PENRYN 12pts

CHELTENHAM NORTH 36pts

BOTH teams started this South West II match knowing where they will be playing next season, yet both gave their all, playing enjoyable to watch, expansive rugby with a greasy ball.

The tone was set within the first minute when Penryn were caught offside, Cheltenham kicked to the corner, and from the lineout mauled over the line for number 8 Jimmy Lamb to score a try which John Steckbeck converted.

Six minutes later Ian Morgan had a penalty chance which went just wide of the posts and within minutes Dave Aston made a good break and passed inside to number 7 Andy MacDonald who scored, Steckbeck again converting.

There followed a period of sustained Penryn pressure which was rewarded when they moved the ball quickly then passed inside to Charlie Ross, making a welcome return from injury, who weaved his way over the line. Ian Morgan added the conversion.

Within the next few minutes Cheltenham scored two more fairly easy tries through number 14 Matt Dean and number 6 Steve Bunn. The first half ended with Penryn trailing Cheltenham 26-7.

The home side stepped up a gear after the interval, recycling the ball effectively until Steve Uphill was held up over the line. There followed a protracted rolling maul from which Ian Morgan gave a long pass to Chris Mann who beat several players to score in the corner.

Penryn had the better of the second half, but just could not find a way to the line.

A feature of the match was Penryn making a number of fine try-saving tackles.

The score remained 12-26 until the 75th minute when Andy MacDonald score his second try (referee Chris Hailey entered into the spirit of the occasion by allowing a Cheltenham prop, who was playing his last game and who had been substituted, to take the conversion - he missed!).

In the 78th minute Cheltenham wing Dave Aston scored in the corner.

The score flattered Cheltenham, though they were the better finishers. Penryn's performance was a step up and has given all at The Borough encouragement for next season; they played joined up committed rugby and there is a growing feeling of optimism.

Penryn: Chris Mann (capt), Paul Bannister, Charlie Ross, Peter Webster, Alan Richards, Ian Morgan, osh Chambers, Richard Burns, Matt Tarby, Dan Kirk, Steve Uphill, Adam Giles, George Jones, James Murray. Reps: Steve Bucknall; Gareth Wills, Justin Hocking, Will Paine.