Cornish Pirates inflicted a first league defeat on Ealing since April 2025 as Matt Pritchard’s stoppage-time try earned them a 35-33 Champ win.

Ealing won all 26 of their league games last season before losing in the play-off semi-finals to eventual champions Worcester Warriors.

The Trailfinders last lost a league game on 19 April 2025 when they went down 30-24 at home to Bedford.

James Gibbons gave Ealing a third-minute lead but Pirates skipper Alex Everett struck back five minutes later.

Saul Nelson and Henry Palmer’s first-half tries for Pirates were cancelled out by scores from Francis Moore and Kyle Hatherell as the sides were tied 21-21 at the break.

Nick Lilley scored on his Pirates debut after joining on dual-registration from Prem side Exeter 15 minutes after the break, but Gibbons got his second try three minutes later, although it was unconverted – which proved costly.

Matt Cornish went over for Ealing with seven minutes left as they led 33-28 before Pritchard levelled the scores and Arwel Robson kicked his fifth conversion to secure a bonus-point win.

It moves Pirates – who were thrashed 73-40 at Coventry last week – up to sixth in the table while Ealing slip to fourth.

“It was pretty bizarre week in terms of we’d conceded 70 points but there was elements or spells in the game where we showed how powerful we can be,” joint-head coach Gavin Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

“I think the exciting thing for me is that we still weren’t at the level we need to be.

“But one thing’s for sure is that the grit and determination, especially going into the sort of ‘hunt game’, which we normally would do five metres out, from 20 metres out trying to earn a penalty, ended up being a try-scoring opportunity.

“Belief is built on moments like that and I’m sure that’s something we can cling on to a bit.”