Penryn/Perranporth colts and Sidmouth in Cornwall/Devon Cup

Penryn/Perranporth colts who are unbeaten for two years travelled to Launceston on Saturday to put that record on the line against the Devon League and cup champions Sidmouth, writes Jonathan Plummer. 

Penryn, who have already won the Trelawney colts league this season, were defending their title they won the previous season and are the reigning Cornwall/Devon Cup champions.

After months of non stop rain, summer had arrived at Polson Bridge with hardly a cloud in the sky at kick off time in near perfect conditions.

This was always going to be a tough match against the Devon champions and so it proved in the opening exchanges as both sides brought great intensity to the match with big tackles going in from both sides. Sidmouth had the bigger pack but Penryn certainly held their own up front.

Both teams had chances to open the scoring but misplaced passes cost both teams.

It was the Borough Brewers who got the first try halfway through the half after a break in midfield; centre Jowan Kerry scored in the right hand corner. The tricky conversion narrowly missed but Penryn had a crucial lead.

Penryn dominated the rest of the half but it was not until injury time that they extended their lead following a scrum on halfway. Fly half Tom Tanswell made a break who give a pass to centre Will Marney, who had spotted a gap in the defence, and Marney had the pace to dive in under the posts. Tanswell kicked the conversion and Penryn/Perranporth had a deserved 12 nil lead at the break.

Sidmouth came out firing in the second half, determined to get back into the match, but stern Borough defence held them out.

Penryn managed to turn defence into attack and after some hard carries by the forwards and some swift handling from the backs Jake Walker touched down for a decisive third try.

Sidmouth came back into the match in the last quarter and deservedly scored two tries through Scott Henderson and Alexander Clemo-Crosby, who also kicked a conversion.

This set up a very tense last few minutes but Penryn kept held of possession and managed to run down the clock before booting the ball over the stand to secure the victory and the cup.

The celebrations could begin for the Borough team after an outstanding season.

This result means they are the reigning Cornwall/Devon champions, Cornwall League winners two seasons running and Cornwall Cup winners.

Skipper Tom Tanswell had the honour of lifting the trophy from Cornwall RFU president and former British Lion Andy Reid, who also selected Will Marney as man of the match.

The result has capped a stellar couple of seasons for this combined Penryn/Perranporth side who have not lost a single match. Thanks must go to all involved including Leigh Weaver, Giles Hewitt, Gareth Tedstone and Jeremy Pollard.

Several of these colts have already made their debut in the Penryn first team and certainly have a bright future in front of them.