, Heamoor, Newlyn, Pensans, St. Hilary and St. Marys RC. competing.

In wet and muddy conditions, the girls and boys involved showed excellent skills. Finalists Heamoor and Newlyn - whose game was drawn - go forward to the West Cornwall Finals.

At the conclusion, once again, Alan Paver was in attendance to present certificates.

There is every hope that the Penwith schools involved should compete well in the West Cornwall Finals, with a good chance for representation at a Cornwall Final to follow and then perhaps, to a later National CVOC Festival at Rugby School.

CVOC stands for Child Victims of Crime: the only National Police childrens charity administered by the British Police Rugby Section.

Cornish Pirates Awards Evening 30th April 2006

Full report & pictures >>

Following a successful season which has seen them finish third in National 1 - their highest ever league standing - a gathering of over 200 attended the Cornish Pirates annual Awards Evening on Sunday.

For invited players, officials and volunteers, plus their partners, it was a time for relaxation and enjoyment in the Westholme clubhouse and adjacent marquee, all present welcomed by club chairman Robin Turner.

The main awards were:

Gavin Cattle
Travelling Supporters Player of the Year
Sportsman of the Year

Sam Betty
Most Improved Player

Alan Paver
The Stirling Cup for Commitment

Rhodri McAtee
The Monckton Cup for Achievement
no surprise following his exploits with Wales in both the IRB Sevens and the Commonwealth Games (Rhodri was wearing his Commonwealth Games suit for the occasion).

The Roger Pascoe Cup for the Supporters Player of the Year

Try of the Season sponsored by Follett Stock
This award also went to Rhodri, the supporters choice being the Welsh whippets hat-trick score against Doncaster the fleet-footed magician receiving a pass from Wes Davies to then run in mesmeric style to blitz the last line of defence and score.

Scott Dugdale
Clubman of the Year a popular and deserved winner for his efforts both on and off the field to revamp the Pirates amateur 2nd. XV Scott Dugdale.

Additional Presentations

Joe Bearman in recognition of services to the Pirates 1997-2006

Paul Quayle and Treve Stirling
Colts coaches were re-presented with the Cornwall 7s trophy

Cornish Pirates' Awards - Lee Jarvis style!

Players Choice Awards **

Having witnessed hidden ability in prop Alan Paver, when he hosted a 'Ready, Steady, Cook' show at Mounts Bay's School's Healthy Eating evening earlier in the year, it was the turn of Lee Jarvis to step forward as an entertaining public speaker/comedian at the successful Cornish Pirates' Awards Night held at the clubhouse on Sunday.

Besides the main awards overseen by club archivist Phil Westren, there were three slightly different and unusual tongue-in-cheek awards presented, and no doubt instigated, by a leisurely Lee.

The awards made, with Lee using resonant Welsh tones to highlight reasons for each choice, went to:-

Most 'Boring Player of the Year' - Alan Paver (for continually ranting on about the art of front-row play).

'Poser of the Year' - a clear winner - Richard Welding.

'Dullest Player of the Year' - Kev-in "I always break the gain line, me" James.

Were they embarrassed? Not in the slightest, each taking it in good fun, the 'audience' lapping up the non-scheduled presentations made.