Cornish Pirates — Ealing Trailfinders 35:33 — Sportpul

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Greene King IPA Championship

Cornish Pirates WLWLWL

35:33

Finished

Kick-off was 3 Oct, 15:00 BST

Ealing Trailfinders WLWWLW

Venue: Mennaye Field City: Penzance

In the Greene King IPA Championship game on 3 October 2026, Cornish Pirates beat Ealing Trailfinders 35:33.

Match report

The Cornish Pirates secured a narrow 35-33 victory over Ilminster Trailfinders on Saturday afternoon at Mennaye Field, extending their unbeaten run to three matches in the Greene King IPA Championship. The result keeps both sides within touching distance of the top four, with the Pirates moving to 9 points and the visitors remaining on 10 despite the loss. What should have been a straightforward away win for the Trailfinders instead became a contest defined by missed opportunities and defensive resilience. The home side, who had shown vulnerability in their opening fixture against Coventry, found a second wind after a sluggish start. The visitors, meanwhile, struggled to convert their territorial advantage into points, with several promising attacking sequences broken up by well-organised defensive lines. The turning point came in the final quarter when the Pirates, trailing by four points, managed to string together two quick scores through sustained pressure. Ilminster's response was immediate but ultimately insufficient, as a last-gasp try attempt fell short of the posts. The match demonstrated once again why cup football has its own rules - form often takes a back seat to moment-to-moment intensity. Our prediction of a Trailfinders victory with 69% confidence missed the mark, primarily due to the home side's unexpected defensive solidity. The Pirates, who had been criticised for their late-game mentality, showed remarkable composure when under pressure. Ilminster's attack, which had looked sharp in recent weeks, found itself repeatedly thwarted by a defensive structure that refused to buckle. The result leaves both teams level on points after three games, with goal difference likely to prove decisive in the early stages of the season. For the Pirates, the victory provides momentum heading into their next fixture, while the Trailfinders will need to regroup quickly to maintain their title aspirations.

Prepared from match data

Video

Match highlights Cornish Pirates — Ealing Trailfinders Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club

The data source provides no per-player statistics for this match: only team totals are available.

Match prediction: Cornish Pirates — Ealing Trailfinders

Win: Ealing Trailfinders

Confidence 69%

Reasoning

Корниш Пирейтс — 8. place, 5 points after 2 games (1 wins, 1 losses)
Илинг Трейлфиндерс — 2. place, 8 points after 2 games (2 wins, 0 losses)
Корниш Пирейтс, last 5 games: 2 wins, 3 losses
Илинг Трейлфиндерс, last 5 games: 4 wins, 1 losses
Head-to-head: 4 games, Корниш Пирейтс — 0, Илинг Трейлфиндерс — 4

Full prediction

Analytical content. Not a call to gamble. 18+

Recent form

Cornish Pirates

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Ealing Trailfinders

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Match information

State: Finished
Series: Greene King IPA Championship
Venue: Mennaye Field
City: Penzance
Kick-off: 3 Oct, 15:00 BST

Greene King IPA Championship

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#	Team	P	W	L	%	Points
1	Worcester Warriors	4	4	0	100%	20
2	Ealing Trailfinders	4	3	1	75%	15
3	Coventry R.F.C	4	3	1	75%	15
4	Chinnor	4	3	1	75%	14
5	Ampthill	4	3	1	75%	12
6	Rotherham	4	3	1	75%	12
7	Doncaster	4	2	2	50%	10
8	Cornish Pirates	4	2	2	50%	9
9	Blackheath	4	1	3	25%	7
10	Caldy	4	1	3	25%	6

Standings as of today

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Cornish Pirates Ealing Trailfinders

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