Pirates boss Cattle backs side to bounce back from 73-40 Coventry rout
Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle insists his side are not as bad as their 73-40 thrashing at Coventry suggests.
He told BBC Radio Cornwall the squad is focused on putting the defeat behind them. The message came as the Pirates prepared to host Ealing, in a report published by BBC Sport on 30 September.
The Coventry defeat came in Round 2 of the 2026/27 Elior Champ Rugby competition, England's second tier of men's rugby union, according to the Cornish Pirates. Coventry ran in 11 tries to win 73-40. A try, worth five points, is scored by grounding the ball over the opposition line.
The Pirates scored six tries themselves in a wild afternoon. They still conceded what had earlier been described as a record haul of points against them. Attack clicked. Defence did not.
Coventry are proven contenders at this level. They finished third last season and reached the play-off semi-finals. That pedigree does not excuse conceding 73 points, but it helps explain how quickly an away game can run away from you once missed tackles mount and momentum swings.
The Pirates had started the season brightly. They beat Doncaster Knights 45-19 at Mennaye Field, their home ground in Penzance, on the opening weekend. One win from two left Cattle urging perspective rather than panic, with the new campaign still taking shape.
Next up is Ealing at home. Ealing finished top of the table last season. They had not lost a regular-season game since April 2025 going into the Pirates fixture, which tells you everything about the scale of the challenge.
It is a demanding follow-up. Ealing bring power through the forwards, pace out wide and relentless accuracy in possession. The Pirates will need far tighter defence around the ruck, the contest for the ball on the ground after a tackle, and much better control of field position through their kicking game.
For supporters, this means a quick answer. Was Coventry a freak afternoon or a warning sign? Cattle clearly believes it was the former. A response against the division's front-runners would be the fastest way to show it, and Mennaye Field on a big home afternoon is the right place to start.
