Saturday, November 17

Friendly

Falmouth seconds 27

AFTER not playing a match for a couple weeks, the lads of Camelford RFC were looking forward to a competitive match. They were due to play Bodmin seconnds but with a last minute change of opposition, ‘the Ford’ lost a few players resulting in only 11 available. The decision was made by these 11 to make the long trip to fulfil the fixture.

Gracious Falmouth happily leant Camelford four players to make the fixture even, on the whistle the expected hammering was not going to happen as Camelford took the game to Falmouth in their usual fashion.

For ten minutes the attack was all Camelford as they drove time and again for the Falmouth line, a penalty was awarded and a post decision was made. Unfortunately the windy conditions meant this chance for three points was missed but Camelford went again.

A scrum was awarded to Camelford just short of the Falmouth five-metre line, the scrum started to roll back and wheel allowing livewire scrum-half Karl Lovell to pick up and run blind, dotting down wide left for the opening score. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 5-0.

Camelford had started brightly but it was now Falmouth’s turn to attack and they started making good ground into the visitors’ half resulting in them camping on the 22-metre line. Realising that the Camelford pack was going to be hard to beat, Falmouth went wide and created a well-worked overlap dotting down in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 5-5.

The encounter continued in the same vein with Camelford next to score through captain Dan Yeatman. Again the conversion went astray. Camelford were again in the lead but Falmouth attacked again resulting in another try. With the conversion missed the half-time score was 10-10.

After the break, a few mistakes came into the Camelford game; giving Falmouth the chance to score two well-worked tries although both conversions were missed, meaning it was 20-10.

This Camelford side was not going to lie down and again rallied. Time and again the big Camelford pack drove for the line getting closer from each phase until a gap appeared for Lovell to cross for his second score. Conversion missed, but with the score at 20-15, Camelford were pushing for a draw. 

In the last few moments of the match, Falmouth managed to run in one last converted try to make the score 27-15, on the final whistle Camelford walked off the pitch with heads held high as they had surprised themselves and everyone with a well-controlled performance.

The man of the match accolade could have gone to any of the 11 players who travelled, the returning Matt Dyson had an inspired game, Karl Lovell had been a pain for the opposition all game, the four players lent from Falmouth had been fantastic and added to an assured performance. But Stuart Roach, playing out of position at inside-centre received the award for his assured and classy performance.

Camelford continue their proud tradition of trying to honour every fixture.

Camelford —

Stuckey, Falmouth player, Boundy, Roach, Falmouth player, Dyson, Lovell; Yeatman, Baker, Falmouth player, Belsey, Evans, Schofield, Falmouth player, Headon

Tries: Lovell 2, Yeatman

Convs: N/A

Pens: N/A

Camelford’s man-of-the-match: Stuart Roach