A LATE try scored by London Scottish skipper and ex-Redruth star Mark Bright ultimately decided the outcome of this competitive Greene King IPA Championship encounter played at the Athletic Ground.

It also provided his team with a bonus point, whilst unfortunately denying a chance of one for the Cornish Pirates, who had battled with full commitment throughout.

This was a third versus seventh clash in the league, contested on a dry, cold and clear Friday evening in Richmond, although the playing surface was a little slippery from pre-match rain.

After the sound of international referee Wayne Barnes’s whistle signalled the start of this game, the Pirates were soon put under pressure.

Scottish’s centre Connor Braid firstly made an incisive break for the home side and the visitors then lost the services of prop Alan Paver with what appeared a wrist injury.

Holding territorial advantage, Scottish made field position and possession count and with deft passes from the already shining Bright and scrum-half Jamie Stevenson, wing Miles Mantella was given space to speed down the left wing for the game’s opening try.

Fly-half Dan Newton added the extra two points.

There was some encouragement for the Pirates, provided by number eight Laurie McGlone.

Picking the ball up at the base of a scrum, the big Kiwi gave the team some go forward, backed up by the boot of fly-half Kieran Hallett.

McGlone was again influential when the Pirates made further scrum pressure tell deep inside the home team’s 22 and when a penalty was awarded Hallett’s successful strike made it 7-3.

A second penalty attempt by Hallett, kicked from 40 metres out, went agonisingly close, whilst the exiles also had hopes of more points following a counter run by Bright.

The Pirates, however, defended their line admirably and there would be no more scores before the break.

Sharp in body and mind when play resumed, the Pirates seemingly caught their opponents off guard.

Indeed, such was the positivity and spark on display, it was no surprise that their first try soon materialised.

Opting for a catch-and-drive from a penalty award, hooker Tom Channon’s throw found the hands of lock Darren Barry and in a surge to the line the always willing Channon barrelled his way over for a converted score.

Having taken a 10-7 lead the visitors then relinquished it, as the reawakened home team hit back with converted try of their own, scored by wing Matt Williams.

There was a good level of support for the Cornish side and as chants of ‘Pirates, Pirates’ reverberated around the ground, Channon duly responded with his second try of the night, although not converted, at least nudging them back in front.

Hopes existed for a further score from the visitors when scrum-half Tom Kessell kicked and chased, but when points came they would be for the home team, as slick passing led to a second try for Williams.

Replacement Joel Conlon and full-back Max Bodilly made good yardage for the Pirates all but from the restart and when the latter was high-tackled the penalty award provided a chance to deliver from a catch-and-drive.

Unfortunately, when the ball was knocked on, Scottish were able to clear the danger.

This was proving quite a contest, typified by the displays from the two number eights, Bright and McGlone, who were both terrific.

But it was the home skipper who had all but the last say.

The clear leader in this season’s Championship try-scoring stakes, he took his tally to 14 with an unconverted score which gave his side the bonus point.

There was still time for the committed Pirates to perhaps at least gain a losing point, but it was not to be.

Indeed, to cement their win, Newton also landed a penalty for the hosts, at the very end of what was in every other respect an enjoyable rugby contest.

LONDON SCOTTISH: 15 Lydon, 14 Williams, 13 Hawke (Sloan 46), 12 Braid (Heeks 74), 11 Mantella, 10 Newton, 9 Stevenson; 1 Hallam (Lilley 46), 2 Kwasnicki, 3 Maidment (Prescott 35), 4 Thomas Brown (Best 46), 5 Gillanders, 6 Phillips, 7 Walker, 8 Bright (c).

UNUSED REPS: Cherry, Tuisamoa.

TRIES: Williams (2), Mantella, Bright.

CONS: Newton 2/4.

PEN: Newton.

CORNISH PIRATES: 15 Bodilly (Pope 76), 14 Goss, 13 Riley, 12 Hendrickson (Dancer 66), 11 Holland (Evans 70), 10 Hallett, 9 Kessell; 1 Ford-Robinson, 2 Channon (Elloway 70), 3 Paver (Davies 4), 4 Graulich (Conlon 64), 5 Barry, 6 Morgan (c), 7 Atkinson, 8 McGlone (Lowry 76).

TRIES: Channon (2).

CON: Hallett.

PEN: Hallett.