Pirates' Paver relishing 'more competitive' Champ

Cornish Pirates' 52-0 win over Cambridge - their biggest victory in almost six years - pushed them up to fourth in the Champ

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."

Cornish Pirates have finished in the top six of the second tier for each of the last nine seasons

Under the new system the top two sides in the league will be guaranteed a home semi-final while the next four sides play-off for the right to meet them.

Paver feels that extra jeopardy at the end of the season has already affected how some teams have approached the current campaign.

"The play-offs obviously have added a little bit of spice and tactics as well," he said.

"I don't think many teams are in a position where they can rotate their squad.

"But I think as you sort of see where the dust settles coming into February, I think you'll have a good idea if you're going to hit that top six or not.

"Yes, you've got to win your games, yes, you've got to put a strong side out, but you've got to see if you can get your squad in the best shape possible heading into that final five or six games just to see if you can get your best squad on the field for the play-offs.

"The league is obviously the focus, but at the same time having the play-offs is something nice."