WINNING ways were restored for Falmouth on Saturday as they returned from South Molton with a 28-7 victory, writes Hugh Murton.

The last two matches the Eagles have played both ended in disappointing defeats against strong opposition in the form of Pirates Amateurs and table topping Saltash.

A boost was needed for the side and the perfect chance came for them as the squad travelled over the county border and into Exmoor to face the team sitting second bottom in the Tribute Cornwall/Devon League.

In dry yet freezing cold weather, Falmouth kicked off down the slope with the wind going in their favour.

After the initial skirmishes, a key moment came when Molton, who have scored several tries with their big forwards from push over tries, failed to barge their scrum over into the Falmouth goal area.

Instead they were shunted back at a rate of knots and this gave the visitors great confidence.

Fly-half Justyn Irons saw a chance to break the deadlock with a penalty smash into the upright before Nick Carne made a timely tackle to prevent the hosts from diving over for a try.

It was Falmouth who opened the scoring as a big heave at a scrum got them possession and after several pounds at the line, 18-year-old tighthead prop James Bishop got over for a debut game try, which Irons converted.

The Eagles starting stringing good looking passing moves together after taking the lead and their play soon saw them double the advantage as hooker AJ Geach was driven over.

Another attractive passing display by the visitors with Rob McIntyre, Tom Edmonds and John Tyson all linking up by the scrum-half offloads to lock Jon Baglow to go in under the posts.

Despite being 21-0 behind, Molton still showed endeavour as they continued pressing forward.

Their efforts would be rewarded when after charging down a wayward kick, second rower Dave Klift picked up the ball and dotted down with Ben Gatehouse converting.

Again the hosts tried to put Falmouth on the rack, but are left undone by a counter attack which sees Carne on the left wing outpace the defence and grab the bonus point try for the Eagles.

No more score was added after this and Falmouth returned to Cornwall happy with their workmanlike performance ahead of their next match at home to Bodmin on Saturday.

FALMOUTH: 15 Burke, 14 Edmonds, 13 Spiller, 12 McIntyre, 11 Carne, 10 Irons (c), 9 Tyson; 1 Searle, 2 AJ Geach, 3 J Bishop, 4 Dobson, 5 Baglow, 6 David, 7 Fitzpatrick, 8 Bailey.

REPS: Morgan, Gilbert, Curnow.