Paver impressed by form of Cornish Pirates

Cornish Pirates are playing some of their best rugby of the season, according to joint-head coach Alan Paver.

The Champ side have won their last five matches, propelling them up to fifth place in the table.

It is their best run of form since October, when they went on a six-game unbeaten run that included five consecutive wins.

But Paver says his side are better now than they were earlier in the season:

"We went through a similar vein of form, but deep down I knew we weren't really performing at our best," he told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"We were gritty and we were worthy of our wins, but in terms of our form I wasn't overly satisfied.

"Whereas this time round, I actually think we're playing some good rugby.

"We've got a nice balance with our set-piece, and the attack and defence are contributing really well to the outcomes of these games, so at the minute we're going well."

The victories came after a tough run of results where Pirates lost six of their seven league games in December and January.

But Paver is hopeful the club can stay in the top six and earn a play-off place.

They are eight points off fourth-placed Coventry and 10 behind third-placed Bedford - with third and fourth getting home ties in the elimination round against the fifth and sixth-placed sides.

Paver says the play-offs have added new impetus to a season where in the past, with leaders Ealing 15 points clear, there would be little left to play for.

"We're really excited about the play-offs," he added.

"It's always been a good competition when there's play-offs because it does keep you fully engaged for the full season.

"When we started to slip down the league and it did look like we were coming out of the play-off contention, at that point we needed faith, which we did, we said 'keep continuing doing what we're doing and I'm sure we're going to get in position'.

"But now because we can see it, taste it, we're in it, the motivation is that we maintain the play-offs position.

"It's not going to be, easy. Six games left, we're playing six good teams and we've got to make sure that we pick up a number of wins to get in there.

"But it is tangible, we can see it, we're on good form, there's no reason why we can't."