AFTER securing a win following late drama seven days earlier, luck was not quite on Penryn’s side on Saturday.

A last minute try for Torquay Athletic saw the home side win 22-21 in the Tribute Western Counties West division and condemned Borough to their second defeat of the season.

It was a game Penryn would have expected to win following an impressive victory over the much fancied Teignmouth the previous weekend and with Torquay going down at Sidmouth, opposition Penryn had already dispatched with ease this season.

But trips to the seaside have not been happy ones for Penryn in recent years as they have beaten Torquay only once in the previous four league encounters.

Borough played with a strong breeze towards the shore in the first period, but had to start on the back foot after a kick off mix up, but defended stoutly to clear their lines.

They did however look threatening with their first foray into opposition territory with ball in hand as winger Jack Willey looking lively in his first senior start.

It was no surprise then to see the visitors open the scoring after good work from the Penryn backs opened the space and flanker Tom Hoban was on hand in support to race clear.

Complacency seemed to kick in for Penryn then, as a series of errors handed possession in spades to the home team.

A quick tap penalty in midfield exploited Borough’s retreating defence as winger Ash Sharp crossed for scrum half Alex Jeffrey to convert.

Penryn soon found themselves behind when Horton was charged down deep in Penryn territory, a favourable bounce went the way of the home side and Joe Ward helped himself to a score, putting Torquay 12-7 up at the break.

The visitors came out firing at the beginning of the second half in an attempt to make amends for their below par first half showing.

The forwards picked up the tempo close to the line and after a series of drives, returning prop Matt Williams burrowed over, with Horton’s conversion regaining the lead.

They were back in Torquay territory again soon after and more good work from the forwards and backs combined saw Hoban claim a second try for the afternoon which Horton again converted.

Torquay hit back immediately after an excellent driving maul in midfield created the space out wide for Sharp to also complete his brace.

It was all Penryn by now and the killer bonus point try seemed imminent.

But try as they might, the Borough spurned a host of opportunities to secure maximum points.

Their cause was not helped by the decision to go to uncontested scrums with a good amount of the game left.

Penryn had been dominant at scrum time all afternoon, but Torquay claimed to only have one front row replacement who was already injured, despite a fit player who had played at prop earlier on the season on the bench.

Naturally Penryn were very disappointed by the ruling and a review by officials is expected.

As the game drew to a close, a disjointed affair had become significantly tenser with Penryn now hanging on for victory.

Torquay huffed and puffed but could find no way through the dogged and determined Penryn defence, who held the ball up for a scrum on their line.

After several phases of pick and drives, Borough thought they had run the clock down and secured a tough victory, but gave the home side a chance by not kicking the ball out.

As the Tics returned the ball, space appeared out wide and Ward secured the match winning score to break Penryn hearts.

There was no time for a final play and Penryn could only make do with a losing bonus point, from what promised much more.

Penryn will have to regroup ahead of this Saturday’s huge local derby with Truro.

PENRYN: 15 Horton, 14 Chambers, 13 Jordan, 12 Evans, 11 Willey, 10 Creeden, 9 Strick; 1 Pattison, 2 P Hinchley, 3 Williams, 4 Hancock, 5 Ashwin, 6 Hoban, 7 Jones (c), 8 Randlesome.

REPS: Oldfield, James-Mills, C Hinchley.

TRIES: Hoban (2) Williams.

CONS: Horton 3/3.