In football Helston Athletic were the weekend’s big winners, thrashing lowly Holsworthy 11-0 at Kellaway Parc.

Peninsula League division one west title rivals Godolphin Atlantic scraped a 1-0 win at home against Dobwalls, and so maintain their 11 point lead at the top of the table. But Helston have three games in hand and are well positioned for a title push.

At Kernick Road, fourth placed Penryn almost threw away a two goal lead against St Dennis, only for substitute Matt Roberts to secure all three points with an audacious backheel three minutes from time.

Two goals in two minutes from David Broglino and Kayne Trevaskis put Penryn in a commanding position, but St Dennis hit back in the second half, levelling the scores with 15 minutes left to play only for Roberts to break the visitors’ hearts with a late winner.

Elsewhere in the Peninsula League premier division, Falmouth Town’s hopes of securing back to back wins were left in tatters after Bovey Tracey capitalised on some poor defending to win 2-0 at Bickland Park.

Hayden Roe opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a diving header at the back post after Town switched off at a set piece.

Rob Wearne saw his close range effort clawed back off the line by Bovey keeper Tom Brooks, as Town dominated the rest of the game.

But an uncharacteristic goalkeeping error from Jason Chapman sealed victory for the Devon side five minutes from time when he could only push Jamie Micklewright’s wicked inswinging corner into his own goal.

In rugby, the Cornish Pirates’ epic 900 mile round trip north ended in disappointment after they were swept aside 50-3 by championship leaders Newcastle Falcons at a freezing Kingston Park.

The home side ran in eight tries against an under-strength Pirates team who, despite being second best all afternoon, put in a gutsy never-say-die performance.

Meanwhile a Tom Duncan hat trick - taking his tally for the season to 18 - helped Redruth put the disappointment of that narrow defeat against Chinnor well and truly behind them, beating Barking 46-17 at the Recreation Ground.

The Reds were pushed all the way by the visitors, but in the end a sterling performance by the home sides’ pack proved too much for Barking to handle.

The win sees Redruth sitting comfortably in second behind leaders Worthing with two games in hand.