WINNING on the road is never easy so full credit to the Cornish Pirates for bouncing back from two recent defeats and recording this worthy victory.

Although fly-half Tiff Eden was off target with a penalty at the start of the game, it was the hosts who displayed enterprise playing a first Friday night fixture at their new home venue, the Lady Bay Sports Ground.

It looked set for a bright beginning under lights for the Green and Whites, but it was the Pirates who started the night's scoring through a former Nottingham man, fly-half Kieran Hallett, as he soon landed two lengthy penalty attempts to give the Cornish side a 6-0 lead.

Nottingham, who surprisingly lost 43-14 away to Yorkshire Carnegie in their last outing, were also looking to bounce back in this game and incisive and powerful running from young centre Javiah Pohe, who played his youth rugby in Cornwall, gave them hope.

Play started to become a little fragmented but good news for the Pirates was they were able to take advantage when their opponents erred and gifted another penalty opportunity Hallett duly hammered the ball between the sticks.

So far, so good for the visitors, but as the clock ticked towards half-time Nottingham applied immense pressure close to the Pirates' line.

A try for the home side looked an inevitable outcome but there was relief for the Pirates when full-back Liam O'Neill knocked-on, making the score 9-0 at the break.

After a Hallett penalty strike proved unsuccessful early in the second period, a fine run from O'Neill led to Nottingham also getting close to scoring, again, only for a final pass to let them down.

There was disappointment too for the Green and Whites when Eden missed a simple penalty chance on offer.

However, playing with increased positivity the hosts would soon acquire their first points of the evening as Eden created space to send prop Campese Ma'afu in for a try at the posts, with the fly-half adding the extras.

After seeing one try scored near the woodwork, another followed, but it was at the other end of the field for the spirited Pirates.

Winger Matt Evans took the ball and ran sharply to dot the ball down and Hallett's conversion opened up what would prove to be an important eight points gap.

With play now into the last quarter there was still time for Martin Haag's side to get back into the match and they did manage to heighten the tension with a second try.

This time it was almost inevitably scored by their talismanic Kiwi skipper and top try scorer flanker Brent Wilson, with replacement Rory Lynn converted.

Building to the final whistle, a line-out with good field position gave hope to the Green and Whites, but to the delight of the Pirates and their stalwart travelling supporters they did not.

The visitors have contrived to seemingly delight and disappoint in equal measure throughout this season, but despite inconsistency they have gained valuable experience.

There were good performances on the night and the tackling of Chris Morgan and his men displayed determination.

It was also good to see prop Paul Andrew returning to action as a second half replacement.

To conclude, it was always clear that this Friday fixture under lights was going to provide another tough challenge and although the overall performance was perhaps less than perfect, the win was however worthily earned.

NOTTINGHAM: 15 O'Neill, 14 Iongi, 13 Styles, 12 Pohe, 11 Cox (Hough 68), 10 Eden (Lynn 64), 9 Romans; 1 Ma'afu, 2 Malton, 3 Carey (Holford 74), 4 Price (Freeman 68), 5 Montagu, 6 Cooper (Calladine 68), 7 Wilson (c), 8 Grant.

UNUSED REPS: Vickers, Smit.

TRIES: Ma’afu, Wilson.

CONS: Eden, Lynn.

PIRATES: 15 Bodilly,14 Evans, 13 Hendrickson, 12 James (Dancer 76), 11 Holland, 10 Hallett, 9 Townsend (Pope 75); 1 Ford-Robinson (P Andrew 53), 2 Channon (Innard 77), 3 Paver (Ford-Robinson 69), 4 Carrick Smith, 5 Barry, 6 Morgan (c), 7 Cheesman (Lowry 62), 8 Conlon.

UNUSED REPS: Parker, May.

TRY: Evans.

CON: Hallett.

PENS: Hallett (3).