Teignmouth 17, Penryn 15

It was an agonising start to 2020 for the Borough, as a missed conversion with the last kick of the game stopped them from picking up what would have been a creditable draw away at Teignmouth, writes Ross Hancock.

There was suggestion that the final kick should have been retaken due to the home side attempting to put off Sam Carter beyond the means of a charge down, but Penryn would have to settle for a losing bonus point.

Teignmouth hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Borough in years gone by and without the senior figures of captain Grant Randlesome and George Jones, a tough assignment lay in wait. Penryn are a different animal these days though and put in another impressive display despite the narrow defeat, continuing to build every week and very much looking to chase down those above them in the table.

The home side unquestionably started the strongest, with a strong maul yielding an unconverted try. They then doubled the lead, having caught the Borough cold from a turnover to make it 10-0. Crucially though, with both conversions missed it gave Penryn a lifeline and they took it. Josh Chambers spotted some space behind the back three and collected a kick to go over and get Penryn on the board. Carter converted and added a penalty to tie things up at the break.

Penryn were good value for a draw at this point and a tight second half loomed, with both sides searching for the killer score. It was the home pack that were again in the ascendancy and they got the first score of the half through a penalty try at the scrum. Penryn continued to fight though and looked a threat right until the final play.

That threat bore fruit and looked to have secured an excellent draw when full back Kyle Bradley went over. That left Carter to kick the leveller and despite Penryn protests of him being unsportingly put off, it was off target and the referee waved claims away to hand the home side the points.

Penryn will be looking to bounce back this weekend against Tiverton, in what is the first game of 2020 at the Memorial Ground.

Penryn: Bradley, Chambers, Hitchens, Seviour, Salisbury, Hinchley, Carter, Strick, Hellier, Rush, Lamsin, Trevaskis, Barker, Dixon, Hughes. Reps: Tedstone, Glyn, Saberton

Tries: Chambers, Bradley; Conversion: Carter; Penalty: Carter.