Penryn rugby team defeats Bude at Cornwall Memorial Ground

Penryn welcomed North Cornwall rivals Bude to the Memorial ground on Saturday looking for their third win of the season, the two clubs Cornish clubs were separated by just one place in the league, Bude in eighth and Penryn one spot below, writes Jonathon Plummer.  

The Borough was without a host of regular players due to injuries and unavailability. Before the match, there was a two-minute silence for Remembrance Sunday to remember those who had given the ultimate sacrifice during wartime.

Penryn welcomed North Cornwall rivals Bude to the Memorial ground on Saturday (Image: Jonathon Plummer) On a mild and dry Bude kicked off and immediately Penryn were on the back foot when they dropped the kickoff. Penryn gave a penalty away from the resulting scrum and Bude kicked to the corner.

The visitors won the lineout and drove Penryn back over the try line for the first try of the match scored by Bude skipper Will Hockridge, the conversion drifted wide, but Bude had a five-nil lead after just two minutes.

Penryn fought back into the match with some powerful runs by the forwards and started to win penalties of their own.

Following a lineout 20 metres from the Bude line Penryn drove the Bude pack backwards, the ball was fed out to James Salisbury who found a gap in the away defence, and he had the strength to dive over for the Boroughs's first try, Salisbury added the extras and Penryn led 7 - 5 after 17 minutes.

The next twenty minutes both teams cancelled each other out with both team’s defence strong with hard tackling by both sides.

Two minute silence to honour the fallen on Remembrance Sunday (Image: Jonathon Plummer) Penryn had the chance to extend the lead after Bude had conceded another penalty, this time skipper Salisbury missed the difficult chance.

In the last two minutes of the first half, Penryn conceded two penalties in quick succession and Bude were on the attack again.

On a lineout fifteen metres from the Penryn line again Bude set up a rolling maul and for the second time Penryn were driven back over their line for Bude’s second try touchdown down by hooker Rory Mead to give the visitors a 10 - 7 lead at halftime.

Penryn levelled the scores two minutes into the second half when Bude gave another penalty away and this time Salisbury had no problem with the resulting chance to tie the scores 10 each.

An important win for Penryn (Image: Jonathon Plummer)

Bude started to get on top with their powerful forwards making headway and Penryn conceded several penalties in quick succession. Bude kicked to the corner once again and despite strong Penryn defence eventually, the dam burst following the fourth lineout close to the tryline.

Once again Bude set up a rolling maul at this time they were not to be denied for their third driving lineout try of the match finished by prop Nick Waterston, Bude missed their third conversion of the day but had a five-point advantage with twenty minutes remaining.

Penryn again immediately responded when Salisbury converted a penalty chance just a minute later when Bude tackled a man in the air.

Penryn started to get on top as the Bude side tired and Penryn was given the chance to take the lead when Bude infringed again. Once more Salisbury held his nerve kicking the penalty from thirty metres out to give the Borough a slender 16 -15 lead with nine minutes remaining.

Penryn were now firmly on top and kept hold of possession in the Bude half. Salisbury had the chance to seal the win with another penalty deep in injury time.

This time the ball hit the post and Bude regathered and tried a last-gasp attack from deep in their 22, after a couple of phases Penryn winger Kyle Johns intercepted a pass and he managed to offload to centre Matt Hall, and he sprinted in from twenty metres out to seal the win for Penryn. Salisbury kicked the conversion to deny Bude a bonus point and leave the final score at Penryn 23 Bude 15.

 An important win for Penryn and they will be pleased with the last twenty minutes when they dominated possession and territory. This victory means Penryn are now just one point behind Bude in the table.

Next Saturday Penryn travel to Tavistock looking for back-to-back wins, meanwhile, Bude hosts Pirate amateurs.

 Penryn Colts also had a good win on Saturday when they travelled to Newquay running out winners 24 nil to keep their winning run intact.