Hartpury cup loss extends Cornish Pirates' losing run

Cornish Pirates are bottom of their Premiership Rugby Cup pool and second-from-bottom of the Championship

Cornish Pirates' losing streak was extended to seven matches as they threw away a 19-point lead to lose 41-26 at Hartpury in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Tries from Cam Jones, Will Trewin and Arthur Relton saw them lead 19-0 after 30 minutes.

But they conceded 31 unanswered points before Hugh Bockenham's try ensured a losing bonus point before Hartpury got a fifth try.

"We came out second half and just gifted momentum," joint-head coach Gavin Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"To sum up where we are as a team we're in that messy middle at the minute, there's certain elements of our game that's improving, then other games other parts you're a little bit miffed with some of the decision making."

After victory on the opening day of the Championship season Pirates have not won since - losing all three of their cup matches to sit bottom of their pool.

"Maybe from a coaching perspective I could have been more forceful about keeping the ball in the front line, not pushing it, and that comes a little bit nous around conditions as well," added Cattle.

"I think that's the only thing tactically we can look at, the rest was their error-ridden - gifting them momentum.

"If we're turning the ball over in difficult conditions, they're running 40 metres and we're making desperate decisions in defence.

"There's a lot to look at there, a lot to learn from."