Withycombe travelled to Falmouth for a game that was described beforehand as a look at potential title contenders, and the game was fiercely contested as such, going right to the wire in a classic "ding dong" affair. It would be the first defeat for Withycombe this season, and one which would leave a bitter taste as the 18-17 result was by no means a foregone conclusion, Withycombe ruing missed opportunities once more that would have tipped the game in their favour.

In the words of Ricky Bobby "if you're not first, you're last" and that never rang truer for the Green and Blacks than at The Recreation Ground on Saturday. Any Withycombe faithful would know that it is a very difficult place to go and get a result, as high flying St Ives found out a few weeks ago. Falmouth, who missed opportunities of their own and having only lost one game this season to Bude, handed out a lesson in clinical finishing to a Withycombe side that wasn't lacking in experience nor personnel.

Falmouth kicked off and straight away Withycombe fumbled the ball and were immediately on the back foot. Falmouth wouldn't be able to use the early pressure to their advantage though, eventually kicking the ball long past the dead ball line, only for the referee to have a "helter skelter" moment and reward Withycombe with a 22 drop out rather than a scrum from where the kick was taken.

The Eagles returned the kick with interest, eventually winning a penalty for offside at the ruck. Again though, they would come up empty handed, as they chose a scrum rather than a kick at goal, and Withycombes powerful pack pushed them off their own ball. That would be a common theme of the game, Withycombes forward power a constant thorn in the side of Falmouth with which they had no answer.

Falmouth were looking to throw the ball around, but they couldn't find a way through early doors as the Withies stern defence would shut them out. Captain Liam Cullen was his usual "oppositions nightmare" in the ruck area, winning turnover ball and relieving Withies of the early onslaught. The penalty was kicked to touch on ten minutes, and that would be the first incursion into Falmouth territory.

Withycombe looked to attack from the lineout, but The Eagles showed their own resolve in defence as they turned over the ball in their own 22. Having kicked the ball to touch, and looking dangerous with ball in hand, Withycombe conceded yet another penalty for offside. This time Falmouth would choose to go for goal, Justyn Irons kicking the points to make it 3-0 after 15 minutes.

With the diagonal wind in Falmouths favour, Withycombe were struggling for territory. On twenty minutes though Mike Richards' big hit and strip would allow Withycombe to break on the counter with men over, only for some poor hands to allow Falmouth to hack the loose ball upfield. The rub of the green didn't seem to be in Withies favour all day, the old adage of "creating your own luck" was only too true.

Eugene Badenhorst again lead the defensive charge the only way he knows best, car crash style. After another big hit from Badenhorst, jackal fiend Liam Cullen again got the turnover at the ruck. Withies kicked to the corner, and with an improved lineout display with influential lock Dave Simms back in the side, it came off the top, Joe Parkin passed to Glenn "Tugboat" Channing, a show and go opening up enough of a gap for the fly half to waltz through and dot down under the posts. Channing kicked the conversion to make it 7-3.

Falmouth, undeterred from the try, came straight back from the kick off. With their bulky forwards rumbling upfield and some slick backs play, Withycombe were under the cosh once more, and pressure would equal points as Falmouth got reward for their hard work with another penalty for a deliberate knock on from Eugene Badenhorst, earning him a rest for 10 minutes in the sin bin. Irons again kicking the points to make it 7-6 to Withycombe.

On 34 minutes Falmouth used a shortened lineout, and with quick ball used their big forwards to smash through the centre, Falmouths Number 8 Simon Bailey breaking through and what seemed like would be a regulation try with a three on one, only for them to knock the ball forward and leave Withycombe with a lucky escape.

With only a few minutes till the half, it would be the Green and Blacks turn to pile the pressure on. Withies had a lineout on Falmouths five metre line, but some great defensive work at the driving maul would provide a turnover for The Eagles, only for them to knock on at their own scrum and give Withycombe another bite of the cherry. The ensuing scrum was huge from Withycombe, only for Falmouth to pull it down just shy of the line. Another scrum was chosen from the penalty, and again the front eight drove the home side back over their own line, but unbelievably Withycombe couldn't get the score! There was an argument for a penalty try, but not today as the referee blew up for half time, Withycombes grunt work bearing no reward.

The second half kicked off and Withycombe got off on the front foot. Some early pressure would result in a botched kick from hand. Jack Pugsley picked up the ball, and with some fancy footwork Bruce Forsyth would be proud of danced around the Falmouth full back. But he wasn't done there. After breaking through, Pugsley offloaded with a "cash" pass to the delight of the travelling supporters, jouer at it's best. However, all the good work was lost as Falmouth turned the ball over and cleared their lines. But Withies would go again, as Joe Parkin got a turnover close to midfield, Channing nailing the kick to make it 10-6

Withycombe then turned what can only be described as lackadaisical, and for the next twenty minutes it was almost all Falmouth. The home side were turning on the style in the backs, creating overlaps left, right and centre. After a bit of tomfoolery at the scrum, Falmouth attacked down the right side with some serious pace, the scrambling Withycombe defence unable to keep out Dave Jones who went over in the corner. Irons missed the conversion to make it 11-10.

The Eagles tails were up by this point, and Withycombe were their proverbial prey. Only some more great defence from Withies would keep Falmouth at bay. But like a leaking dam, cracks started to appear. Falmouth spun the ball wide, and what seemed like a definite block on Mike Richards for everyone to see apart from the referee, opened up a huge gap in midfield, which Josh Symons scored with fifty metres of grass in front of him. The extras were added by Irons to make it 18-10 to Falmouth.

On 60 minutes Falmouth were again on the attack. It seemed as if it was when not if they were going to score. However, Withycombe had an ace up their sleeve. Irons led the charge down the short side, his telegraphed looping pass was picked out of the air by Adam Morris, who galloped sixty metres to outpace the covering defence and score under the posts, Channing adding the extras to bring the game back to a 1 point deficit,

Withycombe were rejuvenated, but seemed to run out of ideas in attack. Playing a wide game played into Falmouths hands, the Withies being consistently shut out and having no real answer. But they plugged away time and again. Scrum time was now a demolition job as Falmouth were constantly on the back foot. How Withycombe didn't seem to get more reward from them is testament to Falmouths work at the back.

Falmouth would have their 6 sin binned for a professional foul, and Withycombe could feel that there were points to be had. Firmly camped in The Eagles 22, it was up to the forwards to grind out a try. Withycombe won a scrum, and going back at a rate of knots Falmouth collapsed it again, almost a carbon copy of the first half. Withycombe chose to scrum again, and with a penalty advantage, Withycombe couldn't get across the line. Withies had the penalty, and surely another scrum would yield a penalty try, only for a "harum scarum" moment from flanker Neil Williams who seemingly stamped on a Falmouth player who wouldn't release the ball. The referee yellow carded Williams and reversed the penalty, Falmouth clearing their lines.

But right at the death, and the game looking lost, Falmouths second row was given a second yellow card for shouting at the referee. It was the last play of the game, and the penalty would be Withycombes last chance at snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, only for Channings 40 metre effort to sail just wide of the uprights and give Falmouth a well earned victory. The only solace for Withycombe was the losing bonus point, but not the result they were hoping for as the undefeated streak is now over.

Withycombe will hope to get back on track next week as they take on Tavistock at Raleigh Park for the next instalment from the Cornwall and Devon league.