Bristol Rugby started 2010 as they had ended 2009 – on top of the Championship after yet another bonus-point victory.

Paul Hull's promotion chasers outscored their third-placed visitors by five tries to two, blowing them away in a rampant 25-minute period in the first half.

Lee Robinson and Tom Arscott both scored once and Dan Norton crossed twice to bank a bonus point before the break, then James Phillips powered over in the second half as Bristol stormed to an eighth straight league win.

They have collected seven try-scoring bonus points during that incredible run, taking their points tally to 39 from the last available 40.

Hull's in-form side were understandably flat at times during the second 40 minutes – but they demonstrated during that blistering first-half spell just how dangerous they can be.

Pirates had beaten Plymouth 46-7 five days earlier, but it was Bristol who followed up their own impressive win over Devonian opposition – 25-16 at previous leaders Exeter.

The Pirates began with positive attacking intentions – and tested the Bristol defence during the opening exchanges.

But the home side were first to strike, Robinson showing a typical display of power to break through after 10 minutes.

After a slow start, Bristol started to assert their authority when they won a scrum in the Pirates' 22 and Robinson was played in by Luke Eves out wide. He still had plenty of work to do – but effectively dragged two defenders over the line with him to score.

Adrian Jarvis' conversion made it 7-0, but Pirates soon hit back to stun the home supporters in the biggest Championship attendance of the season so far – 7,714 – by scoring a try of their own.

Rob Cook sauntered through the Bristol defence – and when he was eventually brought crashing down by Luke Eves and Junior Fatialofa, skipper Gavin Cattle picked up possession, slipped past Mark Irish and scored.

Cook missed the conversion to leave it at 7-5 after 15 minutes – but after 23, Bristol were 21-5 in front.

The excellent Arscott scored his side's second try, taking Jarvis' pass and somehow picking the slightest of gaps in what appeared to be a well-organised Cornish defensive line.

Then, from the restart, Arscott collected possession and raced down-field, eventually throwing a long, looping pass over the head of defender Richard Bright and into the arms of the grateful Norton, who finished the job. With two tries in two minutes, a close match was transformed into what appeared a certain Bristol victory – and the hosts as good as killed the game off on 35 minutes.

Jarvis and the recalled Eves – who had an impressive game – combined on the left, with the latter selflessly freeing Norton, who tore down the left to score his second of the match.

Bristol led 26-5 at the break – and it was never going to be easy to maintain the tempo of the opening half. Perhaps understandably, they failed to hit the same heights after the restart – and it was the away side who claimed the first points of the second half.

A Cook penalty, awarded after Bristol had been penalised at the ruck, reduced the deficit to 26-8 – but Pirates had too much to do to spark a genuine contest.

Arscott was tackled a few metres short, before Robinson was deemed to have put a foot in touch before diving over.

A flurry of replacements did little to help the flow of a match that had already lost much of its rhythm – although Phillips bulldozed his way to the line on 64 minutes to hint there was late drama in the offing.

Bristol won a penalty and kicked it to touch – and, with the Pirates defence expecting David Blaney to throw to the back of the line-out, he chucked a short one to Phillips at the front and the powerful flanker did the rest.

Replacement Sam Giddens missed the conversion – but it hardly mattered as Bristol led 31-5. The hosts then successfully defended several Pirates attacks, before frustratingly conceding a try in the second minute of stoppage time.

Bristol were searching for a sixth try when they coughed up possession in the opposition half and saw Cook kick down-field, beat Ross Johnston to the chase and then hack on again before sliding over. Jonny Bentley converted, but Bristol's job had effectively been done by half-time.

Bristol Rugby: T Arscott; L Robinson, L Eves, J Fatialofa, D Norton; A Jarvis (S Giddens 59), R Shaw (J Spice 59); M Irish, D Blaney (R Johnston 65), W Thompson (D Crompton 41), M Sambucetti (N Budgett 65), R Winters (capt), J Phillips, I Grieve (J Adams 75), D Montagu (R Pennycook 59).

Scorers: Tries – Robinson, Arscott, Norton (2), Phillips. Cons – Jarvis (3).

Cornish Pirates: R Cook; R Bright, M Ireland, R Jones (S Winn 69), N Jackson; J Bentley, G Cattle (capt; J Doherty 41); C Rimmer (P Andrew 69), L Wordley (D Ward 41), R Brits (A Paver 61), R Labuschagne (B Cowan 45), B Gulliver, C Morgan, T Holmes, L McGlone (S Pammenter 61).

Scorers: Tries – Cattle, Cook. Con – Bentley. Pen – Cook.