It is only a month since the Pirates struggled past Pertemps Bees before being dumped out of the EDF National Trophy at a soggy Camborne by Northampton Saints, but much has changed on and off the field. Acting Head Coach Mark Hewitt may not have a firm promise of the top job on a permanent basis just yet, but his influence on the squad since the departure of Jim McKay cannot be understated. This result will have done his cause no harm at all.

Having quickly dispensed with the squad rotation policy favoured by his predecessor Hewitt again named a strong XV for the visit of the Surrey side who made life so difficult for the Pirates in last October`s previous meeting. On a sunny but chilly afternoon the Pirates kicked off with a stiff southerly wind at their backs and immediately launched their first offensive of the afternoon. Strong driving play from Namibian international lock Heino Senekal saw him crash over the Esher line only for Mr Rose to deem that he had been held up. It mattered little for the Pirates re-grouped with a five-metre scrum and this time Tim Cowley picked up and drove over to score. Gareth Steenson obliged with the extras slotting the first of his eight conversions for the day.

There was to be no let up in the intensity of the Pirates offensive and when Esher were penalised on their own 22 with just 12 minutes played, a quick tap from scrum-half Ed Fairhurst proved decisive. With the visitors` defence in disarray the ball reached the right wing at lightning speed and Rhodri McAtee scorched home to score.

Despite the onslaught Esher refused to yield and with 16 minutes played Dougie Flockhart gathered a loose ball on his own twenty-two and set off on what was to be his own champagne moment, as his diagonal run brought him the first of his brace of tries in front of an appreciative Grandstand.

Back came the Pirates and two quick tries just before the half hour killed the contest and secured a try scoring bonus point for the home side. The first came as an Esher scrum disintegrated and quick ball from Fairhurst found full-back Adryan Winnan hitting the line late and at pace to score. Another destructive angle of attack this time from Centre Paul Devlin then set up flanker Chris Cracknell for the Pirates fourth try.

Winna had also by this time developed a liking for claiming Esher`s restarts and counter-attacking from deep, a tactic that hurt the Esher defence repeatedly. Try number five then came just before the interval as McAtee and then Senekal almost out-flanked Esher down the right. As the ball came back inside Fairhurst`s beautiful chip and chase forced the scrambling Neil Hallett to ground the ball behind his own posts. From the resulting 5m scrum Fairhurst`s sharp pass found Winnan again and the Pirates led by 35-5 at the break.

Esher had their chances to reply after the break as the Pirates quickly lost Senekal to the sin bin for stamping. They had the possession and territory sewn up as they pummeled at the Pirates repeatedly from close range, but after 7 minutes of solid defence the home side regained the initiative as Motusaga stole the ball in the loose and Cumming led the break out deep into Esher territory. Only Devlin`s forward pass with a four man overlap begging saved the Surrey men from the ultimate punishment.

The reprieve for Esher was brief. Two minutes later with the Pirates still deep in enemy territory Moore`s looping miss-pass found Cracknell on the left wing and the big flanker cantered home to score. Six tries became seven straight from the restart as the Pirates scored arguably their try of the season to date. A wonderful flowing move of attacking ball in hand rugby spear-headed by Fairhurst, Paver and Senekal finished 80 metres later as Devlin raced in under the Esher posts.

The visitors responded with a raft of replacements from the bench but still could find no remedy for the damage being inflicted by the Pirates aggressive counter-rucking in the loose and their devastating pace with the ball out wide. McAtee extended the lead to 56-5 with his second try as he won the race to beat three team-mates and collect Fairhurst`s floated pass to the wing. Flockhart did bravely power home for Esher in the scoreboard corner as home flanker Sam Betty was binned for illegal use of the shoulder, but that was as good as it got for Esher.

McAtee`s steal and break in the 70th minute resulted in a penalty try as his try scoring flip pass to the on-rushing Fairhurst saw the Canadian international illegally held back short of the line. Brian Tuohy then completed the rout as he finished off another rampaging break from deep by the impressive Bruce Cumming.

There will be much tougher tests to come for the Pirates in the next few weeks for sure but this performance from the Cornishmen was, considering their recent problems on and off the field, both breath-taking, memorable and extremely timely. 

TEAMS:-

Cornish Pirates

Winnan, Moore, Ireland (Devlin 23), Winn, McAtee (Tuohy 71), Steenson (Thomas 65), Fairhurst, Paver, Elloway (Kemp 50), Seal (Cook 56), Senekal (sin-bin 43-53), Cumming, Cracknell (Betty 65, sin-bin 68-78), Motusaga, Cowley (capt) (Evans 56)

Replacements - (all used)

Tries - Cowley, McAtee (2), Winnan (2), Cracknell (2), Devlin, Tuohy, penalty

Cons - Steenson (8), Thomas (2)

Yellow cards -  Senekal, Betty

Esher

Hallett, Moore, Flockhart, Clouston (Baumberg 71), Briggs (Hewitt 53), Slemen, Lane (Barr 58), Cormack, Campbell (Goldsmith 65), Alexander (Smith 51), Blakeburn (Butterworth 58), Harris, Soden, Yellowlees (Starling 58), Barrell

Replacements - (all used)

Tries - Flockhart (2)

Referee -   D. Rose (RFU)                     

Attendance -  2,315

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