Redruth Colts 20
Liskeard/Looe Colts 6
Tipped as a prelude to the Cornish County Cup Final, Redruth, who have dominated Cornish Colts rugby in recent years, gave a polished and street-wise performance in this English Clubs Colts Knockout.
Within the pack Redruth commanded due to their overwhelming physical presence, this being primarily due to them being a couple of years older than the majority of the Liskeard/ Looe's team.
Despite this Liskeard/ Looe's front row of Daniel, Strand and Killinsworth were technically accomplished and held their own well in the scrum.
With a place in the national stages of the competition at stake, Liskeard/Looe started promisingly and from the kick off an immediate penalty goal opportunity was slotted over with comfort by baby Hocking.
Redruth came back in their trademark aggressive manner but superb defence around the fringes, especially from the likes of Catchpole, Andrews, Strand and Vincent, was a prominent feature of Liskeard/Looe's game.
Redruth scored the first try from winger Lewis Vinnicombe, the first of his hat-trick.
Withstanding this the Liskeard/ Looe three quarters of Hocking, Flyn, Sedgley and Lloyd had strong defensive games as well as always posing a threat to the opposition with the ball in hand.
Special thanks must be go to wonderfully gifted Doug Lloyd who made his debut due to Jamie Robbins commitments to the South West England squad.
All the squad and supporters would like to wish Jamie the best of luck as he progresses towards the full England U18 squad.
Liskeard/Looe did hit back and as Shear and Gillbard broke from inside their own 22 metre line it seemed to be a certain try.
However, combination of bad luck and poor judgement resulted in a crucial missed opportunity.
Luckily, the resulting pressure finished in a penalty chance which baby Hocking pushed over, concluding the first half with Liskeard/Looe 6-5 up.
Liskeard/Looe spent much of the second half slouched in their own half and with Redruth scoring two rather dubious tries, Liskeard/ Looe could have been forgiven if their heads had dropped.
With Davy and Auckland having trouble securing the ball in the line-out despite having good all round games Liskeard/Looe moved the ball wider and quicker with great interchange between backs and forwards.
When Liskeard/Looe play with flair and when playmakers like Hannah and baby Hocking can get the ball in space they are an exciting team to watch.
And with such strength in depth to have players of such calibre as Goodman, Trevarthen, Nance, Andrews, Rowe, Caeirs, Bennett and Twornicki on the bench their aim for the rest of the season must be to consolidate and start beating teams in the same mould as Redruth.
CORNWALL & DEVON LEAGUE
Saltash 3pts.
OPMs 38
Old Plymothians finally laid their Moorlands Lane bogey and wracked up the points in this meeting between the division's bottom two clubs.
Saltash played well below themselves throughout and now find themselves four points adrift at the foot of the table.
Gareth Rule put the Old Boys ahead with a fifth minute catch-and-drive lineout try.
A penalty from Nigel Owen kept Saltash in contention, before two quick fire penalties from Paddy Trinder gave OPMs an eight-point interval lead.
Apart from the early try, neither side looked capable of crossing the opposition's line.
Trinder added two more penalties at the end of the third quarter to make it 3-17.
Then the floodgates opened, with Trinder, Dai Matthews and Paul Gregg touching down unopposed for Trinder to convert in a busy last 20 minutes.
Saltash Reserves 19pts
Tamar Saracens IIs 17
TRAILING 17-5 and on the defensive, Saltash looked to be heading for defeat midway through the second half, but a rousing recovery saw them claw their way back into the game and finally take the spoils.
The visitors, featuring a number of guest players, settled the better at the start but Saltash soon gained momentum and took the lead through centre John Sherrell.
The home team continued to exert pressure but failed to take their chances.
From a scrum close in, veteran Chorley scored a try for the visitors which was converted, and shortly after set up a downfield break which put his winger in for a try.
After the interval, Saltash struggled to get back into the game and went further behind when Tamar Saracens again worked the ball wide for a touch down in the corner.
Stout defence by Saltash, with Jamie Westaway prominent, kept the home team in the game, while over eagerness on the part of the visitors conceded penalties and key points.
Astute kicking by Saltash stand off Jerry Redmond and intelligent chasing began to put the visitors on the back foot, and pressure finally told with centre Paul Keene slicing over for a try under the posts.
Skipper Grant 'I don't need a tee' Brettell added the points to put Saltash back in touch.
In a rousing final spell and with the game now finely balanced, Saltash second row Kelvin Webb drove over from loose play to put the teams level, Brettell delivering the 'coup de grace' with the conversions.
Westaway, Andy Harvey, Sean Gale and Andy Moir were the pick of the Saltash team The game was played in excellent spirit and was deftly managed by referee Stuart Clark.
Saltash Chiefs are away to St Ives on Saturday, while the Reserves entertain Wadebridge Camels Reserves at the Chapel Field, kick off 2.30pm.
Liskeard/LooeU 10s 15
Ivybridge 10
Liskeard/Looe under 10s mini-rugby were at home to Ivybridge in their last game before Christmas, hoping to end the year with an unbeaten record.
But they were facing an excellent Ivybridge side that had brought 20 players with them.
Two shortened matches were played. Right from the start of the first game Liskeard/Looe were in command and had their opponents penned into their own half.
Both sides displayed excellent skills in the maul and kept the game tight.
Again and again Liskeard/Looe tried to break through the Ivybridge defence but were hindered by excellent tackling.
However, after five minutes the wall finally caved in and from deep on the left wing Adam 2 was able to find a gap to force himself through for the first try.
Within a few minutes Liskeard/ Looe were pushing for a second try, this time from the middle of the pitch were Carlin 'bulldozer' Champion had gone on a magnificent run to within a few yards of the try line.
Liskeard/Looe were quick to get in support and form the platform to make the ball safe and regroup.
This allowed time for Leonard Cooke to smuggle the ball out of the maul and make enough space for the second try.
Unfortunately, Liskeard/Looe went back to loose tackling and allowed Ivybridge the space to score a try, which started deep in their own half and went through nearly all the home players.
Liskeard/Looe were desperate not to repeat the mistakes of the week before against Wadebridge and pushed forward again.
They were rewarded with a third try that started on the half way line with Carlin Champion, who was unstoppable despite two or three Ivybridge players trying to tackle him.
The last minutes were nail-biting for the home side who gave away two penalties in succession close to their own try line and finally allowed Ivybridge the chance to get a try back.
The same Liskeard/Looe players then took on a new set of Ivybridge players. The home team were now really enjoying their game. Within minutes Carlin again went on a storming run down the right wing and scored the first try.
Moments later Liskeard/Looe secured the ball just inside the Ivybridge half and passed it through the hands of Lucy Demaine, Adam 2 and then to Joe Ackland, who raced down the right wing but went into touch just before the try line.
Just before time the home team let down their guard and allowed Ivybridge the opportunity to score a breakaway try down the left.
Within a few minutes of the second half Ivybridge scored a second breakaway try down the left.
Despite tired legs, the home team set about making opportunities for a second try and from a scrum five yards out Christiern Francis found the space to go over for the second try.
In the dying seconds Jack Holding made a try stopping tackle on the right wing. The final score was 10 points each.
Team: Joe Ackland (capt), Adam Bainbrid ge, Christiern Francis, Lucy Demaine, Carlin 'bulldozer' Champion, Leonard Cooke, Adam 2 Yung, Jake Mackay, Jack Holding.
This Sunday, the Under 10s are training at Lux Park, 11am.