AFTER comfortably winning their final pre-season fixture, the Cornish Pirates are “raring to go” for their competitive start to the 2015/16 campaign, writes Phil Westren.

They will face Nottingham at the Mennaye on Sunday in the opening weekend of the Greene King IPA Championship and will begin the game with confidence after a comprehensive 64-14 at Taunton on Friday.

The match against the National Two South side was expected to provide a worthy test for the Pirates and despite the scoreline, director of rugby Ian Davies said it was a decent test for the team, adding they are eager to commence the league season.

Davies said: "This fixture provided a really good workout, and the players confirmed that they were keen to put their hands up for places not just for the Nottingham game but also for the season ahead.

"Everyone showed that they are raring to go."

Conditions at Taunton’s Hyde Park ground were excellent for playing rugby and in a physical encounter, played in three thirds, the Pirates got off to an impressive start.

They built up a 24-0 lead with tries from flanker Alex Cheesman, fly-half Kieran Hallett, skipper and lock Chris Morgan and number eight Laurie McGlone, two of which were converted by Hallett.

However, the first period ended with the home team scoring a try when centre Nick Mason made it to the line, with fly-half Toby East converting.

At the start of the second third, the Titans pulled back seven more points, this time thanks to a converted try registered by replacement full-back Ross Toms, but the Pirates were soon back in their stride once again.

Hooker Rob Elloway’s converted score was followed by one from replacement prop Jack Andrew and there then an unconverted effort by wing Craig Holland.

Into the final session, the Pirates reached the 50 mark thanks to Will Cargill adding two extra points to a try scored by Alex Dancer.

Cargill similarly delivered when two more replacements, Tom Riley and Marlen Walker, scored the final two tries in the game.

PIRATES: 15 Moyle, 14 Arnott, 13 Hendrickson, 12 James, 11 Holland, 10 Hallett, 9 Day; 1 P Andrew, 2 Elloway, 3 Paver, 4 Garratt, 5 Morgan (c), 6 Cheesman, 7 Atkinson, 8 McGlone.

REPS: Channon, Walker, J Andrew, Graulich, Parker, Stevens, Bolwell, Pope, Cargill, Dancer, Riley, O'Meara, T May, L May.

TRIES: Cheesman, Hallett, Morgan, McGlone, Elloway, Jack Andrew, Holland, Dancer, Riley, Walker.

CONS: Hallett (4), Cargill (3).