Penryn Ladies sadly started their league campaign with a defeat against a solid Yeovil side developed over several seasons and fresh from a resounding victory in their own debut league match, last week.

The visiting side’s confidence showed from the start with them electing to kick and putting immediate pressure on the home team.

The strength of the resulting scrum took Penryn a little by surprise, with Yeovil dominating and setting themselves up for an early attack.

The Penryn ladies quickly pulled themselves together and set up a solid wall of defence to make the visiting team work hard for their first score.

This try renewed Yeovil’s confidence and along with their strong scrum, and excellent use of the boot, allowed them to run in another couple of tries in succession.

However, Penryn were not going down without a fight and through a series of strong forward carries (most notably from league debutants Meehan, Clarke and Ninnis) and breaking runs (from Lorrain-Smith and Fellows in the backs) they were able to get the ball into the oppositions half and even twenty two on several occasions and for sustained periods.

Yeovil were as strong in defence as they were in attack though and in the first half were able to prevent the home team from converting their attacking pressure into any score and the first half finished 0-33 in favour of the team from Somerset.

Despite Yeovil scoring first again in the second half, Penryn came back with renewed aggression and determination.

They were able to tighten up their scrums enough for number 8 Clarke to make several decisive breaks from the back and replacement Hall (playing in her first senior ladies rugby match) to punch the defence from the back line.

This stability in the forwards gave the home team the impetus they needed.

Working the ball, phase after phase, with both forwards and backs gaining ground with each attack, Penryn were able to gain the momentum they needed for Evans in the back row to smash the ball right up to the try line, enabling Clarke to dive over for the home sides much deserved only try of the match, which was successfully converted by Hall.

The remaining minutes of the match were the most evenly matched with both sides attacking strongly only to be halted from taking any advantage by solid defence on both sides.

However it was inevitably the visiting team that finished with a score following a quickly taken penally to end the match 7-52 to Yeovil.

The travelling side are looking the team to beat this season in National Challenge 1 South West West but Penryn have a lot to be proud of going forward from their first match.

With eight league debutants in this match, the Boro Ladies are very much an emerging squad that can build on the physicality they showed in both defence and attack as they take on North Petherton at home next Sunday, October 9.

Forward of the match: Holly Evans

Back of the match: Marrianne Fellows