Sara Cox awarded a decisive penalty try as Ealing Trailfinders fell to defeat in their first away fixture of the season with a 15-12 loss at Cornish Pirates.

The sides were level at 7-7 after a tense opening half when the early Pirates penalty try was cancelled out by Malon Al-Jiboori, who crossed the whitewash to score.

In the second half, Pirates' Danny Cutmore scored before Arwel Robson's penalty extended their lead to 15-7, meaning Angus Kernohan's last-minute try for Ealing was nothing more than a consolation.

Cox took charge after becoming the first woman to referee a Premiership Rugby match last month when she oversaw Harlequins against Worcester Warriors at the Stoop.

The Pirates got off to a great start to get into the opposition half before winning a five-meter scrum.

The Trailfinders front-row were dominated as they were heaved over their own try-line before Cox made her way straight to the posts to signal the penalty try, putting the Pirates seven points ahead.

Despite being on the back foot for much of the half, the visitors recovered when Al-Jiboori hit a hard line off nine, breaking a Pirates tackle, before touching down under the posts.

The try was converted to send the two sides into the break tied at 7-7 as a rainbow filled the sky above Mennaye Field.

After both teams returned to the field, the Pirates drove up to the Trailfinders' try-line with some excellent forward play.

With the visitors in retreat, Cutmore picked and went from the back of the ruck to storm over from a short distance.

The try wasn't converted on this occasion, but the Pirates gave themselves some extra breathing when Robson kicked a superb penalty from distance.

And that breathing room came in handy after an outstanding grubber into the Pirates' 22 from fly-half Craig Willis found Kernohan, who smashed into an oncoming defender on his way to crossing the try line.