TAMAR DERBY Matavesi starts as Albion hooker
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- Last Updated on Saturday, 29 March 2014 09:26
- Published on Saturday, 29 March 2014 09:10
Plymouth Albion player-coach James Shanahan has made eight changes to the side beaten 45-10 at Rotherham for today's eagerly-anticipated cross-Tamar Championship clash against Cornish Pirates at Brickfields - including switching Fijian forward Sam Matavesi to hooker.
Fit-again centre Ben Woods returns from injury replacing Chris Elder who starts on the replacements bench.
Jamie Davies - who made an impact off the bench last week - is handed the number 11 jersey.
Top points scorer Declan Cusack is restored at fly half, partnered by recalled scrum half Paul Rowley.
The most interesting selection is at hooker where Cornwall's Fijian international star Matavesi makes his first senior start wearing 2.
Fit-again second row Canadian international Brett Beukeboom and flanker Eoghan Grace return.
Sixth placed Pirates start the game a place above Albion in the Championship table and seeking to complete a league double having won 10-3 at Mennaye Field on Boxing Day.
Pirates captain Chris Morgan misses out through injury so Jake Parker is selected as blind-side flanker while second row forward Darren Barry starts as skipper. Prop Ben Prescott, hooker Tom Channon and second row forward Laurie McGlone return.
Plymouth Albion starting 15 Dan Mugford 14 Tom Bowen 13 Ben Woods 12 Toby Howley-Berridge 11 Jamie Davies 10 Declan Cusack 9 Paul Rowley 1 Tom Harrison 2 Sam Matavesi 3 Lloyd Fairbrother 4 Brett Beukeboom 5 Ien Ascroft-Leigh 6 Sean-Michael Stephen 7 Eoghan Grace 8 Rhys Oakley (capt)
Ready on the bench 16 Davy McGregor 17 Dave Morton 18 Martin Rice 19 Harrison Tovey 20 Chris Elder 21 Ruairi Cushion 22 Jack Arnott
Cornish Pirates starting 15 Max Bodilly 14 Craig Holland 13 Tom Riley 12 Junior Fatialofa 11 Kyle Moyle 10 Kieran Hallett 9 Tom Kessell; 1 Jack Andrew 2 Tom Channon 3 Ben Prescott 4 Laurie McGlone 5 Darren Barry (capt) 6 Jake Parker 7 Alex Cheesman 8 Aaron Carpenter
Ready on the bench 16 Rob Elloway 17 Kieran Davies 18 Will Carrick Smith 19 Joel Conlon 20 TomDuncan 21Angus Sinclair 22 Tom Hendrickson
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