Hayle 0 Penryn 38

Penryn moved to the top of the table in the Cornwall/Devon league for the first time this season, continuing their unbeaten start with a comfortable 38-0 bonus point win at Hayle.

With Honiton’s shock home loss to Lanner, Penryn strolled to the summit with another nilling of a Cornish rival.

It was a case of picking up where they left off for Penryn, against Cornish opposition in the driving rain, much like last weekend’s home success against Bude. Again, Penryn showed excellent control, with some sensible kicking options in the conditions.

Penryn were patient in their approach and although scoring opportunities were initially few and far between, they took the lead with a Tomas Oliver penalty goal. It seems silly to say that a three point lead would make such a difference, but Penryn really did appear to click into gear from that point on.

Their set piece and general dominance warranted more than the scoreboard suggested, but it wasn’t long before things changed markedly.

The Penryn driving maul had already caused Hayle problems early in the game and it was a weapon that brought Penryn great joy. In the tight exchanges, there was only one team who looked a threat and when John Followell touched down for Oliver to convert, Penryn confirmed it was the Borough who were in control.

AJ Stanfield continued his impressive try scoring form this season by adding a near identical score just before the break, which Oliver again converted. Penryn led 17-0 and were good value for it. It had been a long afternoon at this point already for Hayle, but it was about to get worse.

With the Borough defence as solid as a rock, they upped their attack game and started to get real change from it. The backs were putting Penryn in the right areas of the field, but it was the forwards who were linking up well to score the tries. Captain Grant Randlesome was next to go over for Penryn, with Oliver again converting.

Penryn were just one try short of a bonus point try that seemed to be a question of when, rather than if and again it was the forwards who finished things off. Paul Saberton made the incision from the break, but he popped the ball selflessly to the supporting Josh Goldsworthy who slid in for his first Penryn try. Oliver continued his impressive kicking display to put Penryn 31-0 ahead.

There was still time for another Penryn try and this time the backs got in on the action. It may not have been a surprise to those in Borough colours to see Andrew Seviour strolling over for Penryn’s fifth and final score of the afternoon. Oliver finished with 100% from the tee and Penryn were home and hosed.

It’s a week off now for the Borough, who will be happy with a successful first block of fixtures that sees them setting the pace in the Cornwall/Devon league. Up next is a hugely important home clash with Honiton.

Penryn: Saberton, Chambers, Hitchens, Seviour, Mitchell, Strick, Oliver, Goldsworthy, Birkett, Patterson, Trevaskis, Followell, Stanfield, Hughes, Randlesome reps Oldfield, Jones, Hinchley

Tries: Followell, Stanfield, Randlesome, Goldsworthy, Seviour

Conversions: Oliver (5)

Penalty: Oliver