As the league leaders Hayle took to the field, there was air of defiance brewing at the Rec, writes Gupta Singh. 

The opening quarter of the game started at pace with Hayle attacking the Eagle's back line and dominating the scrums, driving the Eagles deep into their own twenty-two for sustained attacks. However, the Eagle's defence came up trumps time and time again, Cam Hopkins and Trick turning over balls in the tackle and Rob Fitzpatrick on the line for Tug Wilson to consistently thump the ball back fifty yards towards the halfway line. 

Hayle came close to an opener through their heavy industrious mauling, only to be denied again in the dead ball by a determined Ben Tuffrey.

Hayle eventually found a crack by scoring two tries from broken play, running in from around thirty yards in the backs as they capitalised on missed first-up tackles as the Eagles continued to press the line. Hayle then failed to convert leaving the score line at 0-10.

Falmouth restarted well from the kick-offs, with Tug pitching balls with enough hang time for the Eagle forwards to contest, one of these resulting in a knock-on by Hayle in which the Eagles pounced with good interplay to reach the opponent's twenty-two for the first time. An infringement at the ruck gave Tug the opportunity to take an easy three. 3-10

Hayle responded with two tries, one of which was converted, ending the first half 3-22 to the visitors. At this point, if you were looking at the scoreboard you would be questioning whether the writing was on the wall, or the glass half full given Hayle's recent results. Falmouth felt it was the latter and 'The Eagles spirit' had far from deserted this band of rebels. 

Danny Trick at twelve using his considerable experience to crash in from a short tap penalty five metres out to the far left corner gave him his first try on home soil this season and indeed in over ten years at the Rec. The conversion was narrowly missed. 8- 22. 

The home crowd now starting to cheer, lifted the intensity of the home effort, and the Eagles were now camping in Hayle's twenty-two. Ben Warwicker, replacing Trick, put in a real shift, smashing Hayle backwards and injecting more energy. The ascendency was shifting until the referee alleged Cam Hopkins to be over-exuberant following his split ear, sending him to the bin for ten for overzealous commitment at a ruck. Hayle capitalised in this period with Fal down to fourteen, scoring and converting. 8 -29. 

The score line however was still not reflecting the mood at The Rec. With Jack Blakeston revelling his opportunity and looking to attack from deep, youngsters James Horton, Bryn Owens, Dylan Statham and Greg Pooley a constant threat, mounting an offensive resulting in Dom Fern crossing the whitewash. The conversion was missed. 13-29

Hayle responded in kind, scoring and converting. 13-36. 

But all was not over. From the restart, the scenes resembled something out of Mad Max, as Rhys Barnes collected the kick-off and went on a brilliant solo run through a Barron Hayle defence, evading several tackles to dot down in the far right corner at the bowling green end. 20 - 36.

It was now a battle at the Thunderdome for that four-try bonus point, and the Eagles laid siege to Hayles's defence for the remaining five mins, coming ever so close through Tom Vincent now at eight, who picked up at the back of the final scrum only to be held up near to the line. As the ball went wide Hayle pressed and the opportunity passed. Despite the loss, the Eagles left the field having given the home fans an entertaining afternoon of rugby.

Final score: Falmouth Eagles 2XV 20 - 36 Hayle 1XV

This Saturday, October 28, sees the 2XV take on Camborne seconds in the first round of the Duchy Senior Cup with kick off at 3pm. 

The Falmouth Clubhouse will be open this Friday, October 27, for Argentina versus England in The Rugby World Cup third-place playoff at 8pm, and also for the Final on Saturday between New Zealand and South Africa, also kicking off at 8pm.