Cornish Pirates stun Nottingham with bonus-point win, extend winning streak

When the Cornish Pirates traveled to Nottingham on Friday, November 7, 2025, few expected them to leave with five league points. But that’s exactly what happened — a 38-24 bonus-point victory at Lady Bay Sports Ground that turned heads in the RFU Championship. Coach Joe Walsh, who’d warned just days earlier his team was "still some way" from peak form, now had proof they could deliver under pressure. The win wasn’t just a result — it was a statement.

From Doubt to Momentum

Three days before kickoff, Walsh sat in front of the camera at Mennaye Field in Penzance, looking every bit the pragmatic coach. "We’re not where we need to be," he told fans on Pirates TV. "But we’re close enough to know what we’re capable of." His honesty was refreshing. In a league where hype often outpaces performance, Walsh refused to overpromise. The Pirates, after all, were sitting fourth in the 14-team Championship — play-off contenders, yes, but with three losses already on their record and a long flight ahead to Nottingham.

Nottingham Rugby, meanwhile, were fighting for survival. They’d won just one of their first seven games and were desperate to turn their season around on home soil. The crowd was loud, the pitch slick from overnight rain, and the Pirates’ travel schedule — three long-haul flights in 10 days — had some wondering if fatigue would catch up.

It didn’t.

The Night Nottingham Fell

The match started as a cagey affair. Nottingham opened with a penalty, but the Pirates responded with a line-out surge that ended in a try from flanker Tom Hockenhull. By halftime, the score was 14-10 to Cornwall. The turning point came in the 52nd minute: a turnover near the 22, a quick recycle, and winger Kieran McKeown sprinted 65 meters untouched. That was the Pirates’ fourth try — and the bonus point was secured.

What stood out wasn’t just the scoring, but the discipline. After a shaky start to the season, the Pirates had tightened their defense. They conceded just one try in the final 30 minutes. Their kicking game — once a liability — was precise. Fly-half James Trewick landed four of five place kicks, including a 48-meter drop goal in the 70th minute that effectively sealed the game.

"It was ugly at times," Walsh said post-match. "But we didn’t break. That’s what winning teams do."

Why This Win Matters

The victory moved the Pirates to 18 points from eight games — a full 10 points clear of fifth place. More importantly, it was their third straight win, a run not seen since the 2023-24 season. For a club that’s spent the last five years flirting with promotion but never quite breaking through, this momentum is gold.

"Five points away from Nottingham? That’s a season-defining result," said former Championship referee and analyst David Hargreaves. "It’s not just about the points. It’s about belief. Teams that win away in the Championship tend to win the playoffs. The Pirates are starting to look like one of them."

What’s Next? Cambridge Awaits

Three days after the Nottingham win, the Pirates returned to Mennaye Field in Penzance for a 1pm GMT kickoff against Cambridge on Saturday, November 14, 2025. Cambridge, sitting dead last at 14th, had yet to win a game in the 2025-26 season. But Walsh wasn’t celebrating. Not yet.

"They beat us here last year," he reminded reporters. "And they’re hurting. When a team’s bottom of the table, they play with nothing to lose. That’s dangerous."

Indeed, Cambridge had lost their last five games by an average of just 7.2 points. Their defense was porous, but their scrum had improved. And they had a young fly-half, 21-year-old Oliver Finch, who’d kicked three match-winning penalties in the last three games.

Walsh made three changes to his starting XV — including bringing back injured lock Liam O’Connor — and emphasized the need for early dominance. "We don’t want to give them a sniff," he said. "Not after what we’ve built."

Building Something Bigger

Behind the scenes, the Pirates’ rise isn’t just about coaching. The club invested £1.2 million in a new high-performance center last summer, hired a dedicated video analyst, and extended Walsh’s contract through 2027 — a rare move in a league where coaches often get the axe after one bad season.

"We’re not here to just compete," said CEO Sarah Tregear. "We’re here to return to the Premiership. And this win? It’s the first real sign we can do it."

For the fans in Cornwall, it’s more than just rugby. It’s identity. Penzance and Helston may be small towns, but the Pirates have become a symbol of resilience. They’ve never won promotion to the Premiership. But for the first time in a decade, they’re not just dreaming about it — they’re building it, one away win at a time.