At the end of this tenth versus ninth affair in Regional 2 South West, where both sides were looking for important league points, it was the Pirates who had understandable smiles on their faces for earning a deserved bonus point achieving win.

In the build-up to this contest at the Mennaye Field, the ground had soaked up repeated deluges of rain. Indeed, there were many who doubted the match would take place, and perhaps understandably so. However, given a little respite and some wind, the famous old ground has a habit of drying up surprisingly well, as was thankfully the case, and especially to ease the minds of conscientious ground staff.

Although from the opening exchanges it looked as if the Pirates were going to have the upper hand, it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the tenth minute, thanks to a penalty kicked confidently between the Penzance posts by centre Alex Ford.

Making a prompt response, it was not long before the Pirates opened their account. Fly-half Rhys Brownfield kicked cleverly out of hand, and it was full-back Ben Wragg who followed up to score to the right of the Penzance posts. Brownfield then added the extra two points.

Midway through the first half, the acquired lead was extended, as following good play involving scrum half Dan Rhys Evans, skipper Stan Somers, and Wragg, it was lock forward Ben Martin who lent support to crash over the line to score a converted try.

Brownfield next added a penalty goal, before near the end of the first forty, it was Wragg who sprinted in to score an unconverted try at the old Western National corner.

The Pirates were good value for holding a 22-3 halftime lead, but in the second half, it was the ‘Teigns’ who scored their first try of the match through centre Jack Mayne, which was converted by his midfield partner Ford.

A second try for the invigorated Devon side was scored by full-back Jordan Hellier, before a converted bonus point providing a fourth try from Pirates’ man of the match prop James Lambourn, and then a penalty kicked by Brownfield, helped settle nerves.

Teignmouth did hit back with one more try (scorer not identified), but it was the Pirates who then closed the game out to win 42-20 after Brownfield kicked two penalties and converted a try at the death, scored by Somers.

Speaking after the game, Penzance & Newlyn’s head coach Murray Westren said:

“Following a run of three losses, we were looking for a positive reaction, which, to the credit of the players, we got.

“Although conditions were not ideal, the pitch was quite playable, and we played some decent and intelligent rugby to in the process score five tries. Rhys (Brownfield) also kicked well to acquire 17 important points in the match.”

Penzance & Newlyn: Ben Wragg 14 Joey Norways 13 Harris Eddy 12 Oscar Marr 11 Cal Gardner 10 Rhys Brownfield 9 Dan Rhys Evans; 1 James Lambourn 2 Kenny Jones 3 Dec Prowse 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 Tom Hutton 7 Sam Carroll 8 Stan Somers (captain).

Replacements: 16 Joe Best, 17 Wes Eddy, 18 Callum Walsh.

Teignmouth: 15 Jordan Hellier 14 Fin Pitman 13 Alex Ford 12 Jack Mayne 11 James Wright 10 Luke Atkinson 9 Dan Woolnough; 1 Dayne Layton 2 Pete Parsons 3 Tom Cope 4 Dan Hayward 5 Jack Bowen 6 George Franklin (captain) 7 Pete Bilham 8 Cam Johns.

Replacements: 16 Dan Force 17 Ryan Knapman 18 Jake Wright.

Scorers:

Penzance & Newlyn – tries: Wragg (2), Martin, Lambourn, Somers; cons: Brownfield (4); pens: Brownfield (3).

Teignmouth – tries: Mayne, Hellier, Unknown; con: Ford; pen: Ford.

(Penzance & Newlyn are at home again next weekend, when on Saturday the 13th December they will welcome clear league leaders Weston-super-Mare to the Mennaye Field, kick-off at 2.30pm)