The final drama seemed unlikely after the first three minutes saw the visitors make a blistering start by scoring two tries to silence the partisan home crowd.

The small band of loyal supporters who had made the 800-mile round trip from Yorkshire had only just settled into their seats when Kearnan Myall scored the first try of the game.

The second row collected the kick-off before stepping around an attempted tackle and galloping upfield. The Pirates' defence was caught cold and the field parted for Leeds to maraud towards the line and score beside the posts from 50 metres out.

Alberto Di Bernardo added the conversion on his return to his old club to make it 7-0.

Carnegie scored with their next attack when a flowing move saw the ball switched from left to right and Richard Welding made the extra man out wide to score in the corner. Di Bernardo was off target with the conversion but Leeds led 12-0 and it appeared they were on their way to a routine victory.

However, thereafter they had a frustrating 30-minute spell when they found themselves on the wrong side of decisions from referee Nick Williams.

He constantly penalised the visitors to gift the Pirates' territory inside the Leeds half. The home side were only able to muster kicks at goal to cut the lead but Rhys Jones was accurate in his first attempt after eight minutes and then again six minutes later.

The referee was getting increasingly impatient with the visitors and after the latter he gave captain Rob Rawlinson a final warning for persistent infringement.

New signing Juan Gomez was the unfortunate player to be pulled out next as he was sin-binned after 13 minutes.

Speaking after the game, head coach Neil Back commented: "We were frustrated with some of the decisions especially as it was something we had worked on in the week. I don't think we have a problem with our discipline but we will have to look at the video to see exactly what the referee was looking for."

The Pirates made the most of their chances and Jones cut the lead even further with his third penalty after 23 minutes which was quickly followed by his fourth four minutes later to level the score at 12-12.

The penalties followed Rob Vickerman being shown a yellow card for a deliberate offence on the visitors' line to keep them out.

Di Bernardo managed to give his side the lead once more with a penalty after 30 minutes, having missed an earlier effort.

Even better was to come for Leeds when Tom Biggs finished off a flowing move involving Fosi Palaamo and Myall in midfield. Di Bernardo added an excellent touchline conversion to extend his side's lead.

However, there was still time for Jones to add another penalty in stoppage time to make the half-time score 22-15 to the league leaders.

Leeds came out fired up at the start of the second half, perhaps with a sense of injustice in their minds, however despite dominating possession they were unable to find a way through the Pirates' defence for the crucial fourth try.

Di Bernardo did manage a penalty after 44 minutes, however it was the home side who scored the next try. Hooker Darren Dawidiuk was pushed over the line to the joy of the home fans after 61 minutes, a score which was converted by Jones.

The fly-half then set up a grandstand finish with his sixth penalty of the game after 77 minutes bringing the home side to within three points of inflicting a first defeat of the season on Leeds.

Leeds had to show their championship mettle to withstand a barrage of pressure from the home team and crucially prevent referee Williams from awarding a penalty within kicking range.

The final whistle was greeted with relief but tinged with disappointment having failed to pick up a try bonus point for the third week running.

However, Leeds move back to the top of National One ahead of Exeter, after overcoming this major hurdle.

Cornish Pirates: Winnan, Tuohy, Devlin, Luke, Vakacegu, Jones, Griffiths, Paver (Crook 59), Dawidiuk (Seal 70), Heard, Senekal (Betty 65), Gulliber, Morgan (Evans 70), Motusaga, Bedes. Replacements not used: Winn, Ireland.

Leeds Carnegie: Hinton (Goodridge 72), Welding, Vickerman, H Paul (Barrow 70), Biggs, Di Bernardo, Mathie (Bedford 65), Palaamo, Rawlinson (Nilsen 72), Gomez (McGhee 50), Lund, Myall (Pendlebury 65), Clark, Fourie, Oakley.

Referee: Nick Williams (RFU).