Cornish Pirates coach Ian Davies knows there is plenty to do despite five-point win

Cornish Pirates head coach Ian Davies has called for improved performances from his side after last weekend's difficult opening win in the British and Irish Cup against Carmarthen Quins.

The Cornish side struggled for fluency in the opening half against the Welsh Premiership side before earning a bonus-point 44-32 victory at Mennaye Field last Sunday.

The Pirates face Dundee High in Scotland this weekend before returning to Championship action against Leeds the following week.

Davies said: "We got away with it against Carmarthen and five points maybe glosses over a few things for us, and that is something we have to put right for Dundee and definitely for Leeds.

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"We compounded it by kicking the ball out on the full or knocking the ball on, or indiscipline in areas of the park that was hurting us. We have to set standards that are higher than that and it is something we have to get right.

"We got some good go-forward with the forwards and backs attacking and creating threats in the second half and that's what we've lacked all year, really. We put opposition under pressure and then don't exert it fully.

"In the second half we kept the pressure on and the tempo high, and Carmarthen could not live with it."

However, the Pirates' injury problems look set to continue, with forward Chris Morgan forced to leave the pitch after just five minutes with a suspected broken arm.

Davies said: "Losing the captain after four minutes is not good and it looks like he has broken his arm. That is devastating news for him and also us.

"He is integral to everything we do and is a real leader of men on the park and if he is out for a considerable amount of time that will be a big blow for us."

There were positive elements to the Carmarthen performance, namely the contributions of young fly-half Aaron Penberthy and forward Laurie McGlone, who only recently returned from injury.

Davies said: "Laurie McGlone is a big plus for us. He wasn't supposed to play the full game for us against Carmarthen, but he said his engine felt good and he certainly gave us good go-forward.

"I thought Aaron was particularly good. His kicking off the floor was excellent, despite the fact he hasn't had a lot of rugby this year because Kieran Hallett has been playing well at ten.

"He slipped in nice and seamlessly. Tom Kessell performed well at nine as well, despite a nasty gash on his head and moved the ball well at the contact area."

The Pirates will fly to Scotland on Friday but are unsure about what to expect from their opposition once on the pitch. Dundee High were beaten 43-17 by Swansea last weekend.

Davies said: "We know little about them, really. We knew a little bit about Carmarthen because I had some people go and watch them. I know Dundee lost heavily to Swansea in their first British and Irish Cup match, so it will be interesting to see if we can get some footage of that.

"But they are at home and we have a long journey. We leave on Friday and get back on Monday morning, and that's flying as opposed to going on the bus. It's not ideal but we are a professional team and this is what we do, this is our job.

"We just have to go there and do a job."