Ian Davies happy with Cornish Pirates defence

Cornish Pirates are up to second in the league

Cornish Pirates forwards coach Ian Davies has praised his side's defence after their 27-6 win over Championship rivals London Welsh.

Front rowers Rudi Brits and Dave Ward got first-half tries to help the Pirates to a 20-3 lead at the break.

Canada international Matt Evans crossed the line early in the second half to seal the win.

"We shut them down. We knew how they were going to try to play and we defended really well," Davies said.

It was a fourth consecutive win for the Pirates, who move up to second in the table, nine points off leaders Bristol.

But Davies said he was disappointed that his side could not pick up a bonus point for a fourth try.

"A bit more composure and we could have scored and got the bonus point try which probably would have been a true reflection of the game," he told BBC Radio Cornwall.

The Pirates' winning streak has pleased Davies as they prepare for the play-offs.

"This was play-off intensity," he said. "Rotherham next week will be play-off intensity, Bristol here will be a mighty battle and then Moseley could be playing for a place in the top eight or trying to get that win for an extra point for the relegation zone.

"They're all going to be hard battles and that's what we've spoken about, trying to put markers down psychologically and physically to know that the Pirates are ready."