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Cornish Pirates 'pressed the self-destruct button' as they conceded two late tries to lose 29-22 at Cambridge.

Leading 22-15 with three minutes to go Seb Brownhill went over to make it 22-22 before Cambridge got a bonus-point try in stoppage time.

It was a third late loss is five games for Pirates, who have now lost their last four games and are second-from-bottom of the Championship.

"We just pressed the self destruct button," joint-head coach Gavin Cattle told Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio Cornwall.

"It seems to be the story of our season - fine margins in that last 20 minutes.

"I think Cambridge deserved their win, we really need to take stock of our game in this break."

Hugh Bokenham's early try was cancelled out by Sam Hanks before Cambridge's Matt Hema and Pirates' Will Gibson traded tries late in the first half to leave it 12-12 at the break.

After a Cambridge penalty soon after the restart Bokenham went over for his second try to make it 19-15.

An Iwan Jenkins penalty pushed Pirates 22-15 ahead with five minutes to go, but Pirates could not see the game out.

"We just didn't get enough of our own ball in that first half," Cattle added.

"We couldn't launch our attack, when we did we scored, which is the frustrating thing - I think we had two visits and two tries in that first half.

"Then we start the second half, same thing again, we score and create a penalty off another.

"So we are we are creating and we've got the ability across the park, but it's just certain areas, particularly lineout at the minute.

"It's understandable with the injuries and change of personnel, but at some point we've got to turn the corner on that because it's costing us."