Tribute League

Cornwall and Devon

Saltash 26 Hayle 10

The joint league leaders were made to work hard for their win, which wasn't assured until the 66th minute when the win and the bonus point were assured.

The visitors put in a strong physical performance and bossed the set-piece, although the Saltash pace and power out wide were what did for the Lions fromWest Cornwall.

Early on, the home side had the better of the territory and possession, although it was Hayle who were on the board first, with a penalty goal from centre Damien Lynes to go ahead 0-3. Saltash were patient and, upping the tempo of the game, played the game deep in the Hayle half, and in the 17th minute, a fine move up the right saw left wing Ryan Cruikshanks go over in the corner and Saltash were in front at 5-3.

The lead lasted just nine minutes, as the visitors' power told, and, after a series of scrums on the home line and a number of infringements around the set-piece, the referee lost patience and a penalty try was awarded, converted by Lynes as Hayle hit the front at 5-10.

Their lead was also short lived, as the lead changed hands once more in the 29th minute when a break from deep by home fullback Ben Tolan saw him feed right wing Will Morton, who turned on the after-burners to go under the sticks to score, with fly half Todd Croft adding the extras for a 12-10 lead into the half-time break.

The second half was a more attritional affair, with the power of the visitors' pack and the pace of the home back line nullifying each other. It wasn't until some subtle changes to the home line-up that the deadlock was broken and replacement centre Sean Crawford marked his return to the senior XV with a try, converted by Croft for 19-10 after 58 minutes.

It was just eight minutes later that the win and try bonus were secured as further Saltash pressure saw number 8 Steve Hillman break clear to score from close in and, with Croft adding the extras, Saltash killed the game off to take the 26-10 lead to go a point clear at the top of the log.