Penryn 9pts

Cinderford 40pts

Cinderford came to the Memorial Ground determined to avenge the defeat of the previous season, when Borough knocked them out of the Powergen Cup, and went away victors by 40 points to 9.

Although the Borough suffered their worst defeat for some time, they were far from disgraced. With eight regular first team players unavailable, the team did well to contain the visitors in the first half, but eventually Cinderford recorded a resounding victory and a place in the fourth round draw.

Nevertheless, Penryn put up a creditable performance against a side that look set to go far in the Intermediate Clubs Knockout Cup competition.

Penryn absentees included Chris Mann, who was on ambulance duty, whilst Nick Brown and Sheldon Waetford were injured. David Pascoe was injured playing for the Combined Services versus the Barbarians on Tuesday and Mike Slater and Brett Whitmill are away on Naval duty.

Just before the break Borough were leading 9-5 with Martin Strick putting over three penalty goals. Strick opened the scoring with his first penalty, and the high flying South West I side were very lucky not to concede a penalty try after their full back, Stuart Chant, deliberately tripped wing James Greville-Smith who looked certain to score after a kick-on.

Chant was sin binned, but the referee did not award a penalty try.

Cinderford lock Gethin Evans crossed after forward pressure, but Strick added two more penalties and Borough were four points in front. But it was not to last and two minutes before the interval prop Andy Martin was credited with a try after the visiting forwards drove over the try line.

Penryn could have regained the lead just before half time when they were awarded a kickable penalty on the 22, but a fracas developed some 20 yards from the spot where the penalty had been awarded. This resulted in each side having a player sin binned and the penalty was forgotten.

The Forest of Dean team ran away with it in the second half, scoring five more tries, and Borough are left to concentrate on the league.

The result at least takes some of the pressure off the players, who can now concentrate on securing their place in South West 2 (W), which was always the first objective for the season. But one wonders what the result might have been if the home side had been at full strength.

That said let it not deter from the efforts of those who came in to the side, some at very short notice.

The forwards gave their all, and the backs did all they could to keep Borough in the game. So a very big thanks to Darren Pellow, Peter Webster, Paul Hodge, Rob O'Kane, Steve Patterson, Steve Trevelyan and Andrew Bowers. They all showed total commitment.

Penryn: Alan Richards (Andy Bowers - 70), Darren Pellow, Peter Webster, Paul Hodge (James Mann - 20), James Greville-Smith, Rob O'Kane, Darren Jacques, Sam Harrison, Andy Day (Steve Patterson - 65), Ashley Lawton, Kevin Hughes, Allen Jordan, Justin Doney (Steve Trevelyan 70), Ben Short.