Cornish Pirates ended last season in storming fashion and now we’ve started this season in the same way.

Well done to the Cornish Pirates for top marks away from home, four tries and five points, in the first league match of the season.

Nottingham, known as The Archers, are no pushover. They can fire some arrows when they want to!!

Final score, 24 to the Pirates, 18 to the Archers.

Nottingham have a great Director of Rugby and a fine Chairman who I know well. We have had some times together, normally in strong dialogue with the RFU.

This year they pushed us for the whole match. A young team who ran the ball fast and wide. They camped in our 22 and on our try line for too long for my comfort. Thankfully the Pirates defence was rock solid.

When the opportunity arose, Pirates picked up tries from great play, both in the forwards and the backs. An opportunist charge down included!

A great job from the lads!

Also, as ever, my thanks to the BBC. Their BBC Radio Cornwall team covers every match, and I get to follow in live time from here in Kenya. Their commentary is terrific, John Martin has been the voice of Pirates home and away on the BBC for many years, for which I thank him. His studio colleague Ross Ellis is excellent too. See more about John (left below interviewing Bill Beaumont) HERE

The bad news is that our Captain, John Stevens, suffered a Cruciate Ligament injury which is a bad one to get. Possibly out for the season, which is a big loss. However, Pirates always fight on, and this gives a chance to someone else to step up. I wish John all the best with his recovery.

Full match report below – click on the image or HERE.

On a related topic, the BBC interviewed Pirates new Chief Executive about the transition from my decades at the helm to potential new owners.

See the interview below – click on the image or HERE

Owning Pirates has been one of the highlights of my life. Its not just the rugby, its the ability to support Penzance, the town of my birth; seeing young talent coming from across Cornwall and making it big, and the pleasure that our fans get from seeing their team do so well.