FALMOUTH remain rock bottom of the Cornwall and Devon League after this 10-0 defeat to Hayle.

The visitors started as though they meant business and squeezed the home side into their own 22 for the first 40 minutes. Games are often determined by acts of God or self-inflicted suicide and this had both as Falmouth’s scrum for the first 15 minutes was superior until the loss of light head Paddy Varker (suspected fractured ankle).

He was replaced by Lee Head, who is not a specialist prop, but was awarded man-of-the-match for his valiant efforts. Then to add to his sides problems, hooker Cris Pollard was directed to the sin bin for persistent infringements by Plymouth referee Dave Philpott.

The remainder of the first half was a constant bombardment of the home goal line and showed the determination and steadfast defence not to capitulate. These efforts kept Hayle at bay until half-time when the score sheet was 0-0.

However, the first half’s defensive efforts tired Falmouth, but to give them credit they had the best of the next quarter and could have been ahead but for dropped passes and a missed kickable penalty.

Hayle’s fly-half, Paul Lello, did not miss his penalty kick and then came the turning point of the game. The visitors replaced Tom Somers with Kevin Jenkin at number eight whose fresh leg made excellent runs at the home defence, eventually rewarding flanker Shane Pointon with a try under the sticks.

The Instance brothers, James and Steve, rallied the troops but on a soggy pitch neither side could manager a further score.

It must be pointed out that there was really little difference in the sides, had it not been for the afore mentioned circumstances and credit must go to all who wore the Falmouth Chiefs shirt and battled hard throughout.