Honiton 20, Penryn 28

Penryn struck a potentially telling blow in the Cornwall/Devon league promotion race, with a huge away victory at fellow contenders Honiton.

Perhaps even more telling was the manner of the victory, as the Borough picked up a try bonus point and denied the hosts any match points, to open up a six point gap between the two sides in the table. It’s by no means job done for Penryn however, with Bude well and truly back in the title race which sets up another promotion showdown in the next league fixture.

The Borough travelled to Devon on top of the pile by only a single point, knowing there was no room for error if they wanted to remain there and with revenge on their minds from the cup exit at the hands of Honiton two weeks previously. The Borough were backed by a full coach of travelling support who made themselves heard throughout what was a titanic battle.

The early exchanges were difficult for the visitors and immediately got on the wrong side of the referees whistle, with a penalty count of 8-0 in favour of the home side within ten minutes of the game. As a result, Penryn lost Sam Hitchens to the bin and found themselves trailing 3-0 at the hands of a penalty from Jake Smith. If there was an early positive for Penryn it was the scrum, which began to get on top and created the platform for the games opening try. Adam Hughes got the score from close range and returning fly half Mitchell Vague kicked the extras. Chances were few and far between for the rest of the half, but the Borough defended manfully to keep the hosts at bay but for a late setback. As the penalty count grew, so too did the Monition pressure and they snatched back the lead on the stroke of half time to make it 10-7 following a converted Nathan Hannay try.

It was a cruel blow for Penryn at the end of the half for which they would have been good value for their lead, but fortunately it wouldn’t prove too crucial in a second half that unquestionably belonged to the Borough. A noticeable step up in intensity brought instant rewards for the away team and they deservedly got back in front just after the break. It was a lead they would not relinquish. Penryn found some space in the wide channels and whilst it looked as if Hitchens was destined to score, somehow the ball went loose and it was finished by Salisbury despite Honiton complaints. Vague added a crucial wide conversion but Penryn’s purple patch wasn’t over yet. The Borough continued to find space and made good inroads into Honiton territory, putting the home defence under continued stress until they buckled again. Superb hands got the visitors to the edge of the field and found Josh Chambers for a crucial try, which Vague again converted brilliantly for 10-21.

Penryn were in a commanding position, but Honiton came roaring back into contention to set up a grandstand finish. It was 10 points in two minutes for the hosts, from two identical attacks near the Penryn line. A penalty goal was followed by a converted try after mounting pressure from close range attacks and it was back to a one point game. The last ten minutes were extremely tense for both sides and while Penryn could have shut up shop, the enterprise shown was rewarded with a game defining score. Turning down two kickable shots at goal, Penryn went for the kill working the ball into the corner to chase a fourth try that would not only get them the bonus point, but confirm the win and deny Honiton anything from the match. That was exactly what they got, as Hughes rumbled over to send the travelling Borough support wild, with Vague’s conversion crucially making it an eight point gap. Honiton tried desperately to get back within at least seven, but were shut out by the stubborn Penryn defence, who held on for a famous win. There is a week off for the Borough before the latest crucial promotion showdown with Bude on Saturday, March 2, at 2.30pm.

Penryn: Saberton, Salisbury, Wilmott, Hitchens, Chambers, Vague, Strick, Jacques, Gratrix, Pattison, Trevaskis, Hughes, Hellier, Jones, Randlesome. Reps: Cockrell, Pellow, Bradley.

Tries: Hughes (2), Salisbury, Chambers

Conversions: Vague (4)

Yellow Card: Hitchens