Penryn 35 Saltash 24

Penryn got their season up and running with a bonus point victory against Saltash in their first home league game of the campaign.

With conditions perfect, it made for an entertaining game with the two sides sharing eight tries between them. It was a far cry from the tryless, low scoring encounter in the driving rain the previous week, with Penryn looking to bounce back against the other relegated team from Western Counties last year.

Saltash are well known for their pacey running game and it was the ashes that threatened and ultimately struck first. With the defence stretched, the visitors opened the scoring out wide with a well worked, but unconverted try.

Penryn didn’t have a chance to show their attacking game at Plymstock a week ago, but on their bigger and more open home pitch the home side cut loose.

After a series of promising trundles the Borough found themselves on the visitor’s line and after more pressure, Ross Hancock went over from close range. Horton’s conversion meant Penryn had the lead for the first time on the day, a lead they would not surrender.

The visitors were struggling to cope with the tempo of the Borough attack and infringed on several occasions, meaning Horton had the chance to extend the lead to 13-5 with a brace of penalties, with the goal kicker equal to the task. Saltash had a threatening attack of their own though, and pulled the deficit back to three with another long range effort.

This did little to unsettle Penryn, who remained patient in attack which paid dividends again, this time in the shape of Adam Hughes who was on the shoulder of an excellent offload to dot down. Horton’s conversion took Penryn out to 20-13.

The onslaught continued minutes later as an excellent training ground move caught Saltash cold.

With advantage being played the home backs put width on the ball and it was winger Josh Chambers who finished well to score the Borough’s third try. At 25-13 it looked a long way back for Saltash, but they gave themselves a lifeline with the last play of the half, benefitting from a loose ball going metres close to the line. Penryn stopped the initial threat, but it was deemed to be illegal and Captain George Jones had to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin as he saw the visitors dive over from a quick tap.

After a frantic first 40, the scoring slowed significantly in the second period, with both sides adopting a more pragmatic approach.

Penryn continued to keep the scoreboard ticking with another Horton penalty to take a 28-17 lead. Both sides would have been happier with their defensive showings in the second half, despite no doubt having one eye on the fourth try for the bonus point.

It was Penryn who got their first though, with Sam Hitchens powering under the posts to seal the points for the Borough. Horton converted to take the score to 35-17. Saltash did get their bonus point try, but it was to be only a consolation as Penryn saw out the remaining minutes for the maximum five points.

Penryn travel to Tamar Saracens this weekend looking for a first away league victory of the season.

Penryn: Horton, Chambers, Hitchens, Seviour, Campbell, Vague, Peacock, Goldsworthy, Birkett, Burley, Hancock, Hughes, Randlesome, Jones (capt), Rose Reps: Williams, Strick, Blee

Tries: Hancock , Hughes, Chambers, Hitchens,

Conversions: Horton (3)

Penalties: Horton (3)

Yellow Card: Jones