Penryn 14 - Plymstock Albion Oaks 5

Penryn came out on top in this epic battle at a sodden Memorial Ground against top of the table Plymstock last Saturday, a match rearranged following last week’s postponement, writes Jonthan Plummer. 

Penryn were forced into several changes for this match and gave first team debuts to six colt players; 15 of the 18 players named in the squad had come up through Penryn’s highly successful youth and colts set up.

The match was played in almost torrential rain for most of it, making running rugby extremely tricky on an already sticky pitch.

Penryn started the match with real determination and never took a backward step taking the match to Plymstock.

Penryn were awarded a scrum 15 metres from the Plymstock try line and the Penryn pack drove the scrum to within a metre of the line only for Plymstock to pull the scrum down when a try seemed a certainty.

The Borough opted to go for another scrum from the following penalty and again drove the scrum over the try line and were certain they had scored a try only for the referee to penalise Penryn for a technicality to the dismay of the Penryn pack. Somehow Plymstock survived and cleared their lines.

Eventually Penryn made their dominance count at 35 minutes, following another scrum, and after several drives by the forwards close to the line it was fly half Ben Rosvear who dived over to the delight of the Penryn players. Rosvear himself kicked the conversion to give the Borough a 7 nil half time advantage.

The first 20 minutes of the second half was a tight affair as both defences were on top, as neither side managed to make way in the difficult conditions.

Eventually Plymstock managed to get some possession in Penryn territory and managed to work an overlap. Right winger Matt Jackson slid over in the corner, the conversion dropped short but the lead was cut to just two points, making the last 15 minutes an intense battle as both teams went in search of the a crucial second score.

The Borough started to regain control and made several inroads into the Plymstock 22. As the match entered injury time, Penryn were camped on the Plymstock line and after several pick and goes it was flanker Freddie Trewin who got the crucial touchdown. Ben Rosevear kicked a brilliant conversion to secure victory for Penryn.

In the last two minutes Plymstock threw everything at Penryn but Boroughs defence held firm to secure a well deserved win over the promotion chasers.

This was another great performance from the young Penryn side against an experienced Plymstock side who slip to second in the table following this defeat.

This Saturday Penryn’s men’s and ladies team head to Wiveliscombe for this seasons Big Borough Day out, there are a still a few spaces left on the double decker coach so if you would like to travel with the team please reserve your seat by contacting Jackie Cockrell.