Championship: Cornish Pirates 30-12 Jersey

Cornish Pirates proved too strong for Jersey on Saturday

Jersey's poor run of results continued as they fell to a 30-12 Championship defeat at Cornish Pirates.

The islanders were 12-9 ahead at the break after Jonny Bentley and Kieran Hallett traded penalties.

But after a keenly contested first half at the Mennaye, the hosts showed their dominance from the restart and ran in three tries.

Darren Barry, Alex Dancer and Kieran Goss all touched down, while Jersey failed to register a single point.

The result leaves Pirates in the top half of the Championship table, while Jersey will be looking over their shoulders in ninth spot after a seventh consecutive loss in all competitions.

Try-scoring chances in the first period were few and far between, but exemplary kicking from former Pirate Bentley and home fly-half Hallett kept the scoreboard ticking over.

The hosts' best spell of possession and territory in the first 40 minutes came just before the break, and although they could not find a way through it was perhaps a sign of what was to come.

Pirates were quickest out of the blocks in the second half and took the lead for the first time when lock Barry powered over from close range.

Dancer then found space to dart through and grab the Pirates' second try, with Hallett's conversion opening up a healthy 23-12 advantage.

And with Jersey on the attack near the try-line, looking to re-establish a foothold in the game, Pirates winger Goss superbly intercepted and ran almost the entire length of the pitch to score.

The islanders were 18 adrift there was to be no way back, on their head coach Harvey Biljon's return to face his former club.

Cornish Pirates: Bodilly; Goss, Riley, Dancer, Holland; Hallett, Kessell; Ford-Robinson, Channon, Deformes; Carrick Smith, Barry; Morgan (capt), Atkinson, McGlone.

Replacements: Elloway, Davies, Graulich, Bolwell, Townsend, Hendrickson, May.

Jersey: Pointer; Foster, Bishop, Robling, Locke; Bentley, Glynn; Lockwood, Buckle, Williams; Rae (capt), Campbell; Kaho, Hodson, Noone.

Replacements: Herriott, Selway, Lancuba, Markham, Haining, Dudley, Penberthy.

Attendance: 1,727