CORNISH PIRATES 43pts

PERTEMPS BEES 20pts

Scoring a total of six tries in the match, the fourth by No. 8 Chris Cracknell securing their first bonus point of the season, provided just the result wanted by a Cornish Pirates side keen to impress on home soil.

There were, as expected, a number of changes in the home team for the visit of Pertemps Bees. Kiwi hooker Nathan Kemp made his first league start of the season, and there was a recall at tight-head prop for Sam Heard. In the outsides, Steve Winn made his first league appearance of the season, whilst one late change saw Paul Devlin take his place on the left wing after Brian Tuohy unfortunately dislocated a finger in the pre-match warm-up.

There was a lively start to the match when Winn and Devlin combined to threaten on the left, but with danger lurking in the shape of Bees No. 8 Russell Earnshaw, sighs of relief followed the sound of groans when the visiting player-coach at first intercepted and then knocked the ball on.

It was a put in at the scrum to the Pirates, a chance still to push for that important early score, which was about to materialise. From a ruck soon set, flanker Iva Motusaga took possession to break a couple of tackles and run 15 metres to the line for a try converted by skipper and fly-half Gareth Steenson.

With the Pirates happy to handle as conditions started to improve after a morning of drizzle and damp, Devlin was again brought into play on the left. However, the visitors defended stoutly, the Pirates settling when the next scoring chances came for Steenson to successfully slot two penalty chances on offer.

On 25 minutes the Bees notched up their first points of the afternoon, fly-half Mike Hook, who played for Redruth last season and is the brother of Welsh international James, not failing with a second attempt at the posts after the Pirates were guilty of straying off-side.

Three minutes later, it was Hook again who stepped up to further reduce the arrears with another well-struck penalty.

The Pirates were committed at the tackle area, with inside centre Nick Buckley showing gritty determination, but they were not able to create the try-scoring opportunities wanted.

Approaching half-time, Winn and lock Bruce Cumming made yardage inside the Bees "22", the drive to the line ending with a scrum to the Pirates. Under pressure, the visitors gave a penalty away, Steenson opting for safe points by stroking over his third penalty of the half to give the Pirates a 16-6 lead at the break.

The Pirates needed to raise their game take the sting out of the Bees tail right at the start of the second period - which they did.

Quickly applying pressure, a long pass from Steenson found the hands of full-back Adryan Winnan on the right. From the breakdown Steenson and Cumming then took play to the clubhouse corner, and with Steenson again involved, but held, support required arrived in the shape of Cracknell who applied the finishing touch for a try converted by Steenson .

The bald headed Kiwi duo of Buckley and Kemp proved to be potent ball carriers, and following a catch and drive on the left Kemp was in place to score try number three.

One more try and the Pirates would have their first bonus point of the season in the bag, and it was not long coming, the ball seemingly moved swiftly through the hands of the whole team, a cracking effort aptly finished off by man-of-the-match Cracknell.

Devlin then scored two tries in as many minutes, the only shock being that Steenson, who had not missed a kick at goal in his first four games for the Pirates, had suddenly missed four on the trot.

It was perhaps inevitable that changes in personnel would suddenly break the Pirates acquired flow, but there was credit also due Pertemps Bees for their persistence which led to them scoring two late tries through livewire scrum-half Nicky Griffiths and replacement win Jimmy Aston, both converted by replacement fly-half Paul Knight.

Pirates head coach Jim McKay commented: "I'm not going to get too carried away just yet, but it was a much better performance from the previous week, one that shows we're still going in the right direction, but also lets us know there is still plenty of work to do."

Cornish Pirates: A. Winnan (S. Parson s 67), R. McAtee, S. Winn, N. Buckley (S. Whatling 60, R. Elloway 70), P. Devlin, G. Steenson, (capt), J. Moore (R. Bolt 65), C. Cracknell, I. Motusaga (S. Betty 67), E. Gesinde, B. Cumming, J. Beardshaw (S. Hobson 67), S. Heard (D. Seal 53), N. Kemp, P. Cook.

Pertemps Bees: R. Spee, M. Benjamin (J. Aston 76), P. Murchie, A. Maggs, A. Grove (C. Mitchell 69), M. Hook (P. Knight 48), N. Griffiths, R. Earnshaw, W. Matthews, J. Preece (A. Daish 61), D. Campton (G. McComb 52), A. Davidson, P. Bucknall (P. Osbourn 76), S. Pearl (M. Mullin 52), M. Long.

Scorers:- Cornish Pirates - tries: Cracknell (2), Devlin (2), Motusaga, Kemp; cons: Steenson (2); pens: Steenson (3).

Pertemps Bees - tries: Griffiths, Aston; cons: Knight (2); pens: Hook (2).

Man of the match - Chris Cracknell.

Referee - Chris Sharp (RFU).

Attendance: 2,356.