2011–12 Cornish Pirates RFC season

The 2011–12 season was the Cornish Pirates 9th season in the second tier of the English rugby union league system, the RFU Championship and their third in the British and Irish Cup.The Cornishman, 23 June 2011 The Pirates finished 3rd in Stage One of the Championship, allowing them to qualify for the promotion stages, where they were losing finalist to London Welsh RFC. They also reached the semi–finals of the British and Irish Cup losing to Cross Keys in Wales.

Pre–season Friendlies DateOpponentsH / AResultScoreAttendanceMatch ReportRef20 August 2011Exeter Chiefs H L3–582200Straughan, D. Pirates given a jolt as Chiefs go on rampage. The Cornishman p 7627 August 2011Worcester Warriors A W24–213600Straughan, D (1 September 2011). Stirling's feet firmly on ground after wind. The Cornishman p 77

RFU Championship

Stage One matches Stage one is a league programme of 22 matches starting on Saturday, 3 September 2011 and completed by Saturday, 25 February 2012. Each team play 11 matches at home and 11 away. Top eight teams play in the promotion play–offs, bottom four play in the relegation play–off. DateOpponentsH / AResultScoreAttendancePositionMatch ReportRef 1 3 September 2011Moseley A D27–27 806Straughan, Dick (8 September 2011). Late blow for Pirates as Moseley steal draw. The Cornishman p 74 211 September 2011Doncaster Knights H W39–321990 317 September 2011 London Scottish A W25–2312002nd 424 September 2011 Leeds Carnegie H W52–1021001st 51 October 2011Plymouth Albion A W20–1628501st 69 October 2011Bedford Blues H L24–3420923rd 715 October 2011Nottingham A D25–2513633rd 823 October 2011Esher Rugby H W34–1819652nd 930 October 2011London Welsh A D17–1717493rd 106 November 2011Rotherham Titans H W30–1325061st 1120 November 2011Bristol Rugby A L33–3760443rd 1226 November 2011 Doncaster Knights A L21–3611185th 134 December 2011London Scottish H W42–1021684th 1410 December 2011Leeds Carnegie A L13–1425685th 1524 December 2011Plymouth Albion H W33–1232144th 161 January 2012Bedford Blues A L13–3243964th 178 January 2012Nottingham Rugby H W26–2420264th 1814 January 2012Esher Rugby A W36–3012634th 1929 January 2012 London Welsh H W27–618022nd 4 February 2012Rotherham Titans AP–P2nd11 February 2012Rotherham Titans AP–P3rd12 February 2012Rotherham Titans AP–P3rd2013 February 2012Rotherham Titans A W19–14 4632nd 2119 February 2012Bristol H W18–1731153rd 2225 February 2012Moseley H W32–1718443rd 24 September H v Leed Carnegie televised on Sky Sports

Stage One final table

Stage Two matches Stage Two: The promotion play–offs are played in two groups of four with the top two teams qualifying for the knock–out stages. The relegation play–offs consist of one group of four teams with the bottom team being relegated. Each team plays three matches at home and three away. The top two teams in each group qualify for the semi–finals.

DateOpponentsH / AResultScoreAttendancePositionMatch ReportRef110 March 2012Leeds Carnegie H D14–1419532nd 216 March 2012Bedford Blues A L25–2633772nd 325 March 2012 Rotherham Titans H W25–1719232nd 431 March 2012Rotherham Titans A W17–1412222nd 515 April 2012Bedford Blues H W21–2021392nd 621 April 2012Leeds Carnegie A L25–4215882nd

Group B table (Promotion) Pos Team P W D L F A +/– BP PTS Adj 1 Bedford Blues 6 4 1 1 155 109 46 3 24 3 2 Cornish Pirates 6 3 1 2 127 133 –6 2 18 2 3 Leeds Carnegie 6 2 2 2 124 127 –3 2 15 1 4 Rotherham Titans 6 1 0 5 88 125 –37 2 6 0

* Adj – refers to number of points awarded before the start of the play-offs.

Points per match are awarded as follows: Four points for a win Two points for a draw 1 bonus point for scoring four tries and/or losing a match by seven points or less Knock-out stages consist of two-legged semi–finals and final with the highest league finisher from Stage One being the home team

Semi–final

Final

British and Irish Cup The Cornish Pirates were drawn in Pool one and played the teams in Pool two. The Pool winners and the two best runners–up qualified for the Quarter–finals.

Pool one fixtures DateOpponentsH / AResultScoreVenueAttendanceMatch ReportRef21 September 2011Bristol H W50–22The Mennaye1612 12 October 2011Plymouth Albion A W38–0Brickfields1425 12 November 2011Munster A A W10–6Clonmel RFC1207 18 December 2011 Cross Keys H W30–3The Mennaye2259

Pool one final table

TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstBPPts Cornish Pirates (1) 4 4 0 0 128 31 2 18 Ayr 4 2 0 2 44 72 1 9 Moseley 4 2 0 2 46 106 0 8 Neath 4 1 0 3 62 108 1 5

Quarter–final DateOpponentsH / AResultScoreVenueAttendanceMatch ReportRef22 January 2012Nottingham Rugby H W33–3The Mennaye1492

Semi–final DateOpponentsH / AResultScoreVenueAttendanceMatch ReportRef7 April 2012Cross Keys A L16–20Pandy Park2500

Squad 2011–12

Dual Registration Tom Cowan–Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) David Ewers (Exeter Chiefs) Lloyd Fairbrother (Exeter Chiefs) Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) Drew Locke (Exeter Chiefs) Alan Paver (Exeter Chiefs) Charles Walker–Blair (Exeter Chiefs)

Internationally Capped Players Andrew Suniula joined the Pirates after the 2011 World Cup.

Transfers 2011–12

Players In Tom Cooper (from Newport Gwent Dragons) David Doherty (from Jersey) Tom Kessell (from Plymouth Albion) Ben Maidment (from Moseley) Matt Smith (from UWICNigel Walrond. Cornish Pirates. Pirates say fond farewells to popular Mennaye men. 'Independent' 29 May 2011 Ryan Westren (from Launceston) moved to London Scottish in December 2011 Andrew Suniula (from Chicago Griffins) Darren Daniel (from Carmarthen Quins) Ceiron Thomas (from Leeds Carnegie) Matt Evans (from Newport Gwent Dragons)

Players Out Sam Betty (to Worcester Warriors) Blair Cowan (to Worcester Warriors in January 2012) James Currie (to Worcester Warriors) Ben Gulliver (to Worcester Warriors) Tyrone Holmes (released) Matt Hopper (to Harlequins) Nick Jackson (released) Tom Luke (released) Steve Winn (released) Nigel Walrond. Flanker Betty in shock move to Premiership side Worcester. Independent 31 July 2011.

Coaching staff Chris Stirling () (High Performance Manager) appointed in January 2009 and left club in April 2012. 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.

2011–12 Cornish Pirates RFC season

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