Cattle lauds Pirates spirit after first win of season

Gavin Cattle finally saw his side claim a first league win of the season

Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle praised his side's spirit in adversity after earning their first win of the season at the fourth attempt.

The Pirates were 38-10 winners at London Scottish in The Champ as they ended a three-game winless run.

The bonus-point victory in Richmond moves Pirates up to ninth in the division after four matches.

"I'm a bit disappointed that we haven't got more league points because I thought we were further down the track just from how they've been training," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"But you've got to get it right on match-day.

"I feel we're coaching well, most probably more aligned than we've ever been and I'm just really chuffed for the lads, because we have been pushing them hard, that they got their rewards."

Two tries from Ben Cambriani and one from Arthur Relton saw Pirates lead 17-0 at half-time.

Murray Bellis pulled a try back for the hosts early in the second half with Pirates having seen two players in the sin bin.

But Alfie Petch, Sol Moody and Luke Ratcliff crossed in a 10-minute spell just after the hour-mark to seal the win before Bellis grabbed a late consolation try.

"I know we've had a few close calls, but we've been here in previous years and this has been a tricky place for us," Cattle added.

"We had that sticky patch just after half-time when we were down to 13 men - there was a lot of yellow cards in there so a bit of chaos.

"But I thought our physicality, especially just before half-time, showed a lot of heart and spirit - there was a lot of disruption through injury and the yellow cards."