2012–13 Cornish Pirates RFC season

The 2012–13 season was the Cornish Pirates tenth season in the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the RFU Championship and their fourth in the British and Irish Cup.

2012–13 Cornish Pirates Rugby season
Nickname(s)The Pirates
Founded1945; 79 years ago (1945)
LocationPenzance, Cornwall
Ground(s)Mennaye Field (Capacity: 3,500)
Coach(es)Wales Ian Davies (head coach)
Captain(s)Gavin Cattle
League(s)RFU Championship
Official website
www.cornish-pirates.com

Pre–season friendlies

edit
Date Opponents H / A Result Score Attendance Match Report Ref
11 August Loughborough Students H W 36–7 868 report [1]
18 August Exeter Chiefs A L 3–56 4127 report [2]
25 August Newport H W 32–18 1139 report [3]

[4]

RFU Championship

edit

Stage one consists of twelve teams playing each of the other teams twice, once at home and once away, making a total of 22 games for each team. The league programme starts on Saturday, 1 September 2012 and will be completed by Saturday, 20 April 2013. The top four teams qualify for the two–legged semi–finals whilst the bottom team will be relegated to National League 1.[5][6]

Stage one fixtures

edit
Date Opponents H / A Result Score Attendance Position Match Report Ref
1 1 September Jersey A W 20 – 6 2470 4th report [7]
2 6 September Plymouth Albion H W 19 – 17 2260 3rd report [8]
3 16 September Bristol A L 17 – 29 4613 6th report [9]
4 22 September Newcastle Falcons H L 3 – 25 1745 9th report [10]
5 28 September Doncaster Knights A D 18 – 18 1121 8th report [11]
6 6 October London Scottish A L 24 – 25 1126 8th report [12]
7 27 October Leeds Carnegie H W 21 – 8 1971 7th report [13]
8 3 November Moseley A D 9 – 9 1003 7th report [14]
9 10 November Rotherham Titans H W 53 – 21 1763 6th report [15]
10 23 November Bedford Blues A L 6 – 32 3155 7th report [16]
11 1 December Nottingham H W 11 – 10 1411 6th report
12 26 December Plymouth Albion A W 9 – 5 3058 6th report [17]
13 1 January Bristol H W 32 – 17 2954 4th report [18]
26 January Newcastle Falcons A P – P 6th report
14 9 February Doncaster Knights H W 31 – 18 1309 4th report [19]
15 16 February London Scottish H L 17 – 20 1857 5th report [20]
16 22 February Newcastle Falcons A L 3 – 50 2208 5th report [21]
17 2 March Leeds Carnegie A L 27 – 35 1363 6th report [22]
18 9 March Moseley H W 17 – 14 1223 6th report [23]
23 March Rotherham Titans A P – P report
19 30 March Bedford Blues H L 18 – 26 2032 6th report [24]
20 5 April Rotherham Titans A L 28 – 41 1012 6th report
21 14 April Nottingham A L 26 – 28 1469 6th report
22 20 April Jersey H W 28 – 24 1959 6th report

[25]

Stage one league table

edit
2012–13 RFU Championship table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Newcastle Falcons (CH) 22 21 0 1 677 252 +425 13 1 98 Promotion place
2 Nottingham (SF) 22 15 0 7 624 409 +215 10 4 74
3 Bedford Blues (RU) 22 14 1 7 664 485 +179 11 2 71
4 Leeds Carnegie (SF) 22 13 0 9 585 480 +105 9 6 67
5 Bristol 22 14 0 8 524 481 +43 6 3 65
6 Cornish Pirates 22 10 2 10 435 480 −45 5 3 52
7 Rotherham Titans 22 10 1 11 503 569 −66 6 3 51
8 London Scottish 22 10 0 12 456 610 −154 4 4 45[a]
9 Plymouth Albion 22 7 0 15 419 518 −99 4 8 40
10 Moseley 22 6 1 15 377 542 −165 1 6 33
11 Jersey 22 6 0 16 385 595 −210 2 5 31
12 Doncaster Knights (R) 22 3 1 18 364 592 −228 2 7 23 Relegation place
Updated to match(es) played on 21 April 2013. Source: itsrugby.co.uk
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
    Notes:
  1. ^ London Scottish were deducted 3 competition points for fielding an ineligible player.[26]

