Cornish Pirates 28, Yorkshire Carnegie 35

In his pre-match comments, Cornish Pirates’ co-Coach Alan Paver had said “Supporters can expect a bit of a battle, which should make for good viewing”, and he was right!

In a contest that evolved into a superb advert for Championship rugby, and one played in absolutely perfect conditions, the Cornish Pirates got off to a terrific start in their impressive new home shirts. Lock Brett Beukeboom was first to make a telling dent, and when the ball reached prop Marlen Walker his well-timed pass enabled flanker Jake Parker to cross for a try at the scoreboard corner. Fly-half Laurence May, making his first Championship start of the season, added the two extra points.

Play was then even for a period before in the 23rd minute Yorkshire Carnegie advanced with menace, breaking tackles and creating space for wing Jonah Holmes to score at the Newlyn posts. Fly-half Joe Ford, who arrived as the leading points scorer in the division and is the brother of England’s George, duly slotted the conversion.

The word ‘energetic’ has been much-used in relation to the Pirates this season, and in the build to the interval it once again described their performance.

Persistent in creating pressure, their efforts were rewarded as May kicked two penalties on offer - however on the stroke of half-time the visitors struck back.

Ahead of this match prop Rob O’Donnell had registered five tries in three games, and he now made it six from four. Ford’s conversion gave the visitors a one point advantage at the break. 13-14

The second half would start as the first one ended, Yorkshire Carnegie once again scoring from a catch and drive, but with hooker Phil Nilsen this time identified as the scorer of their converted try.

Laurence May was soon on target with another penalty, but when flanker Richard Beck crossed for yet another converted try, to make it 16-28, it was clear that the Pirates needed to score next. They did, thanks to centre Alex Dancer spotting a line and running 40 metres for a simply superb try, which was deservedly converted by May.

From the restart the Pirates were soon on the front foot again, as hopes of a further score looked ‘on’. One would actually materialise, but it went the way of the visitors as they suddenly snaffled possession for Ford to score his team’s fifth try of the game. He also applied the extras.

Lock Edd Pascoe made his Championship debut as a replacement for the Pirates, whilst appearing off the opposition bench was Jack Whetton, son of former ‘All Black’ Gary.

Once again the Pirates needed to score next, and they answered the call with a truly wonderful try. Thus far Dancer’s effort would have been worthy for try of the season, but the crowd was about to witness one that surely won’t be surpassed, in this, or potentially any other year. Gathering the ball on his own ’22’, wing Matt Evans took off, instinctively choosing a course that would see him lift the crowd in dilerious excitement.

On an arcing run he scorched across the Mennaye turf, but with it looking ultimately likely that opposition full-back Steve McColl would surely thwart his effort, but no. Deep inside the Newlyn half Evans took in one last gasp of air, and managing to fend off the able McColl he made it to the line. May, once again, landed the conversion.

Hopes were high that there was perhaps still enough time for the Pirates to at least draw level, but the final whistle arrived sooner than expected, and they had to settle for their losing bonus point.

Yorkshire Carnegie had proved tough opposition, as was fully expected. They stay unbeaten after six games and lie second in the league table. The Pirates are commendably in fourth.

Cornish Pirates: 15 Toby May, 14 Kyle Moyle, 13 Alex Dancer, 12 Nicolas De Battista, 11 Matt Evans, 10 Laurence May, 9 Alex Day (Mike Pope 69); 1 Marlen Walker (Paul Andrew 56), 2 Rob Elloway (Jack Innard 45), 3 Jack Andrew (Tyler Gendall h/t), 4, Chris Morgan (capt), 5 Brett Beukeboom (Edd Pascoe 59), 6 Jake Parker, 7 Alex Cheesman, 8 Dan Lee (Sam Simmonds 21-31, 56).

Replacement (not used): Will Cargill

Yorkshire Carnegie: 15 Stevie McColl, 14 Jonah Holmes, 13 Alex Gray, 12 Pete Lucock, 11 Seb Stegmann, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Alex Davies (Max Green 61); 1 Lewis Boyce (Lee Imiolek 59), 2 Phil Nilsen (Ross Graham 59), 3 Rob O'Donnell (James Thraves 56), 4 Dean Schofield (Jack Whetton 59), 5 Matt Smith, 6 Richard Beck (Richard Mayhew 61, Andy Forsyth 74), 7 Andy Saull, 8 Ryan Burrows (capt).

Scorers:- Cornish Pirates – tries: Parker, Dancer, Evans; cons: L. May (2); pens: L. May (3). Yorkshire Carnegie – tries: Holmes, O’Donnell, Nilsen, Beck, Ford; cons: Ford (5).

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Attendance: 1,477

St. Austell Brewery’s ‘Cornish Pirates’ Man-of-the-Match: Alex Cheesman