St Austell 31, Penryn 22

Penryn came so close to completing what would have been a memorable comeback, but ultimately it came to nothing as they left Tregorrick Park empty handed, writes Ross Hancock.

The defeat was the first of the season and a first league loss since November 2018, as St Austell prospered from taking a commanding 19-0 lead that the Borough never quite clawed back.

There were some changes to the Penryn side that saw off Saltash the previous week, with debuts for Sam Skinner and Luke Collins and a first appearance of the season for Nathan Strick. It was the home side who settled quicker though and they took the lead through a Bullen try and Ashwin conversion. Two further quick fire tries from Boyce and Inch with another Ashwin conversion made it 19-0 and gave the Borough an early mountain climb, although it did seem to spark them into life.

Penryn finally got on the board with a superbly worked Sam Carter try - the scrum half finishing after running a great support line off the back of a Penryn line break. Carter’s conversion struck the post, but he did make amends with a penalty goal before the break to leave the away side very much in the mix at 19-8.

The scores before the break had seemed to do the trick for the Borough as they took control of the game, but a St Austell bonus point try against the run of play made life difficult again. Penryn’s response to the blow of conceding was fantastic though and after continuing to threaten, Andrew Seviour strolled in to make it game on again at 24-15 with Carter's conversion.

The away side continued to look menacing and got their reward for a superbly positive half of rugby, when Vivian Wilmott crossed to close the gap to two points and make for a grandstand finish. It was a tense and nervy last five minutes with Penryn now sniffing what at times looked like an unlikely victory. Unfortunately for the Borough, it was St Austell who had the last word. Nelly Webber’s late converted try not only confirmed victory for the home side, but robbed Penryn of a bonus point few would argue they deserved. A disappointing defeat, but plenty of positives to take ahead of an exciting clash with Teignmouth next weekend.

Penryn: Wilmott, Chambers, Hitchens, Seviour, Salisbury, Strick, Carter, Beasley, Skinner, Burley, Randlesome, Collins, Hellier, Jones, Hughes. Reps: Cockrell, Preston, Townsend.

Tries: Carter, Seviour, Wilmott.

Conversions: Carter (2)

Penalty: Carter