THE EAGLES were looking forward to this match as an opportunity to avenge their defeat to the Devon side on the opening day of the season, writes Hugh Murton.

The weather was fine with a strong breeze and the home team kicked off, after a presentation was held with persepctive Miss Cornwall candidate Jodie Burridge, much to the delight of the players, with the wind at their backs.

It soon became apparent that the aggressive tactics, especially at the line outs, paid dividends and constant pressure on the visiting line-out paid off with Falmouth stealing a ball driving at their forwards, creating a gap for scrum half Tom Spiller to dive through for the first score. The conversion was missed.

Falmouth continued at a high tempo, forcing the visitors into errors, bringing a seemingly inevitable penalty, which Alec Stuthridge put over.

By using the wind to give them good field position, the home team once more created a driving maul near the visitors line, and after several phases, a 13-man maul drove “Caveman” Searle over. Stuthridge converted to take Falmouth 15 points clear.

The scene looked to be set for a handsome home victory, but the visitors proved to be a resilient outfit, counter attacking with good handling moves by their back division, earning Josh Bryan a try, which was unconverted.

Paignton attacked again, scrum half and Captain John Clare making a clean break, kicking when challenged and winning the chase to touch down.

Full-back Scott Hingston converted from the touchline leaving the score 15-12 to Falmouth nearing half time, with the home team facing the prospect of going into the wind in the second period.

After the turn around, the home team changed tactics. Rather than kicking for position, the ball was kept in hand with the forwards driving with Simon Bailey and James Dobson in the van and, when enough defenders had been committed, opening the ball to their speedy backs, giving the visitors all the trouble they could handle.

These tactics proved successful, with good inter-passing amongst the backs.

Full-back Josh Symons sprinted down the right wing, passing inside to Paul Saberton who went in under the posts. Stuthridge converted.

The tactics continued to pay off with the speed of the backs causing mayhem for the visitors, finally giving Falmouth a chance to set up a driving maul near the line.

The home forwards created a series of drives without dropping the ball or giving away a penalty, until the last resistance was worn down and Dobson drove over for a try.

The visitors were forced to take chances by this point, giving Falmouth the chance to counter attack.

Simon Bailey saw an opportunity, bursting through the middle and finding support from Stuthridge on his shoulder, the centre sprinting 50 yards to place down under the posts, then converting his own try.

The visitors had the final word, though, with a try by Gareth Williams.

The game over, Falmouth had their revenge with as good a performance as has been seen at the Recreation Ground this season.

FALMOUTH: 15 Symons, 14 Hooper, 13 Stuthridge, 12 Kindjarsky, 11 Saberton, 10 Edmonds, 9 Spiller; 1 Searle, 2 Carne, 3 Geach, 4 Dobson, 5 Baglow, 6 David (c), 7 Williams, 8 Bailey.

REPS: Church, Collett, Biggins.