CORNISH Pirates skipper Gavin Cattle admitted lifting the EDF Energy National Trophy crown yesterday was the "best experience of his life".

"It's still sinking in at the moment," said Cattle at the final whistle. "We left it a bit late, but we showed a lot of character. It was like a furnace out there, but all the boys stepped up to the plate, especially second half, played for the full 80 and in the end we managed to turn it round."

JUBILANT Pirates fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo could not hide his delight after he helped inspire the Cornish club to a memorable 19-16 victory over Exeter Chiefs in yesterday's EDF Energy National Trophy final at Twickenham.

"I will remember this day forever, it was fantastic to play at Twickenham, it is such a great stadium. It has been a tough run to the final, but in the end we have won which is the most important thing."

"I am extremely proud of the boys," declared the Australian afterwards. "To win the cup is a collection of games and it does seem we have come from behind in each game, which indicates good character and never say die attitude.

With the Pirates journey now having hit it's first real milestone, McKay is confident his team can continue their development to what he hopes will be new and unchartered waters in the future.

"The people in Cornwall just love their rugby, it's amazing," he added. "Wherever we play, whether it be Doncaster, Leeds, Bedford , there are always Cornish people there. They seem to come in hundreds, sometimes thousands. Just recently I saw pictures on the web of when Cornwall went to Twickenham in 1991 - it was just a sea of black and gold.

NO sooner had the final whistle blown on their TV date with Rotherham, but already the Cornish Pirates were focusing their attentions to this weekend's EDF Energy National Trophy semi-final date with Plymouth Albion.
For Pirates full-back Adryan Winnan, the chance of running out at the home of English rugby with the Cornish club is something he - and his team-mates for that matter - are desperate to achieve.

Grant Anderson is confident he and his Cornish Pirates team-mates can be in National One's final shake-up come the end of the season.
Having swapped Newcastle for Penzance in the summer, the Aussie prop has helped steady the Pirates ship in the past fortnight after their pre-Christmas defeat to near neighbours Plymouth Albion

Pirates forward James Inglis believes Sunday's home win over Waterloo can act as the ideal springboard for a big month ahead from the National League One. Having surrendered top spot in the division following their defeat at Otley a fortnight ago, the 20-year-old helped playing a starring role as the Pirates returned to winning ways

Pirates forward Heino Senekal has told of his delight after helping his native Namibia reach next year's Rugby World Cup in France. The imposing 6ft7in, 17-stone second-row, helped play a key role as his country overcame Morocco in the two-legged African qualifier.

THE Cornish Pirates may be spending this week in the picturesque surroundings of the Sherwood Forest Centre Parcs, but prop Alan Paver insists it will be anything but a "holiday camp". Instead of returning home following Sunday's 24-20 league win over Nottingham, the Pirates have checked themselves into their East Midlands base to prepare for this Saturday's clash with Earth Titans.

PIRATES' full-back Adryan Winnan believes the club's next two league games will offer the perfect benchmark of just how much progress the Cornish club are making this season. On Sunday, Jim McKay's side travel to Nottingham for the first of two tough away-days, the second comes a week on Saturday against current National One leaders Rotherham.

Pirates back James Moore believes his side should use Sunday’s victory as the ideal springboard ahead of this weekend’s crunch clash at Doncaster. Although Moore was not on the scoresheet, fellow newcomer Stan McKeen was as he claimed his second try of the season. The Canadian international has been an ever present so far this season and he admits full-time life with the Pirates is just “awesome”.

The Namibian international was instrumental in helping the Pirates return to winning ways on Sunday as they defeated visiting Moseley 52-16 at the Recreation Ground. Senekal bossed the restarts, while up front his rugged approach helped punch numerous holes into the rearguard of the Midlanders, who themselves had come into the game on the back of an impressive home win over Bedford Blues.

SUMMER signing Alberto Di Bernardo has called on his Cornish Pirates team-mates to build on Sunday's impressive victory over Otley with more of the same at Waterloo this weekend. The overseas fly-half was instrumental in guiding the Pirates to an impressive 39-0 opening weekend success over the visiting Yorkshiremen in National League One.

CORNISH Pirates winger Jon Hylton believes a title push for the Guinness Premiership is well within the grasp of his new club, who kick-off their new season at home to Otley this Sunday. "It's a great bunch of boys in the squad and if we can play to our potential, then I think we can achieve something special this season."

Cornish Pirates coach Jim McKay was in upbeat mood as his side made their final preparations ahead of their first pre-season friendly this weekend. The Aussie said: "We've still got three weeks to go before the season, so we are still very much working towards being in peak condition for that time"

James Moore, ND1'stop points-scorer in 2005/06, says the chance to return to full-time rugby and the prospect of playing in the Premiership again were two of the motivating factors behind his move to the Pirates. Jim McKay wanted Moore as a replacement kicker after seeing him muster 251 points for Coventry with a success rate of 76 per cent.

New Cornish Pirates forwards coach Mark Hewitt admits he cannot wait to get stuck into the action after he finalised his move from Guinness Premiership side Gloucester.
"Both the club and myself are very ambitious and having spoken to Jim, I feel we share a similar philosophy on how the game should be played.

Mark Stevens is the rugby correspondant of the Western Morning News
Media partners of the Cornish Pirates