THE Cornish Pirates outscored their opponents by four tries to three but ultimately lost this closely-fought contest when a former colleague Aaron Penberthy held his nerve to land a match-winning conversion.

The young Cornishman's popularity on the island of Jersey is naturally on a high, for he had slotted a late drop goal to down Worcester Warriors in their last home game.

However, for the Pirates there was at least some consolation, as they ended this match with two bonus points, which were fully deserved.

There was a setback for the Pirates when prop Alan Paver had to withdraw from the team pre-match because of illness, which necessitated a late re-juggle of personnel.

Paul Andrew moved across to the tighthead berth, Kiwi Marlen Walker was called off the bench to make his first league start at loosehead, and Jack Andrew filled the vacant seat on the bench.

Following some morning rain, conditions were fine and sunny at Rue des Landes, St Peter, when visiting fly-half Kieran Hallett kicked the game off.

Penberthy first displayed his credentials in just the third minute with a penalty strike kicked from just inside his own half and with the Islanders starting well, it was not long before a second successful penalty put them 6-0 up.

Wearing their usual golden yellow away strip, the Pirates looked to respond by piling pressure upon their opponents.

A succession of penalty awards came their way, and although initially unable to score it was surely just a matter of time.

Their chances were suddenly enhanced when home lock Pierce Phillips was shown a yellow card by Premiership referee Tim Wigglesworth and having had several opportunities to practice their catch-and-drive routine, maul momentum towards the Jersey line ended with hooker Tom Channon applying the pressure for an unconverted try.

The Pirates were keen to apply pressure to create further scoring opportunities, but for them there was no further benefit, despite Jersey losing a second man to the sin-bin when lock Nick Campbell was directed on a similar path taken earlier by his second-row partner.

Indeed, the only other points of the half came on the half hour mark when a third penalty from Penberthy made it 9-5.

Looking for a good start to the second period, for the Pirates it could not get much better, as a try scored by Walker and converted by Hallett put them ahead for the first time in the match.

Sudden joy for the visiting team and their supporters was understandable, but it did not last long because the hosts regained the lead just two minutes later with a converted try scored by Tongan international scrum-half Samisoni Fisilau.

Jersey enjoyed playing a good spell of rugby and after they went 21-12 up thanks to a try scored by another international performer in the shape of Argentine hooker Martin Garcia-Veiga, it gave the Pirates a challenge to get back into the match.

A penalty miss by Penberthy gave the Pirates hope and they admirably got back into the game with a converted try by prop Paul Andrew, bringing them within just two points of their hosts.

With 67 minutes on the clock the outcome of this contest was very much in the balance and hopes of a victory soared for the visitors when replacement centre Rheon James hacked on and full-back Matt Evans, who scored a hat-trick on the island in a 20-6 points win back in 2012, gathered the bobbling ball and dotted it down over the line.

The bonus point providing effort put the Pirates back in front and Hallett added the conversion to make it 21-26.

But the Pirates could not hold this lead as another ex-Mennaye man Joe Buckle went over late on, setting up a conversion attempt which Penberthy coolly kicked home to finish the game.

The Pirates, however, in securing two bonus points have commendably moved up one place in the league table to sixth and on Saturday welcome second placed Worcester Warriors to the Mennaye.

JERSEY: 15 Penberthy, 14 Foster, 13 Locke, 12 McCrea (Bishop 59), 11 Otto, 10 Robling (Bentley 72), 9 Fisilau (Glynn 77); 1 Lockwood (Lancuba 78), 2 Garcia-Veiga, 3 Williams (Herriott 78), 4 Phillips, 5 Campbell, 6, Rae (c), 7 Buckle, 8 Kaho (Markham 34).

UNUSED REP: Selway.

TRIES: Fisilau, Garcia-Veiga, Buckle.

CONS: Penberthy 2/3.

PENS: Penberthy (3).

SIN-BIN: Phillips, Campbell.

PIRATES: 15 Evans, 14 Pope (May 72), 13 Hendrickson, 12 Dancer (James 65), 11 Holland, 10 Hallett, 9 Townsend; 1 Walker (J Andrew 49), 2 Channon (Innard 65), 3 Andrew, 4 McGlone, 5 Barry, 6 Morgan, 7 Atkinson, 8 Parker (Bolwell 65).

UNUSED REPS: Graulich, Homer.

TRIES: Channon, Walker, P Andrew, Evans.

CONS: Hallett 3/4.