Cornish Pirates' character impresses boss after 31-26 Coventry victory

Corish Pirates have won eight of their 16 Championship games this season

Cornish Pirates coach Gavin Cattle hailed his side's character as they came back from a 12-point half-time deficit to beat Coventry 31-26.

Having trailed 26-14 at the break, a penalty try and a score from Morgan Nelson - his fourth try in two games - along with Harry Bazalgette's penalty ensured a bonus-point win.

Pirates remain seventh in the Championship after the victory.

"I'm just chuffed, that's what rugby's about, the character," Cattle said.

"We weren't good today, but the energy was there and the intent was there in the second half and you could just see the reaction, the boys needed that," he told BBC Radio Cornwall.

Coventry had secured a four-try bonus point inside the first 37 minutes as they led 26-7 thanks to tries from Will Chudley, Lucas Titherington, Ollie Andrews and Suva Ma'asi, with John Stevens responding.

But Will Crane scored just before half-time and the Pirates went on to get their eighth win from 16 games.

"In the first half we were purely out-enthused," Cattle added.

"There were a few straight words at half-time, I think we fed their energy, our error rate was through the roof in the first half and we couldn't string two phases together.

"Coventry are a good transition side and they cut us open two or three times.

"But Pirates have got character and it was really important that we responded in the right way at half-time and the boys did."