Cornish Pirates kept up their Champ play-off hopes after a 49-21 win at winless bottom side Cambridge.
The victory was Pirates’ fourth successive win and a fifth in six games as they moved up to sixth place in the second tier.
“Cambridge are a proud team and they’ve shown that,” joint-head coach Gavin Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.
“I know the league position would suggest otherwise, but they’re a spirited, nuggety sort of side, so we knew we had to be on it today emotionally.
“It was ugly at times but there was some really good stuff within it as well, so really pleased, five points which keeps us in touch with that top six.”
Dan Eckersley gave Cambridge a fifth-minute lead, but it was cancelled out three minutes later when Alex Everett crossed for Pirates.
The forward got a second five minutes later while tries for Arthur Relton and Chester Ribbons ensured a bonus point before the interval as Pirates led 28-14 at half time.
The result was made safe with three tries in a 13-minute spell as first Angus Mawson scored in the 53rd minute before Tomi Agbongbon and Morgan Nelson completed the win either side of a Jasper Sorrell try for the hosts.
“I’m really pleased with some of the execution, I think we left a few out there as well which is always good that you’re creating,” added Cattle.
“We got lucky once or twice as well, but I think we were the dominant team today and the pleasing thing for us is that we stuck the task, got the emotion right and came away with the points.”
