RFU National League Two

Penzance & Newlyn...42pts Sedgley Park...16 pts

NEWLY-promoted Penzance Pirates maintained their 100 per cent record, outscoring Sedgley by six tries to one in a disappointingly one-sided contest.

Sedgley's problems began in the first eight minutes. In that time they had four scrummage put-ins and lost them all, one against the head and three penalties, two of which were kicked by home centre Nac Saumi.

Sedgley's one really promising position, an attacking line-out, also failed when the ball was lost.

The next 15 minutes were encouraging. Rob Moon produced the first clean break by either side, with Kern Yates and Leon Treco giving support. The result was a penalty and Chris Glynn reduced the deficit to 6-3 with a simple kick.

When Sedgley pinched possession at a couple of line-outs it seemed the pendulum might be swinging, but Penzance always looked the sharper with ball in hand and a driving run by prop Alan Paver should have resulted in a try.

The dangerous Saumi made the break, but the final pass was dropped.

Saumi again threatened and it took a desperate tackle by Jon Scales to halt him as the Pirates turned the screws. With a stiff breeze in their faces Sedgley could not clear their lines and it came as no surprise when wing James Hawken fielded a clearance kick and danced past several tackles to create a try for full-back Victor Olonga; Saumi converted.

A strong run by Scales was the prelude to Glynn's second penalty goal, but Sedgley made a mess of receiving the restart kick and, after a patient build-up, Hawken scored in the corner, Saumi adding a fine conversion to make it 20-6 with ten minutes to half-time and Sedgley could not afford to fall further behind.

Penzance were looking quicker in thought and action, though, and inevitably they scored again, though the manner of the next try, from a line-out and rolling maul, came as a surprise to the Cornish supporters. The scorer was Richard Carroll, an aggressive lock, and Sedgley were 19 points adrift at the interval.

To have any chance at all Sedgley needed to score first, and this they did after only two minutes, a fine try to savour. Possession was maintained, the passing was accurate, and full-back Chris Glynn looped outside Mike Wilcock to score in the corner. He also added the difficult conversion despite an intervention from the local fire brigade. Penzance's Tongan flanker Viliami Maasi seemed to take this score as a personal affront as, in the next 15 minutes, with charging runs and bone-shattering tackles, he played like a man possessed. His run led to another try for Hawken and at 30-13 Sedgley were out of the contest.

To Park's credit there was no rout. Play became untidy, but the only score for the next 20 minutes was another Glynn penalty goal until the Pirates finished with two late tries.

The best of the match was scored by wing Scott Withecombe, a move started by the dynamic Paver and continued through some lovely handling.

The mighty Maasi made the last one and the graceful Olonga scored it. Saumi converted and Sedgley returned to Manchester sadder and, hopefully, wiser.

SEDGLEY PARK: Glynn (Bullough); Wilcock, Scales, Hassan, Naylor; Moon, McCormack; Rudolph (Alcock), Treco (Keyes), Thomas (Rudolph); Arnold, Rees; Grainey (Spence), Yates, Fourie.

Sedgley travel to Third Division Halifax tomorrow to contest a Powergen Cup third round tie.