Playing their Devon opponents away on Saturday near to the edge of Dartmoor, despite losing this Regional 2 SW encounter the Pirates at least earned what could prove to be an important four tries bonus point.

The Cornish side won convincingly, 48-7, back at the Mennaye Field last October. However, playing on Ivybridge’s artificial 3G pitch at Cross-in-Hand offers, if you are not used to it, a different challenge.

Leading 29-19 at halftime, the home team, who are celebrating their Golden Jubilee season, added 15 more points to their tally in the second period, compared to seven – a converted try - acquired by the Pirates.

Scrum half James Cantin, with four to his name, topped the try-scoring exploits for Ivybridge, whilst for the Pirates there was two apiece for hooker Wes Eddy and centre Oscar Marr, with their own man of the match Rhys Brownfield slotting three conversions.

Ivybridge: 15 Charlie Teague 14 George Vertessy 13 Adam Lilley 12 Matthew Skeemer 11 Owen Alp 10 Shay Taylor 9 James Cantin; 1 Will Johnson 2 Owen Garner 3 Matt Finn 4 Sebastian Musgrave 5 Jack Skinner 6 Marcus Prout 7 Owen Williams 8 Joseph Owen.

Replacements: 16 Ben Winters 17 Lewis Cook 18 Leo Spencer.

Penzance & Newlyn: 15 Ben Wragg 14 Callum Walsh 13 Josh Semmens 12 Oscar Marr 11 Declan Marshall 10 Rhys Brownfield 9 Trevelyan Dugdale; 1 Ben Taylor 2 Wes Eddy 3 Declan Prowse 4 Ben Martin 5 Nick Nowell 6 Tom Hutton 7 Sam Carroll 8 Stan Somers (captain).

Replacements: 16 Joe Best 17 Ted Hocking 18 Connor Bick.

Scorers:

Ivybridge - tries: Cantin (4), Alp, Lilley; cons: Teague (4); pens: Teague (2).

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

“It was a closer contest than the score suggests with them running a little clear at the end.

“We applied ourselves very well and but for a couple of the areas of the game probably did more to give ourselves a chance to win the match.

“The deciding factor on the day was their familiarity with the artificial surface. We coped with it as best we could and ultimately accumulated a well-deserved bonus point on the road, to thus start the new year with a commendable 11 points out of a possible 15.”

(This coming Saturday, Penzance & Newlyn presently have a rearranged league fixture at home to Wellington – ko at 3.30pm. If any change to this arrangement comes into play, then details will be announced via the club’s social media.)

MOM