Brave Lions storm to first away league win

OPMs 0, Hayle 10

HAYLE returned from Plymouth with a hard fought first away victory of the season in Saturday's only Cornwall and Devon League game.

The Lions were able to name a near full-strength line-up for this re-arranged fixture, the only absentee was winger Jack Eddy with work commitments. Phil Gray stepped up from the replacements bench to start and Cullam Osborne took his place among the subs.

The Old Boys, meanwhile, still second from bottom of the league, have not won since they beat Torrington on October 3.

The game started in appalling conditions after a Plymouth council official gave the match the go ahead.

OPMs played with the wind at their backs in the first half and had used it to good effect, clearing their lines as Hayle put them under pressure with a series of line breaks and combination work from forwards and backs.

As is regularly the case, however, Hayle were unable to convert pressure into points, although the OPMs' line was breached after Jody Marr scored his first try of the season from a driven lineout. Scott Powell missed the difficult conversion.

On the stroke of half time, Josh Rule had a golden opportunity to increase Hayle's lead but after good build up play he knocked the ball on with the try line at his mercy and his side had to settle for a 5-0 interval lead.

Hayle started the second half in dominant form but were again thwarted by a combination of wrong options and resolute defence.

The pack performed well and had the upper hand at the scrum.

The lineout, surprisingly, considering the conditions, continued to supply a steady stream of ball, courtesy of Scott Powell and Danny Clackworthy.

However, the only try of the second half arrived in fortuitous fashion the OPM's full back attempted a try line clearance which only travelled five yards and a foot off the ground and ending up in Scott Powell's hands, and he had to do was touch the ball down. The same player again missed a difficult conversion. Almost from the restart, Powell was injured in an accidental clash with team-mate Clackworthy and was replaced by Blaine Kearey at scrum half, with his brother and captain, Liam taking Powell's place in the back row.

Despite some worrying moments when OPMs looked to break out of defence, the game finished with a comfortable win for Hayle.

Hayle player-coach Cullam Osborne said: "All the players can be proud of this performance in difficult conditions and something that was particularly pleasing was the standard of handling, which despite the weather was very good.

"Stand out performers were Guy Pallett in the back row, 18-year-old fly half Josh Rule, who is improving his game week by week, and the outstanding Steve Kent at full back, who gave a faultless display of defence, running the ball back and fielding of the high ball in difficult conditions."

This Saturday Hayle are at home to bottom side Plymstock Albion Oaks (2.30).

Hayle: S Kent, P Gray, N Mitchell, D Seager, R Grose, J Rule, L Kearey (c), S Powell, G Pallett, T Somers, L Hoskin, H Somers, D Wood, D Clackworthy, J Marr. Reps used: D Penrose, B Kearey; not used: C Osborne.