Even this fictional great mind would have been bemused as replacement Tuohy received a suspiciously forward pass to go over for the Pirates second try of the game, and set up a potential grandstand finish as the Cornishman threw caution (what of it there had been!) to the wind.

Though deserved, this stroke of fortune had the erstwhile victors in waiting on the ropes as a last gasp draw looked ever the likely to the men in red and black who were now at full sail.

It wasn't to be ultimately and perhaps in all fairness then justice overall had been done in what had been, despite persistant and bizarre official intervention, a fast flowing and entertaining afternoon of rugby. Such a pity that only a little over 1500 souls witnessed it, something no doubt Nottingham RFC will continue to work very hard to rectify as they pursue their own higher goals.

Nottingham had kicked off the game with the advantage of the breeze and immediately set about their task of applying as much pressure as possible in the early exchanges. A turnover led to a penalty of their own but suprisingly instead of taking a very kickable three; no doubt intent to press home an even bigger early blow. Ben Thompson decided instead to put the ball into the corner.

Nottingham won the lineout but conceded a penalty, the first of many 'unusual' decisions made by the man in the middle. Pirate lines were cleared by Steenson to give better field position for a lineout of their own, only for a significant faulting to rear it's head as the visitors looked to build a platform from their set piece. At the third time of asking, the lineout was set but the ball was pinched by Nottingham second row Lee Morley. This attack from the turnover was quickly smothered and the ball was won back by some aggressive tackling by the Pirates.

The ball found its way to Ireland who waltzed his way through a gap in the home defence to create the first real Pirate threat of the game as four minutes clicked up on the digital cloack. His offload to Moore kept up the go forward emphasis, who in turn passed back inside to Fairhurst who broke through a couple of weak tackles to score under the posts.

Steenson of course added the extras to give the visitors an early 7 point lead and confirm everyones hopes that this was to be a full on contest as predicted.

The restart was dealt with but unfortunately McAtee sliced his kick so Nottingham could attack from a lineout on the Pirates 22. This proved to be the way back in the Green and Whites needed, and they were rewarded with their first points barely four minutes after the Pirates' try, courtesy of the boot of David Jackson.

Moments later and as if to quantify the intensity already on display; Nottingham's Tim Molenaar was sent to the blood bin to get patched up, to be temporarily replaced by Nirmalendran, requiring a re-shuffle in the back line.

Come scrum time and it was the Pirates who shunted the Notts pack backwards and gain a rare first half penalty of their own. The ensuing lineout was lost and the home side were able to clear their lines and stifle that particular incursion.

The first quarter closed with the Pirates lead reduced further to a single point, as once again the boot of Jackson was required to step in as Doyle's executioner by proxy. Molenaar meanwhile returned from the blood bin and the Archers' backline was re-reshuffled back to it's original look.

Ten minutes of evenly matched cut and thrust followed with neither side able to gain any upper hand, before another scuffle from a ruck led to a lecture for messrs Cowley, Hammond and Montague. Those in front of the beak were no doubt trying to settle some differences, whilst those in yellow tops still failed to spot a plethora of antics around the breakdown and act accordingly.

One such saw a very promising Pirate attack that had progressed nicely to under the posts broken up, as the ball emerged from the ruck with an impossible tracectory and not even the hint of an official query.

That Nottingham then cut free and scored a try through Ben Thompson who scurried through a gap to score to the left of the posts, only added insult to injury. Jackson's conversion was good and Nottingham now found themselves six points clear approaching half time.

Tuohy came on for McAtee who'd taken a hefty knock to his neck earlier in the game after finding himself going head first into the sandy grassy stuff. Attempts to run it off had obviously not worked but the switch did little to disrupt any Pirate patterns who after long periods of defensive work ended the half the more livelier of the two sides.

Cowley's break down the right wing epitomised this late flourish as he took play back towards the Nottingham 22. With support from Tuohy, Moore and Ireland a scoring opportunity beckoned. The offload unfortunately wasn't as measured as time allowed as Hammond who clearly was offside received the egg.

His shock was shortlived as he realised he would indeed be able to keep hold of it, and began the move that lead to the obligatory home penalty which Jackson slotted over before anyone noticed. The first period thus ending 16-7 in Nottingham's favour.

With the diagonal breeze now behind them, the Pirates took the restart with several tasks ahead, not least to convince Mr Doyle that they weren't the only 'bad guys' out there. It was a gradual process but still failed to produce any real evidence as the hosts enjoyed most of the spoils in the half's opening quarter of an hour.

In this time both Winnan and Steenson were mysteriously pinged, the latter for counter rucking and who later also emerged unscathed from underneath a rampaging Montagu. Even so, for all the huff and puff at maul time, and all the flair out wider the hosts were unable to add to their points tally due mainly to solid Pirate defence-step forward the usual suspects-but also some strange decisions against them too!

Taking heart from this, the Cornishmen pressed on themselves and gained a boost when at last being awarded a penalty of their own after some good work holding onto some ball and going forwards with purpose. Once Steenson had recovered from the shock his kick sailed through the uprights to bring his side within a score and set up an interesting final quarter.

Pavers ankle had in the meantime given out again which allowed Peter Cook to ply his trade in front of his former paymasters and supporters alike.

The Pirates ascendancy continued and looked on the verge of a result defining change as fly half Thompson was binned for an off the ball challenge on Tuohy. Lilo's introduction in place of Ireland who'd had an impressive game signalled further ambition to go for the throat and looked initially as if it would pay dividends.

Nottingham though gathered their fourteen collective minds and countered with more and more success. Dodge's try wide out on the left with less than ten minutes left was just reward even if Jackson's attempt at the extras missed. The damage though looked to be done as this now required the visitors to score twice once again if they were to get a result.

Jackson's fourth penalty five minutes later hammered another blow into the Pirates broadside and appeared to seal it before signalling a final flurry of activity that could so easily have tied it, but for a little more good fortune. It wasn't to be as we know, but for once Nottingham hadn't added yet another a bonus point; something the Cornish Pirates at least picked up to take home with them as some consolation.

10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Ed Fairhurst
8 Tim Cowley (capt), 7 Iva Motusaga, 6 Chris Cracknell
5 Bruce Cumming, 4 Heino Senekal
3 Dan Seal, 2 Rob Elloway, 1 Alan Paver.

Replacements:
Darren Dawidiuk, Peter Cook, Sam Heard, Matt Evans
Ollie Thomas, Brian Tuohy, Vunga Lilo

Tries: Fairhurst, Tuohy
Cons: Steenson 2
Pens: Steenson

Nottingham 24
15 Jackson, 14 Savage, 11 Dodge
13 Molenaar, 12 Smith
10 Thompson, 9 Usasz
6 Hammond (capt), 7 Sherriff, 8 Montague
5 Rouse, 4 Morley
1 Parr, 2 Loney, 3 Hall

Replacements:
Duffey, Hopkins, Raven, Stannard, Nirmalendran, Hayter, Pilgrim

Tries: Thompson, Dodge
Cons: Jackson
Pens: Jackson 4

Referee: JP Doyle
Touch Judges: Bruce Robertson, Steve Makinson

Assessor: Peter Farrell
Coach: Clive Leeke

Attendance 1517