It was Nottingham who were first on the scoreboard, however, as Luke Rokomoce was the quickest to pounce on a Gwyn Parks grubber after only five minutes. Parks couldn’t add the extras.

The Pirates struck back after ten minutes when a 50:22 by Angus Mawson set up good field position and Josh King went over, with the hosts having the Assistant Referee to thank for ensuring the try was awarded. Louie Sinclair put his side ahead from the tee.

The home side extended their lead with two further tries over the course of the next 15 minutes. Firstly, Sol Moody crossed near the corner but Sinclair couldn’t convert.

Then, with the weather closing in, some improvised passing from the Pirates saw the ball reach Tomiwa Agbongbon to slide over. Again, Sinclair couldn’t improve the score, making it Cornish Pirates 17-12 Nottingham at the break.

The third quarter of the match was a somewhat stop-start affair, that was until Nottingham, playing with the freedom afforded by a penalty advantage, swung a long pass out wide for Rokomoce who danced past the last defender to score his second try of the match. Parks brought the visitors back within five.

The Archers’ ability to continue the comeback was hampered soon after, however, as Arthur Allen was sent to the sin bin.

Back to a full complement in the closing stages, Nottingham were piling on the pressure but Matt Cannon was able to effect the turnover practically on his own goal line. Arthur Relton cleared the ball and with it went Nottingham’s hopes of claiming victory.

Jack Stapley, making his first appearance of the season following a lengthy injury lay off, gave his thoughts on the narrow margin of defeat: “They are a great outfit and it’s one we’re going to be gutted with. We were only five points away and conceded nothing in the second half. But a point away here is class, we were hoping for more but it is what it is.”