THIS pre-season match against Aberavon for the Cornish Pirates was always expected to provide a more than worthy workout ahead of their 2015/16 campaign and it did not disappoint, writes Phil Westren.

Returning to a ground where they first visited back in 1947 and won 14-0, the Wizards were given another sporting welcome at the Mennaye, but it was the Pirates who gained their revenge, remembering too they had lost 27-24 to their Welsh Principality Premiership opponents in Wales last August.

By full time, even though the visitors had scored one more try than their hosts, the kicking form Kieran Hallett saw the Pirates taste victory by two points.

Director of rugby and Welshman Ian Davies said after the match he was pleased with the test provided by his visiting countrymen.

"The game provided a good run out and gave us all we wanted," he said.

"There was a lot of pace from Aberavon, the ball in play level was high, and it was a good physical workout.

"There are certain aspects for us to work on but that it what pre-season is about."

Will Graulich led the home team out to mark his 50th appearance for them and amongst the side taking to the field were newcomers Toby May, Alex O'Meara and Jack Arnott.

It was a pacy start from the Wizards as winger Aaron Grabham was given space to speed in for the opening try just a few minutes into the game, with James Garland missing the conversion.

Aberavon were physical at the breakdown, but they were penalised for being over vigorous and this started a move which flanker John Stevens scored from, with Hallett kicking the extras before adding a penalty to the score.

Grabham was able to level matters with another opportunistic try only for Laurie McGlone, who was impressive on the ball, to dot down and put the Pirates ahead again.

Momentum was going the way of the hosts and a quick-tap penalty from scrum-half Mike Pope led to Tom Hendrickson powering over, with Hallett kicking a third successful conversion to make it 24-10 at half time.

After the break, the visitors were quick out of the blocks again with David Pritchard getting a try, which again went unconverted, before full-back Richard Carter made the most of space opened up by replacement number eight Ben Davies to dot down, with Garland finally getting his kick right for the extras.

Both sides were making changes to their outfield line-ups, but the Wizards were in the ascendency and they retook the lead through a David Evans try which was converted.

However, despite this being a friendly encounter, the Pirates showed they were still keen to get a win and they fought back with Laurence May ghosting his way over the line and adding the extras himself to bag a memorable victory.

The Pirates' next pre-season clash will be on Guernsey as they face the islanders on Friday evening.

PIRATES: 15 T May, 14 O'Meara, 13 Riley, 12 Hendrickson, 11 Arnott, 10 Hallett, 9 Pope; 8 McGlone, 7 Stevens, 6 Parker, 5 Graulich, 4 Morgan (c), 3 J Andrew, 2 Elloway, 1 P Andrew.

REPS: Channon, Walker, Paver, Garratt, Cheesman, Bolwell, Coote, L May, Hopkin, Moyle, Dancer.

TRIES: Stevens, McGlone, Hendrickson, May.

CONS: Hallett 3/3, May.

PEN: Hallett.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: John Stevens.