Bude 22pts Penryn 21pts

It would not be quite correct to say that Penryn were robbed of a win in this second round RFU Senior Vase match, but it certainly seemed that way when the visitors' lead was taken away them in the last two minutes of the game.

The Borough started well and went ahead with a Taron Peacock penalty goal in the tenth minute. At that stage they were definitely in the game, with both forwards and the backs working well together, but Bude took their chances from defensive errors scoring two goals in the 20th and 42nd minutes to give them a 14-3 lead at half time.

The visitors lost hooker Jordan Smith with an injury after only 18 minutes and he was replaced by Simon Bray. During the first half Penryn's defence was resolute and efficient, except for the two lapses that led to the tries.

The Borough started the second half with enthusiasm and determination, and reduced the arrears with two more penalty goals in the 48th and 51st minutes, but another defensive lapse let the home side go further ahead with a try by their right wing.

It remained that way until the last 15 minutes and with a 19-9 deficit it looked as though Penryn would concede yet another game. But the visitors had not yet thrown in the towel.

With Kevin Hughes playing an inspired game, the Borough were pressing the Bude line continuously; the reward was two tries, both scored by winger Will Paine, who had come in to the side after Kevin Kitto's late withdrawal due to an injury.

The second of these was converted and, with less than ten minutes to go, Penryn were ahead.

The season's first win was in sight, but it was not to be. Bude came back on to the attack and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts with less than two minutes to go. The conversion was never in doubt and Bude ran out winners by a single point, their first ever victory over Penryn.

By their own admission they were lucky, and the Borough deserved better. A third round home game would have been very welcome, but now they must face a blank Saturday on 17 November unless a friendly fixture can be arranged.

But all is not lost. Bude claimed to be resting players, and did not wish to give too much away in advance of their visit to the Memorial Ground on October 27, but the Borough were also below full strength. Forwards Allen Jordan, Adam Giles, Dan Laity and Matt Keverne were unable to travel, whilst centre Matt Biggins was cup tied, having played for Falmouth in the first round.

This is not to say that Penryn played badly, it was just the opposite, with the side full of enthusiasm. The players and coaches will take heart from this performance. That elusive win cannot be very far away and the Borough will travel to Minehead on Saturday looking for it.

Last week I asked what, if anything, is happening to grass roots Cornish rugby, particularly in those wonderful old established clubs around West Cornwall.

My point was that many of the West Cornwall giants of yesteryear are not performing, and hence the question. I can only quote my own club, where we are making every effort to develop a successful atmosphere; there is a flourishing mini and youth section, a large squad of colts, with locals forming 90 per cent of the senior squad, which is full of youth and enthusiasm.

The club's volunteers are working very hard to improve the club facilities, there is an excellent 200 seat stand, three pitches, six very good changing rooms, new training lights on pitch 2, an upgrade of the lights on pitch 3, very close co-operation with Camborne School of Mines RFC, and a sound financial base. So why are we not winning?

There is no doubt that the club's efforts in higher leagues did no good, and that Penryn is a much happier club than it has been for several years. Much of this stems from the reduced travel, which made inroads in to both finance and the requirements of players to give much valuable time to excessive travel. Nevertheless there is a hankering for success, and voices occasionally ask what is going on?

I had such a call a few days ago, when Peter Jackett rang up from Saltash, where he and his brother John have lived. John is no longer with us, but Old Timers will no doubt recall that the Jackett family were held in high esteem in Falmouth, but both John and Peter played for Penryn, John as a wing forward as they were known in those days, and Peter on the wing.

Penryn scorers: - Tries: Will Paine (2); conversion, Taron Peacock; penalty goals: Taron Peacock 3.

Penryn: Alan Richards, Will Paine, Chris Mann, Peter Webster, Damien Pellow (Dan Martin - 70), Andrew Seviour, Taron Peacock, Syd Savvas, Jordan Smith (Simon Bray - 18), Richard Tresidder, Steve Uphill (James Bull - 65), Kevin Hughes, George Jones, Chris Johnson, Grant Randlesome.