Alan Paver: Cornish Pirates coach says Champ is more competitive

Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver believes this year’s Champ is more competitive than ever.

Having failed to secure a victory in their first three matches, Pirates have won their last four – including a 52-0 win over Cambridge on 15 November – propelling them up to fourth place in the table.

This season is the first in the revamped 14-team second tier which will see the top six sides enter play-offs to decide who wins the title.

“I think the league is more competitive and that’s for all different reasons,” Paver told BBC Radio Cornwall.

“I think Ealing are still extremely strong and they’re going to be very difficult to beat – even though jeopardy does put pressure on you at the end of the season, ultimately they’re built extremely well.

“I think Worcester are going to get better as they go on, we know probably the under-performers at the minute, which are Doncaster, probably need to do better than what they’re doing.

“But I think everyone else is in the same boat. I think these teams who’ve come up from National One and now stabilised themselves have been putting in some good performances.

“I think everyone’s capable of beating each other home and away, so for whatever reason I think the league is way more competitive this season.”