​Cornish Pirates 15 Exeter Chiefs 30

A powerful display by the Exeter Chiefs completed a league double over the Cornish Pirates cementing their current status as serious promotion contenders.

The Chiefs dominated first half territory and possession playing down the Camborne slope with a biting wind at their backs but had only a single Gareth Steenson penalty to show for their efforts until late in the half.

Then with time almost up the Irishman added a second penalty as the Pirates strayed offside for a 6-0 lead.

Pictures by Geoff Hichens.

In stoppage time the Chiefs gained good field position after a contentious lineout award and after Clark had been bundled into touch yards short of the Pirates line by Jackson, Elloway overthrew his put in at the set piece and Miller pounced to score. Steenson converted to leave the Chiefs 13-0 up.

A Blair Cowan try early in the second half gave the Pirates hope before the Chiefs again turned the screw.

Baxter powered over the Pirates line on the hour after a good patient build-up and Clark touched down five minutes later as a driving maul bulldozed its way home.

Baxter added a second ten minutes from time as the Pirates turned over possession in attack and the Number 8 raced from his own 22 to score.

Gulliver and Ward claimed late tries for the Pirates but itwas too little and too late.

Cornish Pirates: Davies, McAtee, Devlin, Ireland, Jackson (Cook 76), Bentley, Doherty (Cattle 49), Storer (Andrew 59), Elloway (Ward 68), Franklin, Collins (Labuschagne 59), Gulliver (capt)(Rimmer 78), Cowan (Holmes 68), Betty, Evans

Tries – Cowan, Gulliver, Ward

Exeter Chiefs: Jones, Jess, Sestaret (Cornwell 68), Rennie (Gray 78), Foster, Steenson, Stuart-Smith (Thomas h/t), Sturgess, Clark (Blythe 68), Budgen (Tui 54), Hayes (capt), Hanks (Gannon 72), Slade, Miller (Scaysbrook 61), Baxter

Tries – Baxter (2), Clark, Miller

Cons – Steenson (2)

Pens – Steenson (2)

Referee – R.Kitt (RFU)

Attendance – 3,661