Liskeard-Looe head coach Mark Goldsmith was delighted with his team's performance as they eased past fierce rivals Stithians at Lux Park on Saturday.

Said Goldsmith: 'It was a good win with a team crippled with injuries to the forwards.

'We are really struggling with injuries at the moment, but we are still getting results.

'We are in sixth place (in the table) and I know we will move up the League because we are showing great spirit and fight.

'We know we can play better, but we are creating pressure and chances and, defensively, we aren't leaking loads of points.'

The Lions put their first points on the board in the 14th minute when, after a series of forward drives, the No.8 Ali Hill dived over in the corner for an unconverted try.

During the next 12 minutes Stithians tried to get back into the match, but a dogged Liskeard defence drove them back into their own 22.

From a Lions scrum ten metres out, the ball was shipped to the backs and centre Baz Hocking, on the switch, ran through and dotted the ball down under the sticks; the try was converted by scrum-half James Noel-Johnson.

On the stroke of half-time, following dangerous play during a Liskeard driving maul, a Stithians player was issued a yellow card – which was changed to red after a tirade of abuse aimed at the referee.

The penalty awarded to Liskeard was kicked to touch and, from the resulting line-out a catch-and-drive move was finished off by veteran prop Bob Bettison.

Five minutes into the second period, following another series of forward drives, the ball was shipped to the backs to give wing John Underwood an 18-metre run in for the try to earn and a bonus point for Liskeard; the try was converted by fly-half Andy Sheer.

During the next 30 minutes Stithians tried to attack the Liskeard line, but were repeatedly driven back.

The Lions could well have scored three or four tries during this period; wing Kieran Murchison was twice stopped just short of the line, while Ali Hill went over but the ball was held up and another was disallowed for crossing.

It wasn't until the 75th minute that Liskeard-Looe added to their tally, replacement flanker Glen Beaver driving over for Sheer to convert.

Right on full-time player-coach Goldsmith was sin-binned, while the Stithians No.8 was shown a red card for punching.

'We have a tough game this weekend against Honiton, who are in a similar position to ourselves, but we are at home so I am expecting a good win,' added Goldsmith.

Meanwhile, the Lions are considering citing a Stithians player who they claim stamped on Bettison's head, who required 12 stitches in his ear.