​Cornish Pirates 22 London Welsh 3

A week ago Pirates boss Chris Stirling called for his side to be more streetwise despite beating Doncaster.

Here the Pirates delivered as they stood toe to toe with a feisty Welsh side and came out on top after a huge battle in the drizzle at the Mennaye Field.

The match was not one for the purist with penalty counts running into double figures for both sides and referee Rowan Kitt handing out five yellow cards including three for the Pirates.

But after a Gordon Ross penalty put the visitors ahead with five minutes played the home side took control.

Rob Cook levelled the scores five minutes later as the Welsh scrum imploded and following a flurry of yellow cards which saw Bentley, Myerscough and Ross sin-binned the Pirates took the lead.

Burgess`s try was controversially disallowed but play was called back for a Pirates penalty and Cook scored to make it 6-3 at the break.

The Pirates full-back was on target again after 46 minutes as the Welsh strayed offside and when lock Mike Powell was carded Grant Pointer stepped up to land a monster penalty from inside his own half.

Leading 15-3 the Pirates sensed victory which was sealed four minutes from time as Rhodri McAtee broke from mid-way inside his own half to race home for the only try of the game. Cook added the extras.

Despite a full 15 minutes of stoppage time and another yellow card this time for Rob Elloway the Pirates held firm for a commendable victory.

Cornish Pirates: Cook, Jackson, Hopper, Winn (Luke 70), McAtee, Bentley (sin-bin 27-37,Pointer 38), Cattle (c), Paver (Andrew 40+3), Ward (Elloway 78, sin-bin 80+7, Ward 80+8), Brits (Rimmer 80+4), McGlone (Nimmo 78), Myerscough (sin-bin 21-31), Morgan, Burgess (Betty 68), Cowan.

Try – McAtee

Cons – Cook

Pens – Cook (4), Pointer

Yellow Cards – Myerscough, Bentley, Elloway

London Welsh: Sampson (Gibson 60), Drauniniu, Tonga`uiha, Whatling, Claassens, Ross (sin-bin 32-42, Thomas 70), Runciman (Lewis 55), Holford (Ward 65), Nelson (Ma`asi 65), Pittman, Purdy, Powell (sin-bin 57-67), Mills (c) (Russell 60), Beach (Hills 45), Fisher

Pens – Ross

Yellow Cards – Ross, Powell

Referee – R.Kitt (RFU)