It was a great disappointment to all at Penryn when Truro called off the friendly arranged between the two clubs for last Saturday. Truro explained that their pitches were unplayable due to the heavy rainfall in the previous few days.

Unfortunately it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain friendly fixtures on non-league or cup days, but the clubs need the income from gate and bar, whilst the majority of players want to play rugby on Saturdays.

Borough certainly lost an opportunity last week to give one or two young players a run out with the 1st XV and will now have to wait until February 7 when the "Chiefs" are due to visit Hayle for a non-league/cup game.

This coming Saturday Borough visit Taunton, who were beaten quite conclusively at The Memorial Ground earlier in the season. But the home team, who lost at Crediton two weeks ago, are lying one off the bottom of the league, and are desperate to avoid relegation.

Top versus bottom clashes are rather like cup-ties, and Borough will not find it easy in their first ever visit to the new Taunton complex, which is just off the M5 at Junction 25.

With only eight league games left, this is a game that Borough, currently lying third, must win if they are to remain in contention for promotion. But even if they do there is a very tough route to the end. A brief glance at the remaining fixtures shows that Borough probably have the toughest challenge.

n addition to Taunton they have away games at Crediton, Berry Hill, Thornbury and Gloucester Old Boys, but Brixham's road is also littered with possible pitfalls. Like Penryn they have five away games and have to travel to Stroud, Hornets, Penryn, Berry Hill and Coney Hill. Gloucester Old Boys probably have the easiest task, with five home games, including Berry Hill and Cleve.

Final selection is delayed until later in the week, but John Court, who last week signed from Redruth, will be included. John is a tighthead prop and is very welcome as Andy Day is unable to travel. With Allen Jordan and Tristan Lark available in the forwards, and Nick Brown back from holiday, the Borough are in the strong position of being able to pick the strongest possible squad to travel to Taunton. In this situation the selectors are unable to name the team, but final selection will have been taken place after training on Wednesday, which is too late for publication in the local press.

One of the more difficult problems is who to include on the replacements bench. There must be sufficient front row replacements, otherwise non-contested scrums could be enforced by the referee, and this could lead to a club losing the points, something that Borough cannot afford to do. It is then a little unfair to ask a player to sit on the bench week after week, when he would obviously rather play with the 2nds. In the end the selectors have to solve a very difficult problem.

Players will understand and club loyalty will come through.

Penryn 2nd XV are at home to Camborne in a 2nd XV Merit Table match. Last week's merit table game was called off because of a waterlogged pitch, so it will have to be re-arranged. So far Borough have been unfortunate, winning only one of five games, against Truro early in the season. The kick off is at 2.30 pm. Final selection will depend upon who travels with the 1st XV.

Penryn 2nd XV (from): Martin Mullins, Paul Bannister, Andy Bowers, Ryan Kitchener, Gareth Pond, Peter Webster, Kevin Kitto, John Holroyd, Rob O'Kane, Nick Head, Mike Parsons, Steve Trevor, Ollie Bromley, Carl Morebey, Steve Patterson, Ben Birkett, Trevor Carroll, Simon Allen, Jason Stapleton, Richard Burns, Steve Trevelyan, Mike Parsons, Simon Allen, Trevor Lampshire, Richard Tresidder, and Steve Uphill.