British and Irish Cup

edit

The 2012–13 British and Irish Cup is the fourth season of the annual rugby union competition for second tier, semi-professional and professional clubs from Britain and Ireland. First round matches began on the weekend of 13 October 2012 and the final will be on the weekend of 17 May 2013. The competition consists of eight groups of four teams playing each other twice to give each team six matches. The top team in each group qualifies for the quarter–finals and the final will be played at a venue to be decided when the finalists are known. The Pirates are in Pool 3.

Group stage

edit
Date Opponents H / A Result Score Attendance Match Report Ref
14 October   Carmarthen Quins H W 44 – 32 1469 report [27]
20 October   Dundee HSFP A W 32 – 6 400 report [28]
9 December   Swansea H W 27 – 9 1356 report [29]
15 December   Swansea A W 30 – 10 350 report [30]
13 January   Dundee HSFP H W 34 – 14 1536 report [31]
19 January   Carmarthen Quins A L 12 – 17 150 report
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TB LB Pts
  Cornish Pirates 6 5 0 1 179 88 91 22 3 1 24
  Carmarthen Quins 6 4 0 2 150 123 27 16 2 1 19
  Swansea 6 2 0 4 98 137 –39 11 1 0 9
  Dundee HSFP 6 1 0 5 84 163 –79 9 0 1 6
Points breakdown:
*4 points for a win
*2 points for a draw
*1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
*1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Quarter–final

edit

The quarter–finals were played on the weekend of 6 April and was decided by how well each group winner performed in the group matches. This is the third time in four seasons that the two teams have met with the Pirates winning the two previous encounters.[32] Details of the full draw can be found at 2012–13 British and Irish Cup.

Date Opponents H / A Result Score Attendance Match Report Ref
7 April Munster A H L 9–10 1478 report [33]

Squad 2012–13

edit

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Rob Elloway Hooker   Germany
Darren Semmens Hooker   England
Jack Yeandle (Exeter Chiefs) Hooker   England
Paul Andrew Prop   England
Lloyd Fairbrother (Exeter Chiefs) Prop   England
Alan Paver Prop   England
Ben Prescott Prop   Scotland
Ryan Storer Prop   England
Peter Joyce Prop   England
Darren Barry Lock   England
Gary Johnson Lock   England
David Lyons Lock   England
Laurie McGlone Lock   New Zealand
Ian Nimmo Lock   Scotland
Phil Burgess Flanker   England
Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs) Flanker   England
Chris Morgan Flanker   England
Ben Maidment Flanker   England
Owen Hambly (Redruth) Flanker   England
Adam Clayton Number 8   England
Blair Cowan Number 8   New Zealand
Kyle Marriott Number 8   England
Tom Duncan (Redruth) Number 8   England
Player Position Union
Gavin Cattle Scrum-half   Wales
Tom Kessell Scrum-half   England
Kyle Moyle Scrum-half   England
Johnny Bentley Fly-half   New Zealand
Kieran Hallett Fly-half   Ireland
Tom Bedford Centre   England
Alex Cheesman Centre   England
Junior Fatialofa Centre   England
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) Centre   England
Tom Riley Centre   Wales
Ben Mercer Centre   England
Wes Davies Wing   Wales
Grant Pointer Wing   England
Ashley Smith (London Welsh RFC) Wing   England
Charlie Walker–Blair (Exeter Chiefs) Wing   England
Lewis Vinnicombe (Redruth) Wing   England
Matt Evans Fullback   Canada
Rob Cook Fullback   England
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs) Fullback   England

[34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41]

