BIG MATCH SHOUT

CORNISH Pirates prop Peter Cook is confident he and his team-mates can make it 'third time lucky' in their quest to overcome Nottingham this Sunday (2pm). Having come unstuck to the Midlanders both home and away in National League One, this weekend the Duchy's finest tackle their rivals in the fifth round of this season's EDF Energy National Trophy. One man hoping to play a key role in the game is Lower Treave sponsored Cook, who played a season for the Green & Whites before heading West to join up with the Pirates. Now into his second campaign with the Cornish club, the 26-year-old has waited patiently this term in a bid to make his breakthrough into the starting XV. However, since taking over from the injured Alan Paver in the number one shirt, Cook has since gone on to show his worth in the front row of the Pirates pack.

"The start of the year was frustrating," he admitted. "Because of the new rules and everything, we only went with one prop on the bench. Like any player, you want to be playing in every game, but I just had to bide my time and wait for my chance when it came along. "Ideally you want to get into the side on merit, but the injury to Paves gave me the opening I wanted and I've been in pretty much ever since."

Cook's versatility – he can also provide back-up at hooker if necessary – has certainly proved beneficial to the Pirates in recent weeks, particularly as regular number two Rob Elloway is now set for another spell on the sidelines.

However, first things first, Cook's main objective this Sunday will be to sink his old club, who last month pinched a 23-19 victory over the Pirates right at the death. "That result was really depressing for us," admitted Cook. "Although we struggled in the scrum that day, we got ourselves 19-9 up with ten minutes to go against one of the best sides in our league. Speaking to their coaches after they said we stopped them from playing for a large part of the game. "It was only when we watched the video back afterwards that we saw the silly mistakes which – at this level – you can't make. "We know we can beat them and we know what type of game they are going to play, so hopefully we have learnt from that last game especially."

And without the pressure of having to try and go for the all-important bonus point win, Cook insists it is merely a "win at all costs" strategy that his side must adopt. He added: "With the Cup it's all about getting a result on the day. You don't have to worry about getting four or five points, you just have to go out there, do a job and win at all costs. Our performance against Southend in the last round wasn't the best you'll see, but we did what we had to that day and we got ourselves in the next round. That's what we've got to do again this week because we'd all love to get to a Twickenham final."

The Pirates won the Trophy two years ago defeating Exeter Chiefs 19-16 at the home of English rugby. And if you want an explanation of the impact of the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) on the game...sit next to his Mum!

.