It may be the season of charity and goodwill, but nobody told the Pirates.

This was a mightily convincing victory, one ruthless in application against a shell-shocked Plymouth Albion side who just a week earlier had emerged victorious against the previously unbeaten Exeter Chiefs.

A big crowd was expected at the Recreation Ground, Camborne, and so it proved on what was beautiful mid-winter's day.

Before this fascinating match got underway there was a minute's silence in respect of young Emily McAtee, the daughter of Hannah and Rhodri, who had very sadly passed peacefully away on Wednesday. The thoughts of everyone were with them and their family, as they were also to the families of Irene Spencer and Patricia Pryor from Camborne, who had sadly lost their lives in the tragic coach crash near Townshend.

From the very start of the match Pirates' skipper Gavin Cattle called the shots, as he would do all afternoon, with kicks out of hand from centre Rhys Jones, full-back Rob Cook and fly-half Jonny Bentley also pinning Albion deep inside their own half.

Albion looked to counter, but were soon forced on the back foot once more when wing Nick Jackson, prop Ryan Storer and Jones made ground. When the ball was spun right it reached the safe hands of flanker Chris Morgan who dotted the ball down in the corner on his welcome return to action. Cook, for good measure, converted from the touchline.

The Plymouth side was disrupted by injuries, as have been and still are the Pirates, it looking disjointed despite the efforts of No. 8 Wayne Sprangle and former Pirates hooker James Owen.

In contrast, however, the Pirates were magnificent, playing with an intensity both individually and collectively that Albion were finding too hot to handle.

With 16 minutes on the clock, Cattle and Morgan looked purposeful on the right, their advance creating the promise of another score, which suddenly materialised.

Wing Havili had offered support to pick a line and receive a flipped back pass from Morgan, which he managed to secure to then scorch his way to the line. Cook added the conversion.

Entering the second quarter of the match, Plymouth Albion managed to make it into the Pirates '22' for the first time in the game. They kept the ball tight for a spell before gifting fly-half Alex Davies the chance of a cross field kick. His boot from hand was well executed and gathered by Liam Gibson at the clubhouse corner, only for the wing to be bundled into touch by a determined Havili.

The Pirates were then put under pressure from a catch and drive at the scoreboard corner, and from a number of scrums that followed, but when the ball was released it was Havili who again made an important tackle, this time on Albion's full-back Mark Lee.

It might have been the day after Boxing Day, but play was still always inevitably going to be little feisty at times, it no surprise when referee Mr. Terry Hall had to call order as sounds of 'Give Peace a Chance' reverberated from the PA system!

At the next breakdown Albion were penalised for coming in from the side, enabling the Pirates to work their way back upfield with some superb inter-passing amongst their lively forwards. Under the cosh once more, the visitors' defence looked fragile as Bentley ran and timed his pass beautifully to Cook, who crossed for and added the extras to try number three.

Just over half an hour of play had passed, it amazing to consider that the Pirates were now in with a chance of securing a bonus point before the break, but it was not to be.

During the interval a collection took place for 'Help for Heroes', and 'Pirates Futures' member Richard Brighton won £500 on the December draw. Also present to make the 50/50 Draw on the day was welcome guest Frank Mirikitani, a prop forward who played for Kansas Jayhawks against the Pirates back in 1977.

When the teams returned, the home crowd looked forward to more of the same please, whilst Albion's travelling faithful held hope that their side could somehow get themselves back into the match.

A storming run by Albion flanker James Waterhouse looked menacing, but when Cattle cleared the danger and Jackson chased it immediately showed that the Pirates were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal.

Cook extended the home team's lead with a penalty and shortly after entered the line on the right to notch his second try of the afternoon, a bonus point effort, which was not converted.

Approaching the hour mark Albion used their driving maul to good effect, it providing a position from where centre Matt Hopper crossed at the posts. Many about felt that the pass delivered him was forward, looking to the match officials for due confirmation. The try, however, was awarded, and replacement fly-half Kieran Hallett added the extras.

The Pirates response to this blip was immediate, Cattle again setting the example by scoring a converted try himself after having acquired space on the right.

From the restart back-rowers Tyrone Holmes and Blair Cowan also tore into the opposition, and when delivery from the set piece was required, on a day when the Pirates had all but complete control in all areas, Cowan was over the line to record his eighth Championship try of the season.

A well taken try by Bentley, who had been denied earlier in the match, raised hopes that the 50 points mark was about to be passed, but the scoreboard operators would be troubled no more.

Questions, however, were already being asked as to whether the Pirates had ever beaten Plymouth Albion by such a margin. Well, a quick check of the records gives the answer as no, the Pirates best previous win being a 43-21 points 'friendly' match result recorded at Plymouth in 1998. In meaningful encounters, the Pirates won 26-10 back at the Mennaye Field in a Powergen Cup tie played in 2003, whilst in April of this year the Pirates won 30-14 at Camborne in National One.

Supporters were understandably ecstatic, as they had witnessed a performance to rank with the greatest of their matches played at Camborne – it arguably even the very best.

Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, A. Havili, M. Ireland (J. Moore 72), R. Jones (S. Winn 72), N. Jackson,
J. Bentley, G. Cattle (capt), B. Cowan, S. Betty (L. Wordley 72), C. Morgan (R. Labuschagne h/t),
B. Gulliver, L. McGlone (T. Holmes 65), A. Paver (C. Rimmer 65), D. Ward, R. Storer (R. Brits 56).

Plymouth Albion:
M. Lee (G. Kingdom 58), B. Mercer, M. Hopper, K. Fisilau, L. Gibson, A. Davies (K. Hallett 52),
R. Cushion (T. Kessell 58), W. Sprangle, J. Waterhouse (J. Tripcony 66), M. Lewis, T. Skelding (capt)
T. Hotson (D. Thomas 73), R. Hopkins (D. Porte 72), J. Owen, D. Porte (G. Porter 52).

Replacements (not used): G. Dawe.

Scorers:-

Cornish Pirates
Ties: Cook 2, Morgan, Havili, Cattle, Cowan, Bentley;
Cons: Cook 4
Pen: Cook.

Plymouth Albion
Try: Hopper;
Con: Hallett.

Referee: Terry Hall (RFU)

Man of the match: Alan Paver

Attendance: 5,654