Big Match Preview: Cornish Pirates v Leeds

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This weekend we will be taking our first look at leaders and favourites for the league title; Leeds Tykes, as they make their longest trip of the season to face the Cornish Pirates.

Leeds travel down to Cornwall with an unbeaten record having won all eleven of their opening encounters but they can expect a stern test on Sunday from a Pirates side that have just started to find some form of their own in a four match unbeaten run which includes victories over Esher and Moseley as well as an away win over Bedford which surprised many. They also came away from Doncaster with a draw and will be a different prospect for Leeds than they looked five weeks ago.

Leeds come into this game on the back of two tough ties which has seen them unable to earn a try scoring bonus point against both Doncaster and Bedford, which has enable Exeter Chiefs to close the gap at the top of the table to only four points going into this weeks fixtures and if Exeter can claim a bonus point victory over Newbury then they will be top of the table by the time this match kicks off on Sunday afternoon.

Leeds fly-half Alberto Di Bernado will be returning to the club where he made his name in English Rugby and it was he who famously knocked Leeds out of the EDF Trophy that season with a conversion right at the death of their fifth round tie.
Tykes hooker Vili Ma’asi also featured for the Pirates in that season and is now a member of the Leeds squad, although he will not feature in Sunday’s match.

The last time Leeds were in this division, in the 2006/7 season these two clubs enjoyed three incredibly close encounters. The EDF Trophy encounter has already been mentioned where Cornish Pirates were victorious at Headingley by a scoreline of 18-17. The league encounter at Camborne was a pulsating 21-21 draw whilst at Headingley; Leeds triumphed by a single point at 21-20 and we will certainly not complaining at an equally tense scoreline when the two sides meet again at Camborne on Sunday.

Both sides have named strong squads for the encounter as you might expect although Pirates have a late injury doubt over scrum half Nicky Griffiths and with Ed Fairhurst in action for Canada at the moment and therefore unavailable for selection, Pirates may give a start at scrum half to winger and Welsh sevens international, Rhodri McAtee.

Leeds Tykes attacking play has been second to none this season having crossed the line on average six times per match over the opening eleven fixtures. Pirates have managed only 31 tries in that period at an average of just below three tries per match.
Pirates have also had the leakiest defence of the two sides having conceded 20 tries from their opening 11 encounters compared to Leeds Tykes who have conceded only 11 tries. Pirates however have not conceded a try in their last two matches and Leeds may find them difficult to break down in front of a passionate and vocal Cornish support.

Leeds will be the favourites going into this game but they will certainly be tested by a rejuvenated Pirates side and will have their work cut out to earn a bonus point and if they fail to earn a bonus point they could see their lead at the top of the table cut to just three points.