Penryn 6, Falmouth 24

FALMOUTH’S electric backs proved the difference in this derby played in front of a large crowd on a perfect January afternoon at the Memorial Ground on Saturday, writes Matt Dixon.

The lack of wind or rain enabled both sides to attempt an expansive game, but for the first hour of this Cornwall/Devon League match, ambition and enterprise often ended in error.

Defences held sway and when a glimmer of space was afforded, a stray pass or a dropped ball meant that the scoreboard remained largely redundant.

After Mitchell Vague missed an early penalty, Tom Edmonds put Falmouth in front with a kick of their own.

Falmouth prop Ashley Searle was sin-binned with five minutes left before half time and Penryn took advantage when Vague levelled the scores with a penalty.

Playing down the slope in the second period, there was hope among the home supporters that Borough could turn the screw, but it mattered not to the visitors.

Wing Dan Hubble almost wriggled free to score a breakaway try but was caught by the last man in his way, but Falmouth nudged in front after 54 minutes when Ben Ackner found space in midfield and produced a carving run to score under the posts.

Edmonds converted for 10-3, but Borough hit back immediately with Andrew Seviour and Matt Williams making good yardage, before the hosts settled for another Vague penalty to reduce the arrears to four points.

Midway through the half Edmonds kicked another penalty before the decisive moment of the match arrived with ten minutes to go.

Penryn scrum half Callum Hinchley’s chip kick from the base of the scrum was collected by Hubble, who flicked a brilliant off-load under his armpit to set the Falmouth backs running again.

The ball was whisked out wide to Matt Brewer, who dived over in the corner for a brilliant, blink-of-an-eye try to put the visitors two scores in front.

Hubble was then denied a try in the opposite corner by a superb covering tackle, but a penalty had already been awarded and Edmonds made no mistake.

As Penryn began to tire in the closing minutes, Edmonds tucked away another three points to take his tally for the match to 14 and the hosts’ frustration was complete when lock Grant Randlesome was sent to the bin, bringing a premature end to his contribution.

Penryn: M Creedon, W Paine, S Hitchens, A Seviour, J Salisbury, M Vague, C Hinchley; K Oldfield, J Goldsworthy, M Williams, C Instance, G Randlesome, G Jones (capt), P Hinchley, J Rose. Reps: M Campbell, A Cockerell, A Hughes.

Falmouth: T Edmonds, D Hubble, D Jones (capt), B Ackner, M Brewer, J Caruana, T Spiller; B Cock, AJ Geach, A Searle, J Baglow, T Ward, S Bailey, O Hambly, T Simmonds. Reps: P Varker, T Tonkin M Lea.