Falmouth Eagles 20 - Pirate Amateurs 55

The Falmouth Eagles faced Pirate Amateurs in their recent Counties Tribute 1 Western West league match, hoping for a win after their previous draw against St Ives Hakes, writes Gupta Singh.

Unfortunately, the Eagles were dealing with a host of injuries and the absence of Alex Bullock and Ashley Searle had left the team short on experienced forwards. However, Tom Spiller stepped in with over hundred caps spanning many positions to fill the gaps while now adding hooking to his repertoire.

Joined by Ollie Jones both had an impressive performance on the field with Spills still showing how to break the gaps and make the hard yards.

The Eagles started the game well, with Tom Townsend scoring the first points through a penalty in the opening minutes. Both teams then engaged in a tough battle in the midfield for about twenty minutes, trying to break through each other's defenses.

Pirate Ams captain Ben Taylor, playing at hooker, led his team from the front with determination throughout the match. He made an impressive run of over fifty meters at one point, setting up his team in the opposition's twenty-two. This allowed the backs to set up center Josh Semmens (pictured) for a try, which was successfully converted.

Pirate Ams continued to dominate the game, executing well-worked back moves and scoring two more tries, along with a conversion, taking their lead to 3-19.

However, in the 38th minute, the Eagles showed their fighting spirit as stand-in captain Seb Firth, who later received the man of the match award, broke through the Ams defense and scored a powerful try in the corner, narrowing the gap to 8-19.

Encouraged by this try, the Falmouth Eagles put pressure on Pirate Ams from the following kick-off. Ali Harding and Seb Firth winning a crucial turnover on the opposition's ten, and the referee awarded a penalty to the Eagles.

It seemed that the Eagles would score a try before halftime by making touch in the corner. Unfortunately, the kick went dead, and the momentum of the game shifted.

Pirate Ams dominated the rest second half, scoring more points and ultimately winning with a score of 20-55. The only glimpses of how the Eagles could play coming from Cornwall's U20's in Jowan Peck who scored a powerful try for the Eagles, and Harry Walsh-Newton who made a slick run at the end, one of which was converted by Tom Townsend.

In other results, the Eagles 2XV lost 39-6 loss to Launceston Castles in their league with the only real highlight of the day being when the mini bus broke down and the lads scrummaged it to a nearby petrol station.

While the Eagles Women's team ran out for a last minute Sunday fixture, showing their emerging strength with a 17-0 win against Camborne School of Mines Women on a very muddy Tregenver pitch. Jess Bailey scoring yet another brace of tries, and captain Lydia Hawkins scoring another, with Taigen Bond converting one.

Ahead of Internationals Women's day on Friday 8th the club would like to thank all the Falmouth women past and present who have made our Falmouth Rugby family the special place it is at the heart of the community for over one-hundred and fifty years.

With a weekend off for all the teams to regroup, the only action at Falmouth Rugby Club comes in the form of round four of the Six Nations which will be shown live in the Falmouth Rugby Clubhouse.