An out-of-sorts Cornish Pirates were well and truly sunk in their final Championship game of the season against Bristol at Camborne's Recreation Ground.

The soon-to-be British & Irish Cup finalists were outfought and out-thought in a 60-15 defeat. Bristol achieved their aim of a home semi-final – against London Welsh on Friday – after topping Pool A. Quite where this leaves the Pirates' preparations for their B&I Cup final with Munster in just under two weeks is anyone's guess.

High performance manager Chris Stirling said: "We played well in the first 20 minutes but it fell to pieces at times and we fell off a few tackles. Bristol were on song today and took their opportunities. I'm disappointed and I hate losing by that score. It just wasn't our day."

The writing was perhaps on the wall on Saturday when the Pirates named a starting XV containing eight players who are not going to be offered new contracts over the summer. A total of 13 players have been included in the cull, confirmed by the club over the weekend.

Those players are: Bristol-bound Rudi Brits, Scott Franklin, Ryan Prosser, Rod Labuschagne, Luke Collins, Shaun Pammenter, Matt Evans, Rhys Jones, Steve Winn, Paul Devlin, Mark Ireland, Aisea Havili and Richard Bright.

The Pirates made a bright start but a quick handling move involving Roy Winters, Redford Pennycock, Jason Spice and Adrian Jarvis saw the ball move from right to left. Centre Alex Crockett took possession and sped clear to score an unconverted try.

The situation grew worse for the home side in the 18th minute when a powerful drive gave flanker James Merriman an easy finish. Jarvis again failed to convert.

The Pirates regrouped temporarily, a tap penalty by scrum-half James Doherty followed by a pass to Winn created an opportunity for Rob Elloway on the left and he crashed over by the corner flag.

Some good work in midfield from Bristol's former Plymouth Albion full-back Luke Arscott caught the home side off-guard, the visitors swarmed forward and James Phillips touched down for a try converted by Jarvis.

The Bristol pack then created a platform for Junior Fatialofa to add another. The former Exeter Chief mishandled but the ball broke kindly for scrum-half Spice who crossed under the posts, setting up an easy Jarvis conversion.

Jones took an opportunity to narrow the gap slightly with a penalty in the 35th minute but there was still time for Bristol to score another two before the break. Luke Arscott again showed good handling skills, setting his side on their way for a try-scoring move finished by replacement centre Luke Eves.

He then got his second following a strong diagonal run from Lee Robinson. Jarvis hit the post – for the third time – with his conversion attempt.

Less than a minute into the second half and Merriman got his second try, breaking clear before Pirates' brains had engaged for a try converted by Jarvis.

Spice claimed an eighth try for the visitors before a backs move from the Pirates between Tom Luke, Devlin and Bright was finished by Winn.

Losing the overaggressive Fatialofa to the sin-bin failed to stop Bristol scoring tries nine and ten. Robinson and replacement Dan Montagu completed the rout as the game fizzled out in the final stages.

Cornish Pirates: T Luke; R Bright, P Devlin, S Winn (M Ireland 63), A Havili; R Jones (R McAtee 49), J Doherty (G Goodfellow 65); P Andrew (C Rimmer 59), R Elloway (R Prosser 49), S Franklin (R Storer h/t); L McGlone, R Labuschagne; S Betty, T Holmes (C Morgan 76), M Evans (capt).

Scorers: Tries – Elloway, Winn; Conversion – Jones; Penalty – Jones.

Bristol: L Arscott; L Robinson, A Crockett (L Eves 18), J Fatialofa, T Arscott; A Jarvis (M Davies 62), J Spice (capt, S Alford 49); D Crompton (M Irish 57), O Hayes (M Vunipola 65), W Thompson; N Budgett, R Winters (M Sambucetti 65); R Pennycook, J Merriman, J Phillips (D Montagu 49).

Scorers: Tries – Crockett, Merriman (2), Phillips, Spice (2), Eves (2), Robinson, Montagu; Conversions – Jarvis (4) , Davies.

Yellow Card: Fatialofa.

Referee: M Tutty (RFU).

Attendance: 3,190.