LAUNCESTON Castles suffered a second half collapse at Posmere Valley as Perranporth eventually ran out 51-25 winners.

Four tries in the final third took the game away from the Castles and into their sixth defeat of the season seeing them sat ninth in the league.

A sleepy Castles start gifted Perranporth the best possible one as an intercept and a dropped ball meant the home side were 12-0 up inside the opening 10.

But soon Launceston found their shape and started to unlock the Perranporth defence through centre Rhys Hughes and second row Ed Dudden respectively despite another Perranporth try in between.

When the defences started to tighten up, both teams resorted to the boot as two penalties from Mitch Acres and one from Perranporth, seemingly tying the game up going into the break.

But in the final play of the half, Perranporth sealed the bonus point with a converted try to see the halftime score 27-20.

The Castles, well within the fight, needed the next score to keep hopes of a win alive. The returning Oli Martin obliged when he burst through to the tryline.

That was the last time Launceston troubled the scoreboard as Perranporth almost instantly cancelled out that score and proceeded to camp in the Castles half.

Injuries began to creep in and fatigue from constant defending meant Perranporth could run in three more tries before the final whistle to inflict a harsh 51-25 defeat on the Castles.

The Castles are on the road again next week as they make their longest away trip to fellow strugglers St Just in a must win game.

Tries: Hughes, Dudden, Martin

Cons: Acres x2

Penalties: Acres x2

Player of the Match: Chris Hall