Cornwall and Devon League: Liskeard-Looe 19, Wellington 23.

WELLINGTON continued their winning start to the season by beating a strong home side who outscored them three tries to two.

Liskeard made too many mistakes in the danger zone in front of their own posts which enabled fly half Matt Parsons to capitalise on and pass 100 league points for the season.

With enforced changes, particularly out behind where both centres were unavailable, the side had a different look but such is the current strength in depth that the inclusion of Micky Norman and Mark Nichols barely disturbed the pattern at all.

Flanker Paul Cook also came in for his second senior start for the unavailable Jo Hawkins with long time favourite Gareth Hodgson benching.

Parsons got the scoring underway with a penalty after 16 minutes but the lead was short-lived as the Lions took a lineout ball and drove over for number eight Ali Hill to claim the try with fly half Jamie Noel-Johnson converting.

The visitors chipped away at and regained the lead with two more Parsons three pointers. But the half finished on a high for the home crowd as the Cornishmen got their second try right at the end of first half injury time through another catch and drive with Hill once again scoring.

Noel-Johnson converted to put the visitors back in front and set up a fascinating second period.

The Red and Blacks got back in front a quarter of an hour in with a Nichols try as he chased a Parsons chip over the top and continued to hack it forward over the line and drop on the loose ball. Parsons added the conversion and it was definitely game on.

The visitors went further ahead as the ball was spun out to wing Ben Williams who went past the defence to score near to the posts to allow Parsons an easy conversion.

The home side then piled on the pressure and from yet another catch and drive at a line-out, Hill got his hat trick try. This time Noel-Johnson wasn’t able to add the extra points leaving the home side needing at least a try to claim the result.

The hosts exerted immense pressure in the set scrum only to see all the effort go to waste as Wellington managed to turn the third consecutive scrum on their own five metre line to reverse the put in. They got the ball clear and resisted until the final whistle.

On Saturday, Wellington host bottom-side Old Plymothians and Mannamedians, the 2nds travel to their Wells counterparts and the 3rds are home to Bridgwater side Morganians. The Colts are due to play Bridgwater with the venue and date yet to be arranged.