FALMOUTH'S search for a Boxing Day victory continues after coming agonisingly close to ending their 17-year hoodoo in the festive derby, writes Ross Hancock.

The visitors will have been kicking themselves for not taking their chances, as Penryn recovered from a 0-14 deficit at halftime, to secure a draw in an entertaining clash at The Memorial Ground.

A bumper crowd packed into the Borough for what is always a big local event and despite league fortunes separating the sides, a close game was expected as always. An upset was on the cards for much of the afternoon, as the visitors took control in the first half.

Penryn struggled to find their groove and the Eagles were quick to oblige, with an opportunistic first try giving the travelling Falmouth support hope that this could be their year. The home side fell foul of the referees whistle and their frustrations would come back to bite them, as Falmouth remained in control following the first converted score of the game. Smelling blood, Falmouth took a leaf from the South African playbook by deploying their own ‘bomb squad’, with the Eagles making nine changes in one go. 

Frustrations would grow for both sides, as the game struggled to get beyond more than a couple of phases before the sound of a whistle - making for a stop start affair in front of the 1500 strong at The Memorial Ground. It was the visitors who kept their heads however and doubled their lead going into the sheds, barging over from close range to make it 0-14 at the break. The shock was well and truly on.

The home side needed three scores to win now and a response and they got the latter early into the second 40. But while a converted try gave the home crowd reason to think a comeback was on, it was the Eagles who wrestled back control. The away side camped themselves on the Penryn line, for much of the third quarter, but crucially could not find a way through despite their protestations. 

Penryn’s let off fed their belief and further ill discipline gave field position to level the scores with another converted try. Neither side truly had an opportunity to win the game after that and a drawn game ultimately proved a fair result. 

Despite retaining the Blue Flame Cup, Penryn awarded the trophy to Falmouth as a mark of respect to the recent passings of Falmouth Club legends Sandy Sanders and John Sewell. The two resume hostilities in the first fixture of 2023.