On the road again this coming weekend, the Cornish Pirates have another real challenge awaiting them at Coventry, writes Phil Westren.

‘Cov’, who have made a welcome return to the Championship following their relegation at the end of the competition’s inaugural 2009-10 season, are presently seventh in the league – the Pirates are fifth.

The Midlanders emerged 17-23 losers against Doncaster Knights on Saturday, however it was only their second Championship home defeat at the Butts Park Arena this season.

Impressive scalps in the present campaign have been against Jersey Reds (20-15) and Bedford Blues (34-27) and they actually outscored the Knights on Saturday by three tries to two. As per the Pirates at Yorkshire Carnegie, it was simply their error count on the day that proved too high.

Former Cornish Pirates and Gloucester hooker Darren Dawidiuk also started for Coventry in the match where their Tongan international back-rower Dan Faleafa proved a stand-out performer.

Mentioning ‘stand-out’, Cornish Pirates’ lock Toby Freeman deserves such a plaudit for the Pirates this season. Also, if he plays this weekend, it will the hard-working lock’s 50th appearance for the club.

  • Redruth will be hoping to follow-up Saturday's National League 2 South win at home to Guernsey with another at Clifton this weekend.

Clifton sit just one place behind the Reds and will leapfrog them with any kind of victory. Redruth could move as high as sixth with a win.

  • Falmouth will also be hoping to build on an important win, by following up last week’s win at Bideford with another victory at home to Chard on Saturday.

A win would see them move one behind the number of wins they picked up last season and would go a long way to helping them secure their Western Counties status.

  • Penryn face a test of their Cornwall/Devon League title credentials when they welcome fellow promotion chasers Torquay Athletic to the Memorial Ground on Saturday.

The division is remarkably tight at the moment, with only three points separating the top four and just one point separating the top three.