Lanner 24, Penryn 22

Penryn slipped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Lanner, missing the chance to go top in the process. It was a first meeting between the two teams, but it was the home side who claimed a famous scalp. It was a blow to the Borough who had fought back from 14-3 down to lead at one point, but in truth the hosts deserved their win as they celebrated wildly at the full time whistle.

The newly reformed Lanner side are in only their third season of league rugby plying their trade in the highest standard they have reached of the Devon and Cornwall league. They had struggled so far with only one win to their name all season, whilst in contrast Penryn had won their last four games. The home side, like many others this season will have marked the Borough as a potential big scalp and they flew out of the blocks.

Penryn got the scoreboard rolling with a Matt Horton penalty to take the lead, but it was Lanner who began to get into gear. Their power runners took control and playing to the strengths of the difficult St Day pitch they know so well, scored a quick fire double to take charge at 14-3. It was largely a half to forget for the Borough, who would have almost certainly taken the half time whistle but a late rally got them back in it. Centre Andrew Seviour somehow managed to evade several tacklers to power over and give Penryn a much needed lifeline. Horton couldn’t convert but things looked much rosier at 14-8.

The beginning of the second half would see a huge shift in momentum, as the Borough turned on the power near to the line. Having been held up over the line and awarded numerous scrum penalties just five metres out from the Lanner line, it seemed only a matter of time until a penalty try was awarded. Although there may have been no penalty try, number eight Jordan Rose did get the score from close range and with Horton’s conversion Penryn led for the first time in the game.

With the visitors clicking nicely through the gears a turnover spelt danger as Lanner worked their way into Borough territory. Strong defensive work kept the home side out, but skipper George Jones was deemed to have made a high tackle and was sent to the bin. From the resulting line out and the several phases that followed, Lanner were able to wrestle back the lead with a try in the corner that went unconverted. Penryn did have the chance to reduce the gap to a single point with a penalty, but the ball drifted wide of the posts to sum up their frustrations.

Worse still was what came next as another turnover by the hosts punished Penryn in a big way. Another Lanner try not only secured them a bonus point try, but it effectively sealed the game with time running out as the home side rejoiced over one of their most famous days. Penryn did rally late on and were awarded a penalty try that their scrum dominance had deserved, which earned them a losing bonus point, but it was too little too late.

Penryn will no doubt be looking for a response this weekend as they face off against local rivals Falmouth, as the top two in Devon and Cornwall meet in the cup.

Penryn: Campbell Horton Hitchens Seviour Mitchell Creeden Peacock Goldsworthy Burley Williams Hancock Paine Randlesome Jones (capt) Rose reps: Booth, Keay, Webster

Tries: Seviour, Rose, Penalty Conversions: Horton (2) Penalty: Horton Yellow Card: Jones