Dual registration

edit
  • David Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
  • Lloyd Fairbrother (Exeter Chiefs)
  • Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
  • Charles Walker–Blair (Exeter Chiefs)
  • Rob Cook (Gloucester)[42]
  • Jack Yeandle (Exeter Chiefs)[43]
  • Lewis Vinnicombe (Redruth)
  • Owen Hambly (Redruth)
  • Tom Duncan (Redruth)[44]
  • Ashley Smith (London Welsh)[45]
  • Jack Nowell

Transfers 2012–13

edit

Players in

edit

Players out

edit

[55] [56] [57]

Coaching staff

edit
  • Ian Davies ( ) (Head Coach) from April 2012. Previously Forwards Coach appointed in April 2009.
  • Harvey Biljon ( ) (Backs Coach) appointed in April 2009.
  • Simon Raynes ( ) (Strength and Conditioning Coach) since summer 2005.

[58] [59]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Straughan, Dick (16 August 2012). "Newlook Pirates see off skilled students". The Cornishman. p. 84.
  2. ^ Straughan, Dick (23 August 2012). "Chiefs hit Pirates with eight try blitz". The Cornishman. p. 90.
  3. ^ Straughan, Dick (30 August 2012). "Pirates warm up for Jersey opener with five–try victory". The Cornishman. p. 90.
  4. ^ "Friendlies announced". The Cornishman. 24 May 2012.
  5. ^ Straughan, Dick (24 May 2012). "Davies has mixed feelings over changes to league format". The Cornishman. p. 84.
  6. ^ "2012/13 RFU Championship fixtures". RFU. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  7. ^ Straughan, Dick (6 September 2012). "Evans sees off Jersey boys with superb try hat-trick". The Cornishman. p. 86.
  8. ^ Straughan, Dick (13 September 2012). "Pirates get out of jail as Cook makes rivals pay the price". The Cornishman. p. 83. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  9. ^ Straughan, Dick (20 September 2012). "Pirates fail to end their Memorial Ground jin". The Cornishman. p. 86. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. ^ Straughan, Dick (27 September 2012). "Falcons swoop for hard-fought Mennaye victory". The Cornishman. p. 86. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  11. ^ Straughan, Dick (4 October 2012). "Davies fumes after Pirates are held by lowly Knights". The Cornishman. p. 86. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  12. ^ Straughan, Dick (11 October 2012). "Biljon left shell-shocked as Scottish snatch victory with last-gasp penalty". The Cornishman. p. 94. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  13. ^ Straughan, Dick (1 November 2012). "Pirates back on track with home win over Leeds". The Cornishman. p. 82. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  14. ^ Straughan, dick (8 November 2012). "Old boy Thomas makes Pirates pay the penalty". The Cornishman. p. 86. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  15. ^ Straughan, Dick (15 November 2012). "Pirates click into gear with eight-try romp". The Cornishman. p. 82. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  16. ^ Straughan, Dick (29 November 2012). "Biljon offers no excuses for error-strewn display". The Cornishman. p. 90. Retrieved 16 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "Pirates eye play-off spot after derby win". The Cornishman. 3 January 2013. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  18. ^ Straughan, Dick (3 January 2012). "Pirates on the up as Bristol are shot down". The Cornishman. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  19. ^ Straughan, Dick (14 February 2013). "Pirates grind out four-try victory in Mennaye mud". The Cornishman. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  20. ^ Straughan, Dick (21 February 2013). "Love hurts as Scots make poor Pirates pay". The Cornishman. p. 82. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  21. ^ Straughan, Dick (28 February 2013). "Falcoons prey on battling Pirates". The Cornishman. p. 78. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  22. ^ Straughan, Dick (7 March 2013). "Third straight defeat dents Pirates play-off hopes". The Cornishman. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  23. ^ Straughan, Dick (14 March 2013). "Fightback helps Cornish Pirates return to winning ways". The Cornishman. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  24. ^ Straughan, Dick (4 April 2013). "Pirates suffer blue Sunday in Easter thriller". The Cornishman.
  25. ^ Straughan, Dick (14 June 2012). "Campaign of highs and lows for Pirates". The Cornishman. p. 82.
