Cornish Pirates 8-69 Worcester Warriors

Pirates suffered their previous worst-ever Championship defeat when they lost 62-26 at Sixways in January

Worcester ran in 10 tries at the Mennaye Field as they handed Cornish Pirates their heaviest Championship defeat for the second time this season.

After trailing to an early Kieran Hallett penalty and going down to 14 men when Ryan Lamb was sinbinned, Worcester bounced back spectacularly.

Scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone and winger Cooper Vuna each grabbed a hat-trick.

Warriors' other tries came from full-back Chris Pennell (2), winger Tom Biggs and replacement Ben Howard.

Lamb kicked six conversions and a penalty, while this season's regular kicker Andy Symons also booted over a couple before having to go off with a potential concussion injury.

The home side's lone try came from winger Charlie Holland 14 minutes from time.

Pirates director of rugby Ian Davies accused his players of looking like "frightened rabbits" when they went down 62-26 at Sixways in January. And the Cornishmen, up against former Pirate Sam Betty for the first time since leaving in 2011, were again in a stew.

Worcester's second 10-try haul against the Pirates this season tees up next Saturday's Championship climax against leaders Bristol at Sixways.

All it will do in terms of achievement is decide who finishes first or second in the final table - and therefore who plays who in the Championship play-offs. But, most importantly, it will determine who has home advantage for the second leg of the Championship play-off final, if, as expected, both clubs make it that far.

London Scottish are now guaranteed to finish third, while Rotherham are favourites to edge out Nottingham for fourth place.

Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"This was a reaction to the defeat in Jersey. There were a lot of good individual performances out there. Let's hope everyone stays in the same frame of mind to face Bristol next week.

"Charlie Mulchrone in particular looked impossible to handle. He's looking a dangerous player. I wouldn't want to have to face him.

"I've got a difficult week ahead now trying to pick a team to play Bristol. But let's just see if we can finish top of the pile and then see what happens after that."

Cornish Pirates: May; Evans, Hendrickson, James, Holland; Hallett, Pope; Andrew, Channon, Paver, McGlone, Barry, Morgan (capt), Atkinson, Parker.

Replacements: Innard, Walker, Jamieson, Graulich, Bolwell, Homer, Goss.

Worcester Warriors: Pennell; Biggs, Symons, Mills, Vuna; Lamb, Mulchrone; Bower, Annett, Schonert, Williams, O'Shea, Thomas, Betty, van Velze (capt).

Replacements: Creevy, Daniels, Rees, Percival, Arr, Stelling, Howard.

Attendance: 2,259.