Tribute Western Counties (West)

Penryn RFC 17,

Kingsbridge maintained their 100 per cent start to the league season as they returned from deepest, darkest Cornwall with their seventh successive win of the campaign following a five-try bonus-point victory over lowly Penryn.

The visitors opened the ­scoring in the ninth minute as a Kingsbridge lineout 10 metres from the Penryn line saw the ball taken on by prop Mike Powell before a neat inside pass from centre Ashley Treeby saw him find captain Ben Glover up in support to score by the posts. Treeby converted for a 0-7 lead.

Penryn reduced the deficit to 3-7 with a penalty in the 14th minute before they went on to take the lead on 18 minutes. The Kingsbridge backs were caught in possession and the hosts pounced for their first try. This was converted to see Penryn lead 10-7.

The visitors retook the lead in the 34th minute as the Kingsbridge forwards showed their early superiority up front by taking the hosts back over their own line at a five-metre scrum, for number eight Jack Cope to gain the touchdown near the posts.

Treeby again converted to put the visitors 10-14 ahead, a lead that they held on to until the interval.

Kingsbridge went further ahead at the start of the second half as Treeby added a penalty, making it 10-17, before the hosts came back strongly with a fine metre pushover try of their own, which was converted to bring the scores level at 17-17.

In the middle of the second half Kingsbridge enjoyed their strongest period of the match: they hit Penryn with 21 ­unanswered points through three converted tries in the space of nine minutes.

The first saw winger George Eynon-Lewis make a strong cross-field run, which released scrum half turned winger Billy Burner along the touchline to cross over unchallenged in the corner before rounding the posts to touch down. Treeby again converted to put Kingsbridge 17-24 ahead.

Barely a couple of minutes later and Kingsbridge went further ahead as replacement lock Matthew Allen forced his way over in the corner for the bonus-point try. Treeby’s excellent conversion from the touchline saw the visitors leading 17-31.

Try number five saw flanker Matt Hamilton cross over ­following a period of strong forward pressure in the Penryn 22 and a neat inside scoring pass from Burner. Treeby was again on target to extend the lead to 17-38. The visitors had to withstand some late pressure in their 22 from the hosts, but managed to keep their line intact to record an excellent win.

This Saturday sees Kings­bridge face their biggest ­challenge of the season so far when they entertain second-placed Exeter University at High House as 2.30pm.

The club would like to invite as many supporters as possible to the game, which will have a major impact on the team’s progression this season.

Kingsbridge A XV journey to Plymouth to face Plympton Victoria, while the Colts travel to face Newton Abbot Colts.