Cornish Pirates 43 Pertemps Bees 20
Pertemps Bees' miserable start to the new National League One season continued as they crashed to a heavy defeat.
Still winless after four games, Ben Harvey's side were blown away by a powerful second-half display from the Duchy's finest, one which saw the home side run in four tries in eight minutes.
It was just the tonic the home side needed after a spluttering display against Coventry the week previous. For Bees, it could be a season of struggle if this display is anything to go by.
With the strong words of coach Jim McKay still ringing in their ears following their disappointing display at Coventry the week previous, it was little surprise to see the Pirates make a strong start to yesterday's encounter.
Just five minutes had been played when the home side broke the deadlock, a slick move down the blind-side resulted in Samoan international Iva Motusaga picking up from the base of a ruck, before he darted clear of the Bees defence to score by the posts.
Skipper Gareth Steenson netted the conversion, before adding a penalty on 19 minutes after full back Reece Spee had been penalised for holding on in the tackle.
However, the response from the Bees was encouraging and they reduced the deficit just moments later when fly half Mike Hook, who was playing last season at nearby Redruth, slotted a penalty after home flanker Eni Gesinde had strayed offside.
The Welshman then repeated the dose five minutes later when Motusaga had been penalised for breaking off the scrum too early.
As the natives grew restless, the Pirates once again looked to up their game and with half-time fast approaching, they threatened with a series of attacks. First, winger Rhodri McAtee made good yardage with a blistering run through the middle, then lock Bruce Cumming was held just short as he looked to pick and go from close range.
The pressure, however, finally told and when the Bees were penalised for collapsing a scrum, Steenson landed the easy penalty to make it 16-6 at the turn.
After the break it was the Pirates who were first to show once again, a powerful opening blast put the Cornishmen within strike range - and when the quick ball was worked left to create a four-man overlap, No 8 Chris Crack-nell was on hand to add try number two, which was again converted by Steenson.
The experienced Dave Knight was one of three early replacements brought on by the Bees, but it was the Pirates who continued to look the more threatening as Gesinde, Motu-saga and Cumming all threatened the try-line with a series of drives from close range.
With the pressure mounting by the minute, the Pirates finally found their way over for a third score on the hour, Kiwi hooker Nathan Kemp rumbling over for his maiden try in Pirates colours.
Two minutes later and the bonus point was in the bag, a free-flowing move from the home side saw the ball worked from the left flank to the right, where Cracknell was on hand to grab his second of the afternoon.
It was to get no easier for the Bees as the now rampant Pirates struck with another two more tries - both from winger Paul Devlin - to put the home side further clear at 43-6.
Bees refused to throw in the towel, their efforts were rewarded with late tries from Nick Griffiths and Jimmy Aston, both of which were converted by Paul Knight.
CORNISH PIRATES: Winnan (Parsons, 67); McAtee, Winn, Buckley (Whatling 60, Elloway 70), Devlin; Steenson (capt), Moore (Bolt, 65); Cook, Kemp, Heard (Seal 53); Beardshaw (Hobson, 67), Cumming; Gesinde, Motusaga (Betty, 67), Cracknell.
PERTEMPS BEES: Spee; Benjamin (Aston, 76), Muchie, Maggs, Grove (Mitchell, 69); Hook (P Knight, 48), Griffiths; Long, Pearl (Mullin, 52), Bucknall (Osbourn, 76); Davidson, Campton (McComb 52); Preece (Daish, 61), Matthews, Earnshaw. Referee: C Sharp (RFU).
