Penryn 57, Honiton 0

Penryn turned on the style scoring nine tries to whitewash bottom side Honiton and move to within a point of the summit of Tribute Cornwall and Devon.

A first half hat trick from Matt Horton and some sparkling attacking from the hosts put the visitors to the sword, though they would have been pleased with a third shutout of the season defensively.

Penryn have taken their time to get going in recent fixtures despite excellent results, but they flew out of the blocks in front of their own supporters on this occasion, with Horton dotting down for the first of his three on the afternoon and converting his own try from out wide. It was the Borough who struck again shortly after and again it was Horton. The hosts used the ample width of their home pitch to create the space and the winger collected his own chip and chase to score despite missing the extras.

The score line may have suggested the visiting Devon outfit played little part in the game, but in truth they frustrated Penryn for large periods of the first half with some excellent individual displays. It wasn’t until the end of the half that Penryn broke further clear, but when they did it looked good. A quick ten minute spell put the game to bed and would have pleased the coaching staff as the hosts went nicely through their patterns.

Full back Mike Creeden was the first to touch down, before good vision from Grant Randlesome put Jordan Rose in the clear. The number eight unselfishly handed on to Sam Hitchens who cemented himself as Penryn’s top try scorer so far this campaign with another five pointer to secure a Penryn bonus point before half time. Horton converted the second attempt but there was still time for more.

Another searing attack straight from the kick off put Horton in the clear, who showed good pace to complete his hat trick despite picking up a knock in the process. Callum Hinchley took over the kicking duties and got off to the perfect start with a fine strike from out wide to make it 31-0 to the Borough at the break.

The home side began where they left off in the second stanza with more flowing attacking play causing the visitors all sorts of problems. Winger James Salisbury scored his second try in as many weeks showing some neat footwork to go over. Hinchley couldn’t add the extras but there were to be plenty more points on offer for Penryn. Andrew Seviour was next to get his name on the score sheet following a trademark run with several defenders lying in wake before Randlesome powered over from short range soon after. Hinchley’s brace of conversions took Penryn to the half century.

The spirited visitors had an excellent period of their own towards the end of the game, with phase after phase of attack on the Penryn line. Despite their brave efforts, it was impressive to see Penryn’s hunger to keep the score to zero despite racking up fifty points of their own. The reward for this was a final try of the afternoon which replacement winger Colin Campbell finished off and with a final Hinchley conversion, took the score to 57-0.

The Borough are now only a point from top in what is becoming a tight league with only two points separating first to third place. With first and third facing each other this coming weekend, Penryn will be looking to pounce when they make the short trip away to face Lanner.

Penryn: Creeden, Horton, Hitchens, Seviour, Horton, Hinchley, Peacock, Burley, Birkett, Goldsworthy, Hancock, Paine, Randlesome, Jones (capt), Rose reps: Williams, Tedstone, Campbell

Tries: Horton (3), Hitchens, Creeden, Salisbury, Seviour, Randlesome, Campbell

Conversions: Horton (2) Hinchley (4)