Marika Vakacegu scored the winning try for the Pirates (Pic: Brian Tempest)

A try in each half was enough to earn Cornish Pirates a hard-earned victory at bottom club Manchester.

It looked like they might be in for a romp when scrum-half Nick Griffiths went over to score in their first attack after only four minutes.

Rhys Jones added the conversion but Mark Hewitt's much-changed team were only 7-0 ahead by half-time.

And, after two Gareth Wynne penalties, it took a crucial touchdown from full-back Marika Vakacegu to secure victory.

Vakacegu's effort came on top of his hat-trick in last week's 31-20 home defeat to Nottingham, following which coach Hewitt made 10 changes.

But the victory, their third of the season, was enough to move up to ninth in the National League 1 table.