This game turned out to be a nail biting affair with each side having periods of dominance, but in the end the lighter, smaller, fitter Borough pack attained the upper hand and with that dominance of a tiring Stroud eight, the threes were able to use their speed to open up the visitors defence.

It was the forwards, however, who made the moves that led to the goal which gave Borough the lead 20 minutes in to the second half.

From the Stroud kick off Borough, playing into a strong wind, pressed hard and were eventually rewarded with a Dave Pascoe penalty goal. But the second quarter was largely Stroud's as they scored all of their points in a ten-minute period.

After a failed penalty goal attempt in the tenth minute Stroud continued to press home their attacks, and after 17 minutes a Borough clearance kick was charged down, allowing scrum half Mike Coleman to cross, giving centre Adam Seager an easy conversion.

Five minutes later Stroud's left wing Andre Sharpe added to the score with another try followed by another easy conversion by Adam Seager. But Borough were not going to let this one go, and in the last ten minutes of the half they began to show their superiority outside the scrum with some excellent three quarter moves. One of these involving Richard Hambly, Sheldon Waetford and Chris Mann, who made several yards before being tackled, let Darren Pellow in on the far right. The difficult conversion failed and half time came with no further scores.

In two lapses Penryn had allowed Stroud to score two tries, but came back with some excellent rugby at the end of the half.

At the start of the second half the visitors looked as though they would come up with another score but good, solid defence kept them out.

As the half progressed Borough began to get on top, but seemed unable to cross the Stroud line. The big visiting pack were beginning to tire, allowing the lighter fitter Borough eight to dominate all aspects of forward play, both in the loose and the tight.

Nevertheless time was ticking away and the wise old heads from Gloucestershire were using all the tricks in the game. They were allowed to slow the game up and kill a lot of Penryn ball. They could not, however, hold out forever and eventually from a tap penalty close to the visitor's line Justin Doney emerged with the ball and scored for Dave Pascoe to add the conversion from a difficult angle.

Stroud were now penned in their own 22 and after further solid work by the Borough forwards a three quarter move gave Chris Mann a simple try for a Dave Pascoe conversion.

By now the fight had gone out of Stroud and the home side went further ahead from a penalty goal to give Borough, in the end, a very convincing win.

At the end of the day this was a thoroughly efficient 80 minutes by Borough, particularly in the forwards where their lineout, scrum and all round performance set the seal for the backs to move on a very wet and windy day. Kevin Hughes had a particularly good game and was unlucky not to score when the referee adjudged he received a forward pass.

In Allen Jordan's absence due to work commitments it was great to see Darren Stanley back in the side and he and Justin Doney picked up some excellent line out ball. Stroud were blitzed out of it in the last 20-minute spell of typical 15-man Borough rugby.

The surprising home defeat of Brixham, coupled with Borough's ultimately decisive win, has made the remaining fixtures at the top very exciting. These two results have given Borough's promotion hopes a boost.

Whilst remaining within three points of leaders Gloucester Old Boys, Borough are now only one point behind second placed Brixham, who were surprisingly beaten at home by Exmouth. To have any chance of at least making the play off spot Borough must win six of their remaining eight games, but five of those games are away, the tough ones being Berry Hill and league leaders Gloucester Old Boys. However Brixham also have a hard task as they have to visit Stroud, Penryn, Berry Hill and Coney Hill, who are coming up fast. So it could all come down to the last Saturday of the season, when Borough travel to Gloucester Old Boys, and Brixham are away to Coney Hill.

Of the three top teams the Old Boys appear to have the easiest run in with five of their eight games at home, but who knows. They have to face three clubs, Taunton, Hornets and Crediton, faced with possible relegation, and each one will be determined to avoid one of the three relegation spots in the league.