Very pleased with the performance today after two poor away efforts and in light of Roth’s start to the season.
It did look through the first half that the home side felt confident that a forward oriented, risk averse approach would do the job and I did feel that they looked a bit short of options when we got into the game after the first quarter.
As a full time outfit we would expect fitness to tell in the last quarter but I was a bit twitchy given the long journey and our previous away trips. Relieved and happy with the result.
Week 6
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bottyTITAN
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2026 6:29 pm
Re: Week 6
I have to applaud the Pirates yesterday; they were better than us all around the pitch. I can't even remember us losing as many lineouts as we did yesterday, we just kept giving away the ball. However, Pirates were just much quicker in both the forwards and backs. Let's hope we can recover quickly, as it's Sunday/Friday for us, so not much time as a part-time squad to work on what's needed.
Re: Week 6
Nail on the head Botty. Emphasis being on part time versus full time.
Remember what happened to us against Dings last year?
It is a massive difference. It’s not exactly comparing Apples with Apples.
Good luck to them if they and other teams can afford to run a full time team, then fine, but in the current climate I am not sure that the difference is reflected in the quality gap. Clearly Doncaster thought the same. For me yes we were under par, and yes the line out was poor, but it was great at Richmond. That can be improved.
Even then it was a game of fine margins. It should have been 14-14 but suddenly it is 7-21 at half time. Very fine margins.
They are a good team and they are fully professional, but they did ship 73 points at Coventry, which to me would raise more eyebrows than them gaining a bonus point try in the last play of the game at Clifton Lane. They also lost heavily at Bedford who are not a full time team, so I would imagine their issue is strength in depth as it seems that many of their big hitters were available yesterday.
Remember what happened to us against Dings last year?
It is a massive difference. It’s not exactly comparing Apples with Apples.
Good luck to them if they and other teams can afford to run a full time team, then fine, but in the current climate I am not sure that the difference is reflected in the quality gap. Clearly Doncaster thought the same. For me yes we were under par, and yes the line out was poor, but it was great at Richmond. That can be improved.
Even then it was a game of fine margins. It should have been 14-14 but suddenly it is 7-21 at half time. Very fine margins.
They are a good team and they are fully professional, but they did ship 73 points at Coventry, which to me would raise more eyebrows than them gaining a bonus point try in the last play of the game at Clifton Lane. They also lost heavily at Bedford who are not a full time team, so I would imagine their issue is strength in depth as it seems that many of their big hitters were available yesterday.
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Cheshire Exile
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2026 8:49 pm
Re: Week 6
We also beat Ealing at home. Our first two away performances were admittedly poor, but the three home wins were emphatic.
I would suggest that the fact that our closest away game is Hartpury (450 mile round trip) is not insignificant, and never has been.
And it’s true, we do have a small squad as Gavin Cattle pointed out in the pre match interview.
Do you still have the 50 strong squad referenced at the start of the season?
I would suggest that the fact that our closest away game is Hartpury (450 mile round trip) is not insignificant, and never has been.
And it’s true, we do have a small squad as Gavin Cattle pointed out in the pre match interview.
Do you still have the 50 strong squad referenced at the start of the season?
Re: Week 6
On the contrary, Rothman2. I think for Pirates to go away to Rotherham and come away with a five-point win is a statement performance. Rotherham have had a great start to the season and must have had some confidence going into the game. Pirates on the other hand were yet to score an away victory, and to have to travel all that distance with the pressure to perform must have been a mental challenge.
Pirates have historically not travelled well, with Penzance being absolutely miles away from anywhere.
There’s absolutely no shame in losing to Bedford or Cov away. Two very well-coached teams, with Cov currently sitting as ‘best of the rest’ in third place. The Cov game was a bit of an outlier, as Pirates rarely get butchered like that. Cov were just on another level that day and Pirates were well off it.
Yes, Pirates are a pro team (as far as I know) but it’s a small squad. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of the smaller squads in the league. You’re right that they lack strength in depth, as just a couple of injuries in key areas can make a big difference.
Personally I was expecting Pirates to lose at Rotherham at the weekend by three or four points.
Pirates have historically not travelled well, with Penzance being absolutely miles away from anywhere.
There’s absolutely no shame in losing to Bedford or Cov away. Two very well-coached teams, with Cov currently sitting as ‘best of the rest’ in third place. The Cov game was a bit of an outlier, as Pirates rarely get butchered like that. Cov were just on another level that day and Pirates were well off it.
Yes, Pirates are a pro team (as far as I know) but it’s a small squad. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of the smaller squads in the league. You’re right that they lack strength in depth, as just a couple of injuries in key areas can make a big difference.
Personally I was expecting Pirates to lose at Rotherham at the weekend by three or four points.
Re: Week 6
To be fair you were on another level on Sunday at Roth. Your coach nullified our threats in the main part and you threatened our line out all game. If you are continually losing field position as you know it becomes very difficult. I was very impressed with Pirates who seemed to have a number of key players back. I don’t know, maybe the fact that it was on TV, maybe we were carrying some injuries, maybe maybe, BUT we definitely missed that “Je ne sais quoi” that has been evident in most of our games before this one.cuppatea wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2026 11:13 pm On the contrary, Rothman2. I think for Pirates to go away to Rotherham and come away with a five-point win is a statement performance. Rotherham have had a great start to the season and must have had some confidence going into the game. Cov were just on another level that day and Pirates were well off it.
Yes, Pirates are a pro team (as far as I know) but it’s a small squad. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of the smaller squads in the league. You’re right that they lack strength in depth, as just a couple of injuries in key areas can make a big difference.
Personally I was expecting Pirates to lose at Rotherham at the weekend by three or four points.
However to say we had an off day would detract from the fine performance you gave on the day. You executed your game plan, nullified our threats and were worthy winners on the day. No doubt about that.
I personally am honoured that you consider us a major scalp and you were the first club to win at the Lane for more than 2 years, but we are not naive enough to think that we can turn all sides over at the Lane at this level too, as the opposition thus far is on another level to that we encountered in the National Leagues.
My original comments stemmed from initial disappointment but it is an honour to be back playing at the same level as yourselves, Worcester Bedford Cov and Ealing, the latter of course we are yet to meet this season.