Cornish Pirates ‘cannot have excuse mentality’

Cornish Pirates ended a seven-game losing run with a win over Chinnor last week

Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver says his side must "get on with it" as they try and turn their form around.

Pirates ended a seven-game losing streak last week with a 15-13 win over newly-promoted Chinnor.

The victory was their first since the opening day of the season.

Pirates, who are up to eighth in the Championship, travel to winless bottom of the table side Caldy on Saturday.

“We can't have an excuse mentality of going, 'Poor us', we've just got to get on with it,” Paver told BBC Radio Cornwall.

“Each team goes through these cycles.

“Our club has enjoyed, for a very long period of time, a lot of stability thanks to Dicky Evans, and we've enjoyed being at the top end of the table.

“So now things have changed slightly, the squad is new; the pack is young, we're now having to start that process over again, and we've just got to get on with it.

“I've got to say these young guys have rolled their sleeves up, and they're getting on with it.

“But we probably need to think about how we're going to navigate these next five games because it can be very difficult on a tight squad.”

Having lost so many successive matches - both in the league and Premiership Rugby Cup - Paver says he was pleased for his squad’s morale that they managed to get a victory.

“We are driven by win and loss, and it is important; that's the business we're in,” he said.

“So when you see things are improving internally and you see the guys working hard, you just need a reward at the end of that.

“One snowflake doesn't make a winter, so we've got to be able to follow that up.

“That's why this week is so important that we continue.

“Getting the win is something that we feel we are capable of, but at the same time it's not given to you.“