Last Saturday Liskeard-Looe welcomed top of the table Penryn for the 22nd round of matches in the Cornwall/Devon league; a massive game for The Lions.
Liskeard starting the better and with nine minutes on the clock scored the first points, this came about following a flowing backs move with outside centre Oliver Aggiss crossing for a try, after selling a dummy pass to the wing to put the Penryn fullback off balance, with fly half Nick Parker adding then extras. On fifteen minutes Penryn narrowed the small deficit by coming back with a try from a five metre scrum; the conversion attempt hit an upright and bounced clear. In the twenty-second minute, following a tremendous five metre scrum, by the Liskeard pack, the ball was swiftly released to the backs for wing Jordan Smith to go in for a try to increase the Liskeard lead: unfortunately Parkers conversion attempt hit the crossbar and bounced clear. In the thirty-ninth minute The Lions were awarded a penalty, inside the Penryn twenty-two, and this was slotted by Parker to further increase the lead. In stoppage time Penryn came back, after good driving work by their pack, to score a converted try to take the half-time score to 15-12; a very good half for Liskeard who deserved their lead.
In the fifth minute of the second half Penryn took the lead for the first time with an unconverted try from short range. In the sixtieth minute following more great work by the pack Liskeard scored a third try, in the corner, by flanker Adam Tyndale-Powell and this was converted by Parker to make it 22-17. In the seventieth minute Penryn came back at Liskeard with another converted try, to secure their try bonus point, and retake the lead. On seventy-five minutes Penryn somehow managed to steal Liskeard ball, in the loose, possibly illegally, to score an unconverted try to increase their lead to 22-29. Liskeard weren’t finished and with excellent forward play put pressure on the visitors, who in a short space of time, at scrums, gave away a number of penalties, with Liskeard taking the scrum option each time, finally, in stoppage time, the ball was released to the backs and Smith ran in for a bonus point try in the corner to make it 27-29; unfortunately Parker put the conversion attempt wide; this was to be the final action of a pulsating, exciting match where Liskeard played out of their skins, deserving at least a draw if not the win and getting neither; they did at least get two bonus points. This coming weekend both 1st and 2nd XV’s are scheduled to be in cup action, 1st XV away at Devonport Services 2nds in the Lockie Cup and the 2nds XV at home to Tavistock 2nds in the Ellis Cup both of these fixtures are the semi-final round in the competitions.