THE Cornish Pirates ended 2014 by registering this thrillingly hard-fought victory, with full-back Max Bodilly's 78th minute try also providing a 'Brickfields' bonus, writes Phil Westren.

Played during the Christmas holiday period, the match attracted the expected big crowd while, not surprisingly, on-field commitment levels were high throughout.

The Pirates were keen to show a willingness to run the ball, as Bodilly and wing Kieran Goss wasted no time in stretching their legs at the start.

Good play from centre Tom Riley, with support provided by wing Craig Holland, also led to first points for the visitors, as taking play to the main entrance corner an unconverted try was scored by flanker Joe Atkinson. One worry for the Pirates was a high penalty count against them, for which they were duly punished by the boot of Plymouth Albion's fly-half Declan Cusack.

A former Munster man, he had missed a long range penalty in the second minute, but successfully slotted three opportunities by midway through the first half to give the hosts a 9-5 lead.

At a time for turkey tasting, supporters were also enjoying this seasonal rugby treat and after being awarded a penalty following pressure created from a counter-attack, the Pirates were soon back within a point thanks to a penalty kicked by fly-half Kieran Hallett.

There would, however, be setbacks for the visitors, firstly when losing the services through injury of prop Alan Paver and then for conceding one more kickable penalty before the break which enabled Cusack to step forward and give his side a 12-8 lead at the interval.

Play at the start of the second half was fiercely competitive, as all 30 players on show displayed that they were very much up for the challenge, including among them Cornish-born Sam Matavesi who was playing hooker for Albion.

The Devon side held initial territorial advantage, but when the Pirates cleared the danger and Cusack was then caught trying to run out of defence, the pressure applied was clinical.

It also led to home lock Rhys Oakley, a former Welsh international, being shown a yellow card.

Could the Pirates make their hosts pay? Yes, and they did.

Atkinson appeared to have scored, but had not, although a second of the afternoon would soon materialise for the in-form back-rower.

Scrum-half Tom Kessell directed play initially, replacement prop Jamal Ford-Robinson made a telling probe and Atkinson then dashed in to the left of the posts.

Hallett's conversion put the Pirates 15-12 up.

Taking advantage to regain the lead was welcome, but another converted try, this time scored by centre Alex Dancer, gave the Pirates a 22-12 points lead before Oakley's return.

Albion might well have wilted at this stage, but when back to a full XV and with fresh legs introduced, a converted try by replacement prop Tom Harrison suddenly made it interesting again at 19-22.

The tension was now at a high in this Christmas cracker, as the result was very much still in the balance, and it took, of course, Bodilly's bonus-point-providing fourth try for the Pirates to settle matters.

Winning a penalty from a scrum inside their own half provided initial importance, with great credit due to prop Jack Andrew, who soldiered on admirably for the team in this match, despite picking up a couple of knocks in the first half.

Swift and clean line-out possession aided the scenario, number eight Laurie McGlone dented a hole in the home team's defence as the tempo was upped and when the ball was moved right, Bodilly displayed footwork and then pace to stride away for a score that opened up an important eight points gap.

The conversion was missed but there was no way back for Albion who were denied even a losing bonus point, which many felt they deserved.

Albion would end 2014 still worryingly at the foot of the Greene King IPA Championship league table, whilst this win for the Pirates took them up to sixth.

ALBION: 15 Koteczky, 14 Kohler, 13 Woods, 12 Howley-Berridge, 11 Foley, 10 Cusack, 9 Setter (Davies 67); 1 Fidler (Hearn 64), 2 Matavesi (Stagg 58), 3 Tiedemann (Harrison 64), 4 Patrick (Stupple 71), 5 Oakley (Beukeboom 62), 6 Langley, 7 Simmonds, 8 Grieve (c).

UNUSED REP: Rayner.

TRY: Harrison (66).

CON: Cusack.

PENS: Cusack (12, 16, 18, 39) SIN-BIN: Oakley (51) PIRATES: 15 Bodilly, 14 Goss, 13 Riley, 12 Dancer, 11 Holland, 10 Hallett, 9 Kessell; 1 J Andrew, 2 Channon (Elloway 66), 3 Paver (Ford-Robinson 31), 4 Carrick Smith (Graulich 66), 5 Barry, 6 Morgan (c), 7 Atkinson, 8 McGlone.

UNUSED REPS: Conlon, Townsend, May, James.

TRIES: Atkinson (10, 55), Dancer (61), Bodilly (78).

CONS: Hallett (2/4).

PEN: Hallett (26).