By Coventry Rugby 
by Geoff Berkeley
Coventry recovered from 14-0 down to draw level thanks to tries from Ryan Hutler and Dan Green either side of half-time, but a converted try from Jack Forsythe proved to be the difference as the hosts were unable to turn pressure into points.
The visitors almost struck inside the opening eight minutes as Bruce Houston and Chester Ribbons linked up superbly before releasing Arthur Relton only for the final pass to be ruled to have gone forward.
Relton did not have to wait too long before he was celebrating Pirates’ opening try. With 15 minutes on the clock, Matt McNab bounced off a tackle on the left-hand side before feeding his fellow winger Relton who eased over. Houston added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
Coventry had an opportunity to hit straight back with a lineout deep inside Cornish Pirates’ half but the throw went awry.
The home side were doing well to disrupt the Pirates lineout with Tom Ball standing out, however, ill-discipline from Coventry was gifting Pirates possession and offering Houston with opportunities to go for goal.
The fly-half missed two kicks from the tee, including one taken from inside his own half, but his decision to turn down a third chance at goal and set up a lineout paid dividends on 35 minutes.
After securing the ball 10 metres out, the Pirates forwards powered over with replacement hooker Matt Pritchard touching down at the back of the maul. Houston converted from out wide.
Facing a 14-0 deficit, Coventry responded brilliantly three minutes before the end of the first half. Tommy Mathews chipped the ball through for Hutler who claimed his tenth try of the season, converted by Mathews.
Coventry then drew level at the start of the second period when after a brilliant kick from Logan Trotter the visitors were put under pressure and stripped on their five-metre line before Oli Morris set up Green who smashed through the Pirates defence to score a try that Mathews improved.
Hunter thought he was clear for a try only for play to be brought back for a knock on after a huge tackle from Morris in midfield.
Pirates responded by camping inside Coventry’s half for six minutes and they were eventually rewarded. After securing another lineout, the Pirates forward poured over the line with the impressive Forysthe scoring a try that Houston converted.
Coventry threatened to score on multiple occasions, mounting heavy pressure in Pirates’ 22 but opportunities kept passing them by. The hosts had all the possession and territory but their attacks came to no avail and despite the Coventry fans roaring their team on until the end the Pirates defence came out on top.
Coventry: Logan Trotter; Ryan Hutler, Oli Morris, Tom Hitchcock (Liam Richman 68), Jimmy Martin (Will Lane 72); Tommy Mathews, Sam Maunder (Josh Barton 64); Toby Trinder (Jevaughn Warren 72), Jordon Poole ©, Eliot Salt (Tye Raymont 59); Dan Green (Bennett 59), Rhys Anstey; Tom Ball, Suva Ma’asi, Chester Owen
Unused: Will Biggs, Daniel Okeke
Cornish Pirates: Will Trewin (Iwan Price-Thomas 66, Iwan Jenkins 68); Arthur Relton, Charlie McCaig, Chester Ribbons, Matt McNab; Bruce Houston, Dan Hiscocks (Will Becconsall 50); Billy Young (Jack Andrew 68), Sol Moody (Matt Pritchard 17), James French; Buster Rice, Alfie Bell (Matt Cannon 48); Josh King, Jack Forsythe, Alex Everett © (Fintan Coleman 48)
Unused: Ben Woodmansey
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Half-Time: 7-14
Attendance: 3,204
Scorers
Coventry
Tries: Hutler (38), Green (49)
Conversions: Mathews (39, 50)
Penalties:
Cornish Pirates
Tries: Relton (15), Pritchard (35), Forsythe (58)
Conversions: Houston (16, 36, 59)
Penalties:
