FINISHING their league season as it started, with a game against Yorkshire Carnegie, the Cornish Pirates knew that they faced a tough task away at Headingley Carnegie, for what was a sixth versus seventh clash.

Both sides defended well early in the match, but each also made errors, and when the Pirates gave a penalty away in the thirteenth minute the home side took a lead, thankful to the boot of fly-half Harry Leonard who successfully landed a penalty attempt from all of 40 metres out.

A second well struck penalty from Leonard extended Carnegie's lead, and as the Yorkshire outfit put the Pirates under the cosh it looked as if they had added to it still further when centre James Fitzpatrick made it to the line, only for his 'try' to be disallowed for crossing.

To their credit the Pirates continued to defend heroically, with every hope they could hold out until half-time. Unfortunately, this would not be the case, as in the final seconds elusive scrum-half Sam Egerton scored a converted try to make it 13-0.

Whilst naturally looking to bounce back from the disappointment of their hefty defeat suffered against Worcester Warriors, the Cornish Pirates were also aware that Yorkshire Carnegie have been rejuvenated following the recent arrival of former Scotland international Bryan Redpath, who has taken on the role of Head Coach.

His side was without former 'Pirate' wing David Doherty, missing out on this one because of injury, but there were two familiar faces on show in lock Matt Smith and flanker Mike Myerscough.

Redpath will have felt reasonably satisfied thus far, as likely did Ian Davies, the Director of Rugby at the Cornish Pirates.

It was remembered that his charges entered this game without a number of influential performers, including club skipper Chris Morgan and fellow forward Laurie McGlone, who had both played for the Barbarians earlier in the week. Also, in the backs, the club's leading points scorer Kieran Hallett and Matt Evans were both missing.

Yorkshire Carnegie kicked the second half off for what could in reality be a difficult last 40 minutes of the season for the Pirates, and the start was less than ideal.

The Pirates were giving away too many penalties, and after Leonard kicked to the corner his forwards took over control to drive the Pirates back, leading to a second converted score for Egerton.

It was not long before more good play from Carnegie led to their third try of the match. Centre Pete Lucock chipped ahead and following up was wing Oli Goss who crossed for a try again converted by Leonard.

With the team's making changes, for the Pirates replacement scrum-half Stuart Townsend provided the spark to give the Cornish side the last say, as deserved late points on the board followed his quick penalty tap, leading to a try scored in the corner by prop Marlen Walker, who was another man called off the bench.

Just before the final whistle further good play from Townsend provided hope that a second try would be scored, but it was not to be. There was much credit though that the Cornish Pirates had stuck to their task, right to the very end of the match and this season.

Jersey's 40-21 home points win against Moseley means the Pirates have to settle for eighth place in the league, which is no mean feat.

The 2014/15 campaign was always going to be one with fresh new challenges, and there will inevitably be a number also posed for next season.

However, there have been many positives witnessed, and the experience gained by a generally settled and mainly developing young squad can only bode well for the future.

CARNEGIE: 15 Georgiou, 14 Goss (McIlwaine 71), 13 Lucock, 12 Fitzpatrick (Jones 68), 11 Prell, 10 Leonard, 9 Egerton; 1 Beech (Imiolek 48), 2 J Walker (Nilsen 59), 3 Hill (Tideswell 59), 4 Harris (Bainbridge 63), 5 Smith, 6 Myerscough (Jones 48), 7 C Walker, 8 Burrows (c).

TRIES: Egerton (2), Goss.

CONS: Leonard 3/3.

PENS: Goss 2.

PIRATES: 15 Holland, 14 Goss (Hopkin 44), 13 Hendrickson (Riley 41), 12 James, 11 Pope, 10 May, 9 Homer (Townsend 65); 1 J Andrew (Walker 65), 2 Innard (Elloway 44), 3 Paver (Jamieson 48), 4 Graulich, 5 Barry (c), 6 Parker, 7 Atkinson, 8 Bolwell (Lowry 59).

TRY: Walker.