Pirates struggle as experienced forwards ruled out

Alex Everett has not played for Cornish Pirates since coming off in the first half of their loss to Cambridge more than a month ago

Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle says key injuries up front have contributed to his side's poor start to the season.

The Pirates have lost seven successive games and are second-from-bottom of the Championship and bottom of their Premiership Rugby Cup pool.

Skipper John Stevens was ruled out for the season after a knee ligament injury in the win over Nottingham in their opening match - their only victory this term.

Fellow experienced forward Alex Everett is out until January after suffering a knee injury of his own.

"When you have a small squad they're the guys who really show the other guys what it looks like," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"So you get a bit of a double whammy really, you're not getting them on the training park to educate and help show the guys physically what it looks like.

"Then obviously you're not getting the added bonus of them putting their bodies on the line for you every weekend.

"Last season we knew we were in danger of potentially going down this avenue if it did happen, we had a bit of luck our way in that sense, and I think this season they've been saving that luck up until the first spell of the season.

"We've just got to roll our sleeves up and get on with it."