  26. ^ "RFU Upholds London Scottish Verdict". London Scottish. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  27. ^ Straughan, Dick (18 October 2012). "Pirates dig deep for Cup victory". The Cornishman. p. 78. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  28. ^ Straughan, Dick (25 October 2012). "Ruthless Pirates produce season's best display to defeat spirited Scots". The Cornishman. p. 82. Archived from the original on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  29. ^ Straughan, Dick (13 December 2012). "Pirates sink Swansea to remain top of group". The Cornishman. p. 78. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  30. ^ Straughan, Dick (20 December 2012). "Victory puts Pirates on brink of quarter-finals". The Cornishman. p. 78. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  31. ^ Straughan, Dick (17 January 2013). "Last eight spot piece of cake for the Pirates". The Cornishman. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  32. ^ "Home v Munster In B&I Cup Quarter Final". Cornish Pirates. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  33. ^ Straughan, Dick (11 April 2013). "Irish eyes are smiling as injury time try denies Pirates place in semi finals". The Cornishman.
  34. ^ Straughan, Dick (26 May 2011). "We're going for it again, vows Pirates owner". The Cornishman. p. 80.
  35. ^ "Ian Nimmo amongst seven to re–sign for Cornish Pirates". BBC. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  36. ^ "Cornish Pirates secure Jonny Bentley and Phil Burgess for 2012–13". BBC. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  37. ^ "Cornish Pirates keep Rob Cook and six others". BBC. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  38. ^ a b Straughan, Dick (28 June 2012). "Pirates snap up Riley from Newport Dragons". The Cornishman. p. 88.
  39. ^ Straughan, Dick (5 July 2012). "Pirates strengthen second row with three new arrivals". The Cornishman. p. 84.
  40. ^ Walrond, Nigel (23 September 2012). "Pirates bolster squad ready for Falcons' visit". Independent (Plymouth). p. 55.
  41. ^ "Cornish Pirates sign full-back Kyle Moyle". BBC. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  42. ^ Richards, Nath (7 September 2012). "Pirates sign Cook on loan ahead of derby clash". Western Morning News. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  43. ^ "Cornish Pirates sign Exeter Chiefs hooker Jack Yeandle". BBC. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  44. ^ Walrond, Neil (9 December 2012). "Moyle Mulls Pirates Deal". Independent (Plymouth). p. 55.
  45. ^ "Smith wings in – but may fly out Trusted article source icon". The Cornishman. 7 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  46. ^ "Cornish Pirates sign Moseley lock David Lyons". BBC. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  47. ^ Walrond, Nigel (12 May 2013). "Thomas has enjoyed player-coach position". Independent (Plymouth).
  48. ^ "Cornish Pirates sign Wasps centre Alex Cheeseman and five others". BBC Sport. 21 May 2012.
  49. ^ Mitchell, Rhod (8 September 2012). "Redruth prop makes switch to Pirates". Western Morning News. Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  50. ^ Mitchell, Rhod. "Blow for Pirates as points machine Cook joins Premiership club". Western Morning News. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  51. ^ Marsh, Paddy (1 July 2012). "Albion next for Cowan–Dickie on his rugby learning curve". Independent (Plymouth). p. 50.
  52. ^ Mitchell, Rhod. "Reds miss out on McActee as he opts for Albion". Western Morning News. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  53. ^ "Exeter Chiefs sign Cornish Pirates prop Carl Rimmer". BBC. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  54. ^ Walrond, Nigel (21 June 2012). "St Ives complete coup of summer as Thomas signs". The Cornishman. p. 86.
  55. ^ Walrond, Nigel (3 June 2012). "Pirates will be back for pre–season in a month!". The Independent (Plymouth). p. 50.
  56. ^ Straughan, Dick (24 May 2012). "Mennaye moves for six more signings". The Cornishman. p. 88.
  57. ^ Straughan, Dick (7 June 2012). "Nimmo joins lengthy list of summer departures". The Cornishman. p. 84.
  58. ^ "Chris Stirling to help Cornish Pirates coaches". BBC. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  59. ^ "Simon Raynes". Cornish Pirates. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
edit