Ian Davies: Cornish Pirates leadership key to beating Nottingham

Cornish Pirates boss Ian Davies felt his side showed great leadership in their 11-10 victory over Nottingham.

Kieran Hallett's second-half penalty clinched the win after the Pirates had gone into the break 10-8 down.

"The conditions were bad but I think we thoroughly deserved the victory," Davies told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"We spoke prior to the match about leadership, motivation and emotional energy and I think you saw all this aspects today."

James Arlidge's early penalty for Nottingham was cancelled by Hallett soon after.

Green and Whites skipper Brent Wilson then scored a 14th-minute try as the Nottingham pack went forward from a lineout.

But Phil Burgess went over for the Pirates a minute before half-time and Hallett scored the decisive penalty with 23 minutes to go.

"We did a lot of hard work in the first half and scoring just before half-time was very important," Davies added.

"In the second half we probably could have scored two or three tries, but we were playing with a bar of soap and containing the ball was a bit difficult."

The win lifts the Pirates up to sixth in the Championship with half the season gone, and Davies is confident his side can push on as the campaign unfolds.

"After an up and down start to the season with 11 games gone, we're sixth in the table and everybody can beat everybody in the league," Davies said.

"We just need to be more consistent in our performance.

"Kyle Marriott will be back next week and he'll be a massive boost for us as he's such and experienced payer, and hopefully we'll get a run of form."