INTELLIGENCE is an important thing in rugby and Falmouth were given a valuable lesson on the subject by Saltash on Saturday, writes Arthur Williams.

The Tribute Cornwall/Devon League leaders showed why they have only lost one game so far this campaign with a comprehensive looking 33-5 score on their trip to the Recreation Ground.

Although the Eagles pack matched their counterparts for the majority of the 80 minutes, it was in the three-quarter line where the Essayons pulled the strings to earn a maximum five points.

In tricky weather conditions on muddy ground, the visitors still found their kicking and passing game in fine touch while the hosts looked more like a side struggling with the surroundings.

Saltash’s expansive display came from their backs whose intelligence was not on a par with Albert Einstein, but made the simple things like kicking with the wind and founding touch from penalties to build pressure.

On the other side, the Eagles were showing they are a team full of youthful potential but naive at times as errors and multiple possession losses played into their opponents’ hands.

Full-back Max Venables was heavily involved with all the plays which led to the three first half tries bagged by the away team through Tom Rixson, Jason Carroll and Tom Croft.

While the visiting number 15 was in control, Falmouth also had a part in bringing on their deficit with bad tackling as they looked vulnerable defending against pace.

They also gave up possession on several occasions including at Carroll’s try when from the breakdown, the Eagles lost the ball which allowed the centre to run from halfway and over.

Petulance also appeared in Falmouth’s ranks when lock James Dobson was sin-binned for punching the ball away after referee Nicholas Searle had blown for a foul.

Falmouth Packet:

A couple of conversions from Venables helped make it 19-0 at the interval, but the Eagles came out in the second half looking rejuvenated.

Even though they were playing against the wind, this spirit would lead to their only score of the day when a push from the forwards ended with Tom David dotting down.

If Falmouth were to stand a chance of turning the score right round then they had to get the next points.

But despite going close a couple of times up to the 70th minute, they could not force their way over.

Then in the final ten minutes, the self destruct button was hit by the home team which allowed Saltash to kill the game off.

Right winger Will Morton went over for the visitors for a breakaway try to give a bonus point to the Essayons before Venables added gloss to the result with a try of his own as he evaded tackles for fun.

After two disappointing losses in a row against decent teams, Falmouth head into their next match at second bottom South Molton knowing a win is paramount.

When the sides met earlier in the season, the Eagles won 43-3.

Falmouth Packet:

FALMOUTH: 15 J Symons, 14 Spiller, 13 M Symons, 12 Stuthridge, 11 Carne, 10 Irons (c), 9 Tyson; 1 Kevern, 2 Geach, 3 Searle, 4 Dobson, 5 Baglow, 6 Wheeler, 7 Fitzpatrick, 8 David.

REPS: Church, Bishop, Saberton.

TRY: David.

SIN-BIN: Dobson.