Saltash.....................................74 pts

St Day.................................................6

TOO strong in all departments, Cornwall Division One pacesetters Saltash gave their points difference a definite early season boost. Running in twelve tries with none against.

Dave Honey signalled the start with a lineout try for Nigel Owen to convert in the second minute, and from then on it was all much too one way to go into any great detail. Save that Saltash were forty three points up at the break. There were try hat tricks for Peter Congo, Angus Fewell and Jamie Westaway. Owen and Mark Haimes matched Honey with a try apiece.

Despite a strong cross field wind. Owen was on target with seven conversions and hit the woodwork one in twelve attempts at the posts, Whilst visiting standoff John Rule did equally well to kick the only two penalty chances that came his way all afternoon.

Callington..................................44

Perranporth...............................15

CALLINGTON gained a useful work-out ahead of Saturday's first league fixture in this hastily arranged fixture at Perranporth. Using a strong wind to their advantage, Callington took an early lead when an off side decision in front of the posts gave Jeremy Jones an easy penalty kick.

From the kick-off Callington put further pressure on the Perranporth line and, following some strong forward driving, the ball was released for new centre Mike Hunt to cut through the Perranporth defence to score a try near the posts, converted by Jeremy Jones.

Callington were dominant in the scrums and Kim Campbell at No 8 use the ball well to drive into the Perranporth midfield, well supported by Paul Cioffi and Clive Stokes. From one such drive, Callington pressurised the Perranporth defence into conceding a line-out close to their line. From the line -out, flanker John Pritchard secured the ball and drove around the front to score in the corner.

The windy conditions led to a number of handling errors but when Callington kept their passes short and used forward support to break down the initial defence, they continued to pressurise Perranporth into making mistakes and giving away penalties. From a quickly taken penalty near the Perranporth line, a well timed pass from captain Nick Woodley freed Jeremy Jones to cross unopposed.

Perranporth has opportunities of their own in the first half but these were met with strong tackling from Chris Rowse and Glyn Higgins. It was also these two players who ended the half in attacking style, when a handling movement following strong forward pressure was completed with an inside pass from winger Rowse for centre Higgins to cross for his first try for the club. The try was converted, leaving the half-time score at 22-0.

In the second half, playing into the strong wind, Callington were unable to maintain the same domination, with the numerous handling errors being punished by long kicks from the Perranporth outside-half. However, Callington did manage to score three more tries through Mike Hunt, whose strong running was a feature of the game, Kevin Stark, a typically aggressive effort and a penalty try, which was converted by Jeremy Jones.

Perranporth also deservedly managed three tries of their own, the last two coming at the end of the game when mistakes from over-ambitious play by Callington gave the opportunities to their opponents.

This was undoubtedly Callington's best performance so far this season, but they will need to remove the errors from their game if they are to get off to a successful start in the league against Illogan Park on Saturday.

Willie-John McBride

returns to Cornwall

WILLIE-JOHN McBride a veteran of five Lions Tours and the most capped British Lion of all time, captain of the undefeated Lions who toured South Africa in 1974, Willie-John will be the guest speaker at the inaugural dinner of the Cornwall Committee of the Wooden Spoon Society to be held at the Hotel Bristol in Newquay on Friday 29 September which will be attended by around 1890 people.

Willie-John last played Rugby in Cornwall in the mid-seventies when his club Ballymena RFC came on an Easter Tour to the Duchy.

Wooden Spoon Society is the charity of British Rugby, whose aim is to help children and young persons who are disadvantaged either physically, mentally of socially. Ever £££ raised by the Cornish Committee will be matched centrally and will be use to fund projects for disadvantaged children in the Duchy.

Cornwall with its exceptional rugby following and great generosity towards worthwhile projects will hopefully soon by home to one of the most successful of the 22 regional committees of the Wooden Spoon Society in the United Kingdom.

Further information is available from Ron Spencer, Trebowland Vean, Gwennap, Redruth, Cornwall TR6 6BW or John Sumnall, Seacroft, Cocks Hill, Perranporth, Cornwall TR6 0AU.

Liskeard/Looe...........................8

Falmouth.....................................5

LISKEARD/ Looe opened their Cornwall League One Campaign last Saturday with a home game against Falmouth.

It was thought prior to the game that this could be a close one, and so it turned out. Initially neither teams gained much advantage. Both were playing open rugby and were unable to penetrate the defences.

Liskeard/Looe spent some time encamped with the Falmouth half, but were unable to convert pressure into points. In the dying minutes of the half and following another period of pressure, Andy Harris forced his way over for a try.

It was Falmouth who opened the second half the stronger, but a stout defence initially denied them any progress. Eventually Falmouth centre Adrian Watts cut through for a good try to square the game. Liskeard/Looe, however finished the stronger and having created good position, were awarded a penalty which Marcus Hill made full use of to put the result beyond doubt.

This was a good solid team effort. Liskeard/Looe were more efficient at the lines out than for some while, with both Dave England and Sam Spearing taking useful ball, ably supported by props Paul Mason and Nathan Gilbert. Hooker Phil Goldsmith had a good game in both loose and set pieces. Undoubtedly the stars of Liskeard/Looe were the flankers Tim Jackman and Matthew Palmer, neither of whom appeared to be more than a few yards from the ball at any one time. They tackled well, cleaned up good loose balls and linked well with number 8 Kevin Lorenz and scrum half Andy Harris.

In the centre, both Anthony Bartlett and Ian Pearce again proved lively in attack and firm in defence, whilst at half back Andy Harris and Marcus Hill had some bad luck with place kicks, but his positional kicking from the hand provided good territorial gain.

All in all a good start to the league season there is undoubtedly room for improvement, but the team discipline and spirit is excellent.

On Saturday Liskeard/Looe travel down to Glynn Valley to take on Bodmin, who also beat Falmouth by 3 points a couple of weeks ago. Kick off 3:00pm.