PENRYN came agonisingly close to overturning a steep half time deficit in their last game of the season, away at Sidmouth this past Saturday.

It has been a difficult season for the Borough, and it looked like it was about to get a whole lot worse as they trailed 31-13 at the interval. A spirited second forty got them back to 31-28, but it was ultimately not to be.

In glorious Devon sunshine neither side had anything season defining to play for, so a positive and open encounter was always on the cards, and so it proved. The visitors started well on a pitch that was as equally quick, as it was solid.

The hosts were enjoying the open spaces, attacking from deep and dotted down for two early tries from Tom Seward and James Powell. Skipper Dan Retter, who had a hand in both scores, converted twice.

The Borough hadn't travelled out of the county to lie down though and begun a mini revival early in the first period. Martin Strick opened the Penryn account with a penalty goal following good phases in opposition territory, before Andrew Seviour burst through a gap for the Borough's first try. Strick again had no trouble with the kick.

That seemed to only anger the home side however, as another ruthless spell took the game away from the visitors. Powell added another after more good work from Retter who converted the try and a penalty soon after.

Strick may have pulled another penalty goal back for Penryn, but the hosts secured a try bonus point just before the break with the ever influential Retter again involved to send over Giles Dixon, before adding yet another kick, as Penryn trailed 31-13.

Those at 'The Blackmore' would have been forgiven for assuming a final day hiding was on the cards, but they would be made to be proven wrong in a half that belonged solely to the visitors.

Penryn started well, putting pressure on deep in Sidmouth territory and closed the gap with a third Strick penalty early on to make it 31-16. The pack were well in control at set piece and were begin to win penalty after penalty in what was becoming a fine exhibition of powerful scrummaging, to keep the home team at bay.

The Borough eight were camped in Sidmouth territory and marched their opposite pack 10 metres to within touching distance of the line or even a penalty try. The referee elected to let play continue, which did nothing to stop the Borough driving machine as Dan Booth powered over.

Strick could not quite add the extras, but at 31-21 and the Borough in control things became far more interesting. Despite Sidmouth's dominance in the first period, they had hardly touched the ball in the second half, by the time Penryn were attacking again.

More strong work from the forwards close to the home try line, created the space for scrum half Nathan Strick to burrow over. Cousin Martin, made no mistake this time and at 31-28 it was becoming a bit nervy for the home spectators.

With the game finely poised, it was quite apt for Penryn's season that a potentially memorable comeback victory turned on a bad bounce. As the ball cannoned off the concrete like surface the home side broke up to half way and with Penryn scrambling they conceded a penalty on half way that Retter coolly slotted.

Retter added another penalty soon after to take it out to more than a score. It was compliment to Penryn's fightback that the free flowing hosts resorted to long range penalties to seal victory and even at the end, the back were slicing through the home defence that the forwards had previously dented. A defeat, but definite signs that bode well for the next campaign.

PENRYN: 15 Creeden, 14 Chambers, 13 Vague, 12 Seviour, 11 Willey, 10 M Strick, 9 N Strick; 1 Burley, 2 Booth, 3 Pattison, 4 Hancock, 5 Fields, 6 Jones, 7 Hoban, 8 Randlesome.

REPS: Heazelton, Harris, Tedstone. 

TRIES: Seviour, Booth, N.Strick. 

CONS: M Strick 2/3.

PENS: M Strick 3.