Cornish Pirates target club-best second-placed finish
Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle says his side have their eye on a highest-ever league finish.
Pirates, who are third in the Championship, host second-placed Coventry on Saturday knowing victory would put the chance to finish as runners-up in their hands.
Coventry are seven points above Pirates with the game in Penzance their final fixture of the season, while Cattle's side still have to travel to London Scottish.
Pirates' best-ever finish in the second tier is third which they achieved in 2006, 2011, 2012, 2020 and 2022.
"Historically, we've never done it, and if you had said at the beginning of the season that a new group could achieve that I think a lot of people would've laughed," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"But these boys have grown throughout the year. I've been complimentary of their attitude all year and that's not a false thing, that's something we see day-in, day-out and the energy and training's been good again this week.
"Although we weren't perfect last Friday night, you could see the endeavour, that want to fight for each other was there in bucket loads, so long as we could bring that attitude we're going to give ourselves the best chance."
Ealing are four points above Coventry so a Pirates victory would ensure they win the title, although they will not earn promotion to the Premiership as their ground does not meet top flight standards.
Pirates went second in January after winning 21-19 at Coventry, and Cattle knows their opponents will be set on avenging that loss.
The game will also be a final home fixture for a number of long-serving players who are leaving this summer, such as Kyle Moyle, Jack Andrew and Marlen Walker.
"We had a real tough game up there, Coventry would have been smarting over the chances they left in the first half in the previous fixture and we took our chances in the second half.
"It'll be a game where you've got capitalise on those chances, both teams evenly matched.
"They're used to playing on a firm, fast pitch. It's going to be firm and fast this week at the Mennaye for the first time this season, so I think this is set up for great fixture, a good old school tussle."
