Penryn 9pts

Penalties: T Peacock

Paignton 32pts

Penryn: Alan Richards, Will Paine, Peter Webster, Andrew Seviour, Kevin Kitto, Taron Peacock, Josh Chambers, Steve Patterson, Gareth Wills, Simon Bray, Martin Payne, Kevin Hughes, Allen Jordan, George Jones, Dan Laity. Subs: Syd Savvas (30), Grant Randlesome (43) and Justin Martin.

THIS was an unexpected defeat against Paignton at the beginning of the new season in Western Counties and after all the hard work in training perhaps a little disappointing.

The game started badly for the home side when Paignton scored a fortunate try after only two minutes of the game. The conversion attempt failed, and when Taron Peacock put over the first of his three penalties, awarded when Paignton were seen to be holding on by referee David May, it looked as though the Borough were back in the game.

It remained even for the next 20 minutes with each side trying to get on top, but with the play just about even Paignton then scored their second try by full back James Wood after good three quarter play.

Again the conversation attempt failed and from the kick off Penryn came straight back ino the attack and in the 34th minute were awarded a penalty which Peacock had no problems in turning in to points.

With the score at 6-10 it looked as though the home side were very much in the hunt for a victory, but silly mistakes allowed Paignton to drive up field and loosehead Tim Brazier found a gap in the defence to score the visitors' second try in the second minute of first half injury time. This was converted giving the Cherries an 11-point lead at half time.

For the first 15 minutes of the second half the visitors were penned in their own half and for much of that time the home side were camped within ten metres of Paignton's goal line. The forwards had scrummaged well throughout and a push over try seemed certain, but it was not to be as Paignton eventually broke out to take the game into the Penryn half.

In the final 20 minutes the visitors ran in three tries to give them a final score that did not reflect the play or the commitment from the Borough.

On the credit side, and there was much to be positive about, Penryn never gave up and the squad were fully committed for the 80 minutes. In the absence of captain Chris Mann, on duty with the ambulance service, the side were magnificently led by Kevin Hughes, who had an outstanding game at lock. Good displays also came from Dan Laity at No 8and Taron Peacock at fly half.

While Paignton celebrated their hard earned first victory on their return to Western Counties West, Penryn were left disappointed at their first reversal of the season. Coach Paul Trevaskis said: "We were competitive, but this does not always get the points. When you lose at home it is tough for the supporters and tough for the players.

"That said Penryn are far from down. There was much to be positive about the team performance as a whole, and everyone looks forward to the away game at Sidmouth next Saturday."

Sidmouth started their season with an excellent win at Minehead Barbarians, so the squad will have to be on top form when they cross the border in to Devon.

n 50 people sat down to a Vice- President's lunch in the Saracen Bar on Saturday. The occasion was rather special as not only did it give the club a chance to entertain its supporters, but there were two presentations, one for the Seal of Approval given by the Rugby Football Union for obtaining standards within the club, and the other to receive Eddie Richard's England shirt; Eddie gained Penryn's first England cap in 1929.

Dave Martin, the Cornish Club's representative on the RFU Council, presented the Seal of Approval to Judith Terrill, who has been a stalwart of Penryn's youth section, and who carried out most of the work in preparing the documentation for the Seal of Approval.

In his speech Dave mentioned the numerous players, referees, coaches and administrators, who have worked and played for the Borough. He went on to say that since World War II the club had produced six England internationals.

Benji Thomas coached Cornwall to victory in the 1991 County Championship final, and he is currently back where he belongs, coaching the club's senior teams. Dave then indicated the wealth of administration effort by asking guests to look round the room; he also mentioned Ray Plummer who served on the RFU Council for seven years.

In receiving Eddie Richard's England shirt, Dermot Shier, the club's president, paid tribute to the Richards family, who have played for Penryn over four generations, starting in 1899 when Harry "Shakes" Richards first turned out for the club.

He played for Cornwall in 1907 and 1908 and was followed by Eddie, his eldest son. Work took Eddie to Plymouth where he joined Plymouth Albion, and younger brother Harry stepped in to the Borough scrum half berth. Eddie played for Devon, whilst Harry turned out for Cornwall; both were scrum halves, and they opposed each other in Cornwall v Devon matches on more than one occasion.

1957 brought Harry's son Keith on to the scene; Keith played his first senior game at 17, against the then mighty Pontypridd, and scoring his first senior try in typical style. And so it goes on, son Alan, who turned out for the "Chiefs" on Saturday has played since the 1988/89 season.

Amanda Gilbert, Eddie's granddaughter, who had travelled down from Plymouth for the occasion, presented his shirt to Penryn, watched by Keith Richards and Alan.

The club is grateful to Amanda and Alan for the original England rugby shirt, although it rightfully remains Alan's, and is only on loan to the club.