Watching rugby at OMG Moorlands Lane this season is not for the faint hearted as this bottom of the table clash produced another pulsating game where Saltash took five points from the win but Penryn plundered two invaluable points and have a game in hand over the Ashes. The home side got off to a flying start with a penalty by scrum half Jack Pritchard in the second minute and a try by Lewis Woolaway following a good kick down the line which was converted two minutes later. Saltash continues to exert pressure on Penryn and centre Greg Eatwell extended their lead with a well worked try which was again converted to give them a 17-0 lead after only seven minutes. Penryn looked uncertain at this stage and conceded a penalty which was put over by Jack Pritchard who kicked exceptionally well throughout the match.

A creative move started by the Ashes scrumhalf allowed Charlie Knight the space to go through the Penryn defence and touch down on the half hour. Play was still being dominated by Saltash and the lead was even further extended with a brilliant individual try by hooker Finn Jones who raced down the left wing for a try and a conversion by Jack Pritchard (32-0). A Penryn revival began four minutes from the interval as a result of their forwards taking control and driving over the Ashes line with the score at the break of 32-5.

The second period saw Penryn continue to press hard and soon crossed for a try thanks to their pack after five minutes which they converted. Saltash were hanging on under sustained pressure from Penryn and eventually were again beaten by a forward drive resulting in a try with the conversion kick hitting a post. A right wing try by the rampant visitors closed the home advantage to ten points after 53 minutes (32-22) but Saltash soon hit back with some good rugby giving skipper Jay Moriarty the opportunity to cross the line wide on the left wing for a try excellently converted by Jack Pritchard three minutes later. Two more Penryn tries coming from a lineout and then a kick ahead 59 & 63 minutes greatly increased the tension among the home supporters until a Pritchard penalty (66 minutes) gave some relief. Saltash received a yellow card and a visiting penalty closed the Ashes lead to seven points which concluded the scoring in a frantic last few minutes with Saltash holding onto their slender lead.

This was a good victory for Saltash and gives them a slight chance of retaining their Counties 1 Western West league position. A second half revival by Penryn greatly contributed to a very entertaining game especially for the neutral spectator!

Rod Davies Press Officer

Saltash RFC