Defeat is an integral part of the game despite what some 'mindset coaches' may preach, but the manner in which this particular example was achieved left travelling fans hugely disappointed to say the least (an understatement and rightly so!).

Discipline issues intitially gifted the hosts a precious bridgehead as half time loomed, before an almost total evapouration of team spirit and belief did the rest. Not unsurprisingly it made for painful viewing too many times, as even when the Green and Whites stepped off the gas with a quarter of the match remaining, inepititude with even the most basic basics crept in to Pirate play with alarming frequency.

And yet for the first half an hour there had been nothing to truly separate the teams. Two Taylor penalties to one solitary Jones attempt pretty much summed up the possible majority opinion of all in the sparsley populated Jimmy Sirrell Stand, that the expected tense and pulsating cup tie was simmering nicely.

Pirate hopes had been given an early boost too as Leicester bound Duffey fumbled and knocked on the kick off receipt to hand the visitors an opportunity in the opening minute. The attacking scrum inside the defenders 22 was set well to the right of the posts and saw the Cornishmen weight the blindside heavily leaving Devlin wide out left and on his own to keep the home boys guessing as to intent.

Nothing was to come of it though as at the reset, the Pirate front row were pinged allowing Nottingham to clear their lines and seek a foothold of the own early on. Taylor eventually obliged at the second attempt on 7 minutes, before Jones and he exchanged a pot each to see the hosts edge the first quarter of an hour at 3-6.

The Pirates to their credit appeared at this stage to have matters in hand and enjoyed a fifteen minute spell with an edge and the aforementioned promised of normal service between these two clubs. Jones was involved with everything and having seen a drop goal attempt go wide, provided a neat diagonal lob over the home defence which Devlin was mightily close to collecting with a clear run to the line beckoning.

It wasn't to be of course which gave cause for Nottingham to regroup and pressure their opponents with more purpose. Cracks began to surface and in an instant the proverbial stable door bolt had been slid across to leave the gate ever increasingly ajar.

The kick through which lead to Taylors' try seemed to be covered by Winnan but as ever the pill has the last say. Tim converted his own dot down and the whole complexion of the match took a different turn as the Pirates seemingly could do no right on all counts.

Flanker Morgan finally tested Sir's patience too far five minutes later and set off early for the half time team talk. Taylor on a role punished the Cornish twice more and the half ended with some desparate defence on the line and an ominous looking scoreline at 3-19.

After the break the Pirates huffed and puffed early on in what became an ineffectual attempt at a redressing the balance. Jones missed an penalty attempt on 45 minutes before limping off with Cowan who had taken who'd taken a hefty knock himself in the first period. Whatling and Motusaga the lucky people to step in and try and turn things around; the former no doubt keen to make amends for his part in the five minutes of madness that had cost the Pirates dearly in the league encounter the month before.

Nottingham in the meantime displayed little sympathy and a try by Rouse effectively signed the warrant with the thick end of half an hour still to play. Barring a miraculous turnaround of course, which looked very unlikely even with the luxury of Taylor missing a second penalty!

Salt was applied to further wounds as the home talismen in the shape of Duffey and Montague were withdrawn so confident were the Archers of a stroll to the flag. Duffey soon had to traipse back on as Harris had to leave the park for further magic sponge work. It made little difference other than seeing the returning from injury Paver have some fun at scrum time.

Mr Wilson then joined in with trying to help the poor Pirates at least get some consolation with some wierd decisions; topped out with Devlin remaining on the pitch for a late hit on Cobden as the winger cleared.

The Pirates though were at least pressing and lead by Winn who eventually crossed after a fierce tussle on the line to restore a little pride. Whatling no doubt troubled by his earlier miscued kick for the corner from in front of the posts - when a scrum seemed logical - missed the extras and pretty much summed up Pirate fortunes.

As if to reach for even more sodium, in the final three minutes the Green and Whites showed how it should be done with Davies' try the icing on the cake of a further 13 points before mercifully Sir blew his whistle. This only marginally before any grubby white towel could be tossed into the ring, something that would not have been amiss in other fields of sport.

The contrast in reaction was stark with the men in green understandably and rightly bouyant both on and off the pitch. The remainder were stunned by what they had witnessed and taken part in and any individual highlights by the likes of Evans and Cowan (while he was on) was grossly overshadowed.

Plaudits for the victors were justified as their reward must surely be a secure berth in the semis after what must be a foregone conclusion at the Mennaye in a fortnight. On this showing and despite Pirate shortcomings, Mounts Bay's chances of even registering on Notts' radar are remote to say the least.

Turning to religion seems a wise choice but then not even an eleventh commandment from above would have made little difference today. Suddenly nine more league games seem rather daunting unless a sense of purpose is re-discovered and implemented pronto. On this showing and with such visible negative body language one feels nothing but foreboding.

We await to be proven wrong....please!!

Cornish Pirates: 8
15 M. Vakacegu 14 A. Winnan 11 P. Devlin (Moore 69)
13 M. Ireland 12 S. Winn 10 R. Jones (Whatling 48) 9 E. Fairhurst
8 M. Evans 7 C. Morgan 6 B. Cowan (Motusaga 48)
5 B. Gulliver (Capt) 4 H. Senekal (Burak 62) 3 S. Heard 2 D. Dawidiuk 1 P. Cook (Paver 40).

Replacements:
16 W. Davey 18 A. Paver 19 M. Burak 20 I. Motusaga 21 J. Moore 22 S. Whatling.

Try: Winn
Pen: Jones

Yellow: Morgan

Replacements:
16 M. Power 17 A. Loney 18 S. McDonald 19 D. Hemingway 20 C. Davies 21 B. Thompson 22 T. Molenaar

Tries: Taylor, Rouse, Davies
Cons: Taylor 3
Pens: Taylor 5
Drop Goal: Taylor

Yellow: Sherriff

Referee: Mark Wilson
Touch Judges: Trevor Fisher, Nick Clarke

Attendance 908