For the first of two league fixtures this weekend The Lions welcomed Newquay to Lux Park for another top of the table clash; with the visitors sitting in top spot; Liskeard selected a strong squad for the match that included two colts, giving a first start to backrower Nathan Wills with Oliver Aggis on the bench. The match was also being used as the clubs sponsors day event and Liskerad-Looe thank them for their continued support.
Liskeard could have taken the lead within the first five minutes of the match but the penalty kick at goal was missed. The first points came in the fourteenth minute, following excellent play, involving both the forwards and backs of the home side, set up the chance for wing Ben Kitto to run in for a try from eighteen metres and this was converted by James Noel-Johnson. Four minutes later from a Liskeard attack down the right the ball was shipped left and Kitto dotted down for his second try and Noel-Johnson’s conversion attempt was successful. In the fortieth minute Liskeard were awarded a penalty midway between the Newquay ten metre and twenty-two metre lines the option of a kick at goal was taken and Noel-Johnson slotted this to take the score to 17-0 at the break. A good half of rugby for Liskeard and they were worthy of their lead but Newquay had posed a posed a few questions of their own but an excellent marshalled home defence kept them at bay.
A couple of minutes into the second half and Liskeard were awarded another penalty, inside the visitors twenty-two and right in front of the sticks, and Noel-Johnson slotted this to increase the lead. On fifty minutes a catch and drive lineout, inside the visitors twenty-two took the ball to within inches of the try-line to set up a ruck a from where Noel-Johnson, spotting a small gap in the Newquay defence, picked up at the back and dotted down for a try unfortunately this time the conversion was missed. On fifty-five minutes Newquay conceded another penalty, right in front of their posts, the option of a kick at goal was taken and Noel-Johnson again was successful to increase the lead to 28-0. From the restart The Lions attacked again putting pressure on the Newquay defence and they gave away another penalty and again Noel-Johnson was successful with his kick to further increase the lead. On seventy minutes Newquay did score a converted try by their scrum half following his jinking run to make it 31-7. Two minutes from time excellent play set up a scoring chance for the home side with fullback Kieran Underhill running in for an unconverted try and the bonus point to take the score to 36-7 at full time. The big, mostly partisan, crowd had been entertained by a good game of rugby, and arguably the best performance of the season by The Lions, with the bonus pint win taking Liskeard back to the top of the league; nobody had had a bad game but the man of the match accolade was justly given to young Nathan Wills who had been outstanding.