Back to winning ways of recent in the league, the visiting Chiefs also made it five wins on the trot against the Pirates in a match worthily won.

However, as the 4-3 try-count indicates, the visitors didn't have it all their own way, and should the teams ultimately meet in the play-offs, then an interesting encounter surely awaits.

On a cold but dry winter's day, the atmosphere for this derby match was built firstly with Camborne Youth Band providing the pre-match entertainment, and then with rival supporters trying to out sound each other with strains of 'Aaargh' from Pirates followers and Indian drums from a small band of their Exeter counterparts.

The wind had also increased ahead of kick-off time, which Exeter had to their advantage once the game was kicked off.

In the fourth minute Exeter's fly-half, former 'Pirate' Gareth Steenson, had an opportunity to give the visitors a lead, but his attempt from forty metres out went to the left of the posts

Exeter held territorial advantage in the opening quarter and looked the most likely to score. A threatening run from Steenson was halted thanks to an important tackle made by full-back Wes Davies, and another former Pirate, wing Matt Jess, then knocked the ball on at the scoreboard corner.

When Steenson was gifted an easier penalty chance at goal in the seventeenth minute, he made no mistake, which appeared to spur the Pirates to respond straight from the restart. A first visit inside the Devon side's '22' offered promise, but it was just that, as Exeter soon eased their way back up field.

As expected for such a 'derby' game, play was fiercely contested by both teams. It certainly demanded attention from a crowd made up almost wholly of Cornish rugby supporters, whose spirits were buoyed as the Pirates proceeded to achieve parity in the on-field exchanges. Man of the match and skipper Ben Gulliver was given excellent back up, especially from flanker Blair Cowan and prop Scott Franklin, whilst James Doherty was busily sound at scrum-half.

A break from fly-half Jonny Bentley, with support given by lock Luke Collins and Franklin, set pulses racing, but the Exeter defence again held firm.

With half-time time in sight, Chiefs winger Mark Foster took advantage of an apparent accidental obstruction to find space on the left, which proved a potent piece of good fortune, as having gained ground to the clubhouse corner, when the ball was moved right a penalty was conceded and Steenson added another three points.

Looking one moment that the Pirates would hold on for a 0-3 half-time scoreline, it was now 0-6, but with a telling and cruel blow still to follow. In the final few seconds of the half, it looked as if wing Nick Jackson's tackle on Exeter's hooker Neil Clark had prevented a a try at the left corner flag, but from the resulting line-out flanker Andy Miller pounced to score. Steenson added the extras, the referee Mr. Kitt blew his whistle, and the score of 0-13 left the Pirates a little deflated.

At the start of the second half Exeter appeared keen to add further points, it looking ominous when they opted for a catch and drive just five metres out from the Pirates line on the left. To their credit, however, the Pirates held strong for Doherty to then clear the ball superbly to halfway.

Another Doherty nudge next took play to the scoreboard corner, as the Pirates counter looked to deliver, but it would be from the clubhouse corner just a minute or two later than true benefit would be gained.

The Pirates were awarded a penalty, and the option of a scrum was taken just five metres out from Exeter's line. Gavin Cattle, who had now replaced Doherty, put the ball into the scrummage, which skewed slightly from where the alert Cowan gathered to score his eleventh try of the season. Bentley's conversion attempt unluckily missed, as it bounced back off the right post.

From the restart the Chiefs looked to hit back with purpose and power, and to good effect as No. 8 Richie Baxter was driven over the line for a try. Scored to the left of the posts, Steenson added the extras.

The Chiefs now looked totally dominant, and their pack especially so, as was evident when Clark, who was making his 100 th appearance for Exeter, celebrated the occasion with an unconverted try.

A fourth bonus point try soon followed, Baxter taking advantage of a Pirates mistake to run sixty metres for his second touchdown in the match. The conversion was again missed, but with a 5-30 scoreline it was game over.

The Pirates heads refused to drop, and to their credit came back at the end to score two unconverted tries themselves. Skipper Gulliver crossed for the first following a good break by Bentley, and replacement hooker Dave Ward added another following a sustained spell of Pirates pressure. As a general point of interest, almost incredibly, all seven tries scored in the match had been accredited to forwards.

Cornish Pirates:
W. Davies, R. McAtee, P. Devlin, M. Ireland, N. Jackson (R. Cook 75)
J. Bentley, J. Doherty (G. Cattle 49), M. Evans, S. Betty, B. Cowan (T. Holmes 66)
B. Gulliver (capt, C. Rimmer 78), L. Collins (R. Labuschagne 58), S. Franklin, R. Elloway (D. Ward 66), R. Storer (P. Andrew 58).

Exeter Chiefs:
S. Jones, M. Jess, N. Sestaret (M. Cornwell 66), B. Rennie (D. Gray 78), M. Foster
G. Steenson, C. Stuart-Smith (H. Thomas h/t), R. Baxter,A. Miller (J. Scaysbrook 60)
C. Slade, T. Hayes (capt), J. Hanks (D. Gannon 71), C. Budgen (H. Tui 54), N. Clark (S. Blythe 66), B. Sturgess.

Scorers:-

Cornish Pirates

Tries, Cowan, Gulliver, Ward.

Exeter Chiefs

Tries: Baxter 2, Miller, Clark;
Cons: Steenson 2
Pens: Steenso 2

Referee: Rowan Kitt (RFU)

Man of the match: Ben Gulliver

Attendance: 3,661