Tavistock 22pts

Tries: D Law, D Godspeed, W Brown

Penalty goals: J Sutton (2)

Canversions: J Sutton

Penryn 15pts

Tries: Syd Savvas (2)

Conversion: Peacock

Penalty goal: Peacock

Played against the backdrop of Dartmoor, this was a hard-fought encounter, but Penryn came off slightly worse than the home side. There was never any doubt that this would be tough, and so it proved. Overall the performance of the two teams was about even, leading to an exciting game with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle. The Borough were on top in the forwards, whilst Tavistock had a slight edge in the threes.

Penryn started very strongly and were the first to score when the forwards drove over the Tavistock line in the sixth minute. Syd Savvas was credited with the score, his first of two in the game, and Taron Peacock had no difficulty with an easy conversion. At this stage The Borough looked the better side, but gradually the home side came back in to the game, resulting in a penalty goal six minutes later.

In the 16th minute Tavistock took the lead with a try from flanker Duncan Law, converted by fly half Josh Sutton. Then just before half time the home side extended their lead with a scrum that started on the half way line and ended with full back Dave Goodspeed at the end of a chip and chase.

Right after the restart Tavistock went further ahead after a swift threes move let flanker Will Brown in under the posts. With the Sutton conversion this gave the home side a 22 – 7 lead, and left the visitors needing to score three times to win. This they nearly achieved with two scores, a penalty goal by Taron Peacock in the 60th minute followed by Syd Savvas’s second try in the 65th minute.

For the last quarter of the game the Penryn forwards were on top. On several occasions they wheeled the scrum from the Tavistock put in, and came very close to crossing the home side’s line. The two tries by Syd Savvas were scored from intense forward pressure, but in the end it was not enough. Towards the end it was clear that Steve Mitchell’s fitness training was starting to tell, but Penryn could not turn this forward advantage into a winning score. Tavistock defended well and on one occasion were very lucky to clear their line.

In spite of these valiant efforts by the forwards, the Tavistock defence held out, and they went through to the second round of the RFU Senior Vase by 22 points to 15.

So what are the observations from this game? Clearly Penryn are a far better squad than last year, but they were up against a team who have developed ín leaps and bounds over the last few seasons. Tavistock are a very friendly club, they made Penryn welcome, and we look forward to a return visit in the league on Septembe 20. The Borough will have learned a great deal from this encounter, and will be more determined to return to winning ways for the first home game on Saturday when Plymstock Albion Oaks are the visitors.

Penryn were also probably fitter, and had the game lasted another five minutes it is possible that an equalling score would have led to extra time. But that is pure speculation; the result was a win for Tavvy.

With this early exit from a national cup competition The Borough now face three Saturdays before Christmas without a 1st XV game. Should they be unfortunate enough to lose to Truro in the first round of the CRFU Cup, there will be a further five gameless Saturdays until the end of the season, a total making up around 25% of the total Saturdays in the season. Attempts will be made to arrange friendlies, but there is little or no enthusiasm for these in the modern game. Stithians 29pts Penryn Saracens 5pts The Saracens were away at Stithians who were playing their first ever Merit Table I game. The home side put up a sound performance with a fine first half display, scoring four tries, scored by Michael Creeden, Greg White and Lewis Vague (2). Two minutes before half time Justin Martin scored a try for Saracens, which gave the home side a 22-5 advantage at the break. Penryn, who were without Matt Keverne, Kevin Kitto and Chris Snell from the selected side, were by no means overawed by the first half score. In the second half they started to put it together, restricting the home side to just one goal, the try scored by Lewis Vague and converted by Martin Strick. Stithians are a strong well organised side and the game was tough and clean and thoroughly enjoyed by both teams. This was the first game for a new Penryn side, and it bodes well for future merit table games.

Penryn: Alex Stuthridge, Darren Pellow, Matt Biggins, Peter Webster, Shaun Hawley (Josh Chambers), Marek Churcher, Taron Peacock, Syd Savvas, Richard Burns (Jordan Smith), Richard Tresidder, Adam Giles (Martin Payne), Kevin Hughes, Allen Jordan, Grant Randlesome, Dan Laity (Justin Doney)