Tribute Western Counties West

Kingsbridge 14,

Penryn 11

There was a slight sense of déjà vu for the home supporters at High House on Satur­day as the home side once again struggled to see off a team from the lower end of league, des­pite a huge amount of possession and territorial ad­vantage during the game.

The Blue and Whites had won convincingly when the two sides met back in November and would have been hopeful of securing another comfortable victory now that they had the advantage of home soil.

As it turned out they were grateful for the final whistle as the game meandered in the second half.

The visitors took the lead after six minutes as Kingsbridge were caught offside and the subsequent penalty saw Penryn lead 0-3.

However, Kings­bridge showed just what they are capable of on 12 minutes as they crossed over for the first try.

A great break from flanker Ali Hamilton at a ruck on the Penryn 10-metre line saw him draw the final defender before popping the pass to number eight Jack Cope, who ran in unchallenged to score under the posts. Centre Ashley Treeby converted to put the home side 7-6 ahead.

Kingsbridge missed a penalty on 16 minutes only for Penryn to reduce the deficit to 7-6 with a penalty of their own on 25 minutes. Kingsbridge, however, extended their lead on the half hour with their second try.

A period of sustained pressure in the Penryn 22 saw the visitors with possession at a five-metre ruck, ­only for that man Hamilton to again cause them trouble.

He charged down the attempted clearance kick which then re­bounded into the try area for home fly-half Ben Newman to react quickest and win the race to touch down. Treeby again converted to put the hosts 14-6 ahead.

The hosts missed another penalty on the stroke of half time to leave the score at 14-6 in Kingsbridge's favour.

The second half offered little more to the match as it turned into rather a dour af­fair.

Kingsbridge missed a further chance to extend their lead through another penalty before the visitors broke clear from their own half 15 minutes from time to score their first try of the game.

Thankfully for the hosts, the conversion went wide to leave the score standing at 14-11.

Kingsbridge managed to keep the visitors pinned back in their own half for the remainder of the game to prevent any further chance of a fight back.

This Saturday sees Kingsbridge without a game while the A XV play host to Paignton seconds at High House in the Devon Merit Table at 2.30pm.