Penryn 22 - St Ives 13

Penryn welcomed Cornish rivals St Ives to the Memorial Ground for their first home league match of the season hoping to bounce back from the previous week’s disappointing loss at Wiveliscombe, writes Jonathan Plummer.

St Ives were trying to make in two wins from two after narrowly beating Bude the week before.

There was plenty of autumn sunshine but there was a strong breeze blowing into clubhouse corner otherwise it was perfect conditions. Penryn were able to bring in prop Angus Williams and scrum half Sam Hewitt who were both unavailable the previous week.

It was a very nip and tuck first 15 minutes with neither side gaining an advantage. St Ives gave a penalty away for offside and Penryn kicked to the corner.

From the line out the ball was fed out to skipper James Salisbury and he powered over from ten metres out to give Penryn the lead after 16 minutes. Salisbury's conversion just slipped wide.

On the half hour mark St Ives narrowed the deficit to just two points when full back Matthew Turton kicked a penalty from the 22 after a Penryn infringement.

Penryn increased their lead just before half time with an excellent try after the forwards did the hard work and set up a ruck inside the 22. Some great handling by the three quarter line, full back Ben Rosevear was in space down the left wing and he outstripped the covering defence to score in the corner. Once more the conversion was missed but the Borough held a 10 -3 lead at half time.

St Ives started the second half on the front foot and Matthew Turton kick another penalty to give the Hakes real hope and indeed they took the lead with a converted try.

From a line out close to the line the pack drove forward before the ball was fed out to scrum half James Marsden who scampered over, Matthew Turton adding the extras to give St Ives a 13- 10 lead.

Penryn now had to find an extra gear heading into the final quarter and the Penryn pack started to get on top. Following a scrum the ball was fed out to James Salisbury and again he managed to break through the defence to dive over. This time Salisbury added the extras.

The Borough went in search of the decisive bonus point try and thought they had scored but Matt Carlyon was adjudged to of been held up over the line.

Five minutes later they were not to be denied and following a solid scrum, no 9 Sam Hewitt got the crucial touchdown to secure the win and the five points.

In the last few minutes St Ives went in search of a consolation score but strong Penryn defence held them out.

This was a much better performance from the Borough from the previous week. This Saturday Penryn Make the difficult trip to Kingsbridge looking for a first away win of the season. Meanwhile down at Alexandra Road St Ives play a local derby against Pirate Amateurs.