LAST Saturday, Penryn produced their best performance of the season so far to win away at a in-form Paignton side which was based on an excellent defensive display by the Borough.

Paignton were on a great run of form having won their last nine matches indeed they last tasted defeat at Penryn last October.

It was a mild dry day at Queens Park on a firm pitch. The match started at a real pace with both sides going at each other with great intensity. It was Penryn who were first on the scoresheet when centre James Salisbury kicked a penalty after Paignton were caught offside in midfield.

Paignton eager to get the next score and were on the attack from the restart, solid Penryn tackling kept them at bay for several minutes before a pick-and-go by prop Sam Dennis managed to squeeze over to get the first try of the match.

This was an end-to-end breathless encounter and it was Penryn who retook the lead when lock Will Drewett dived over for an unconverted try after several carries by the powerful forwards.

The Borough were now playing with a real pace to their game with backs and forwards taking the fight to Paignton and after another Infringement Salisbury kicked another penalty from the 22 to give Penryn another three points.

The next score was going to be crucial and it was Penryn who got it after several phases of play had stretched the Paignton defence, the ball was spread to the wing after some great handling by the backline, it was left winger Ayden Earnshaw who dived into the corner to finish a great team try. Salisbury added the extras from the touchline and Penryn were firmly in control with a 18-5 lead.

If Paignton were going to have any chance of a comeback it was crucial they got the next score and that is what they got just before halftime when hooker Harry Davies touched down, the conversion drifted wide to leave the halftime score 18 -10 in Penryn’s advantage.
The second half was just as frantic as the first but solid defence from both sides kept the next ten minutes scoreless.

Penryn did manage to extended their advantage when Salisbury slotted another penalty.
Paignton narrowed the gap when winger Jordan Hodge scored in the corner to close the gap to just six points.

The last twenty minutes was a tense affair as Paignton went in search of a match winning try and went close on several occasions but resolute Penryn defence kept them at bay. In the last few minutes of play Penryn kept hold of the ball after  several drives by the forwards and when the eighty minutes was up the ball was kicked out and the final whistle blew to the delight of the away supporters.

This win made it from three wins from three  for impressive Penryn in 2024 and lifted them to sixth in the league while Paignton dropped to third.

This Saturday Penryn welcome Cornish rivals St.Ives to the Memorial Ground to looking to keep their unbeaten home run intact, kick off is 2.30pm.