Yes, it is just the beginning, there a long and hard season ahead, but this was truly an opener that provided something of a 'wow' factor to the large crowd present.

Dominating the early and occasionally feisty exchanges, the Pirates went near to scoring from a number of catch and drive efforts, with young prop Paul Andrew venturing closest. During the period Cardiff also suffered a set-back when losing the services of injured centre Shaun James, who had a season with the Pirates in 2005-06.

Against the run of play it was the Welsh visitors in their traditional blue and black shirts who opened the scoring, when fly-half Gareth Davies stepped and passed cleverly to create space for wing Ryan Howells to run forty metres to the line. Davies, the creator, added the conversion.

Soon after the restart home full-back Rob Cook, who was one of seven new faces in the Pirates starting line-up, chased his lofted up and under which put pressure on his experienced opposite number, Craig Morgan. It was not long before the former Welsh international had to leave the field, but the Pirates were also forced to make a change when injured lock Roderick Labuschagne was replaced by Matt Evans.

With skipper Chris Morgan, lock Ben Gulliver, No. 8 Laurie McGlone and busy about hooker Dave Ward bossing events, the Pirates were keen to open their account. Taking control once more prop Paul Andrew was not to be denied when a second scoring chance came his way following a catch and drive on the left. Fly-half Jonny Bentley slotted the conversion beautifully to register his first points for the Pirates, but a second effort after the Pirates took a deserved lead through a try scored by centre Mark Ireland, unluckily rebounded off a post.

As the half drew to a close Davies and Bentley kicked a penalty a piece to give a 15-10 scoreline, but there was some concern when gifted young scrum-half James Doherty picked up an injury.

During the interval a guest for the day, BBC Radio Cornwall presenter Laurence Reed, made the 50/50 Draw, besides helping collect for the station's charity appeal. Navy man and Cornish Pirates supporter Russell Keitch, who is home on leave from serving in the Gulf, also had the Pirate Trust purple shirt he bid for at the end of last season presented to him by Paul Devlin, for which Russell , kindly donated a further £100 to the cause

When the Pirates ran out for the second half they were led by stalwart prop Alan Paver, who was making his 200 th appearance for the Pirates. Respected and popular since his arrival in 2002, everyone stood to give a rapturous applause to the longest serving member of the club's present squad.

Right from the start of the second period, when more of the new boys' were introduced to proceedings, the Pirates showed that they were keen to extend their lead and make their overall commitment and fitness count.

Wing Aisea Havili was keen to get into the action, and following good approach work prop Andrew scored again. Rhys Jones, who had now moved from centre to fly-half, added the extras.

Davies hit back with a penalty for the visitors, but from that moment on the Pirates literally ran away with it. A converted try by McGlone was quickly followed by a first for wing Jimmy Moore after a super sixty metres break out by Rhodri McAtee. Having started on the wing, McAtee had taken over from Doherty at scrum-half, but would now be replaced club skipper Gavin Cattle who was himself quickly into the action.

Good play from Cattle nearly released South African centre Nick Jackson, who was another to impress, but it was Moore who would soon score again, his try at the scoreboard corner converted by Jones once more.

Back-rower Blair Cowan was the second half captain who drove the Pirates forward to make sure they cemented their superiority by keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Havili was well involved in a move that was finished off by replacement full-back Wes Davies, Moore with Davies the provider completed his hat-trick, and Davies then marked his return to Cornwall by securing a brace with the last try of a thoroughly entertaining afternoon – it one also enjoyed by several hundreds of webwatchers throughout the world who viewed the game watching 'Pirates TV'

Cornish Pirates:
R. Cook, R. McAtee , M. Ireland , R. Jones, R. Bright, J. Bentley, J. Doherty, L. McGlone, S. Betty, C. Morgan (capt), B. Gulliver, R. Labuschagne, C. Rimmer, D. Ward, P. Andrew .

Replacements (all used): J. Moore, N. Jackson, S. Winn, A. Havili, W. Davies, G. Cattle, M. Evans, B. Cowan (second half captain), T. Holmes, L. Collins, A. Paver, R. Storer.

Cardiff:
C. Morgan, R. Howells, S. James, D. Ryan, M. John, G. Davies, T. Slater, A. Powell, R. Shellard (capt), J. Thomas, M. Veater, A. Sweet, P. Osborne, R. James, I. George.

Replacements (all used): D. Partridge, N. Hampson, G. Lucas, L. Evans, S. Hopkins, O. Williams, M. Lewis, L. Davies, R. Usher.

Yellow card: Sweet.

Scorers:-

Cornish Pirates
Tries: Moore (3), Andrew (2), Davies (2), McGlone, Ireland
C ons: Bentley, Jones (5)
Pen: Bentley.

Cardiff
Try: Howells
Con: G. Davies
Pens: G. Davies (2).

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU).

Attendance: 2,403.