Saturday, December 15

Tribute Cornwall Two

St Just 17

CAMELFORD’S final game of 2018 ended with a 17-12 defeat to St Just at Lane End on Saturday.

On a wet day, hopes had been high for a Camelford victory against a team they had beaten comprehensively a few weeks earlier in the group stage of the RFU National Junior Vase.

From the off St Just seemed the more fired up for this encounter and took the game to Camelford, the opening 20 minutes saw both teams battle for the opening score, eventually St Just opened the scoring with an interception try, the weather meant the conversion was missed so it was 5-0.

As in previous matches Camelford came to life and started putting the pressure on especially at scrum time where the strong pack was dominant, the ball was scooped up at a ruck by openside-flanker Lee Grimes who broke on the blindside and headed for the try line. Good covering defence started to push him to the touchline but he expertly offloaded back inside to the ever present Stuart Roach, who was able to finish the move off. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 5-5.

The half continued with Camelford’s discipline letting them down and although they enjoyed forward dominance, Camelford struggled to make this pay and just before half-time a good backs move allowed the St Just outside-centre to run in a great try. The try was converted to make it 12-5.

After half-time Camelford had it all to do and set about forcing there way back into the match. But within ten minutes of the restart, St Just managed to go over for another well-worked unconverted try, leaving the score at 17-5.

The remaining 25 minutes were all Camelford as they pushed for a try to get them back into contention. The ‘Ford’ came close multiple only to thwarted by some good defence. On one occasion the dominant Camelford scrum again pushed the visitors’ pack back towards their try line but the bak was spilled in an attempt to cross the line from the scrum.

With five minutes left the pressure finally told and captain Dan Yeatman crossed for the important try. With Dan Stuckey slotting the conversion, Camelford were five points short with five minutes left.

Luckily the North Cornwall side were able to retain possession and push hard for the try that would have got them the draw and possibly a win, but a well-fought ruck in the middle of the park gave St Just possession, who duly kicked the ball out of play to end the match.

Camelford are back in on action on Saturday, January 5 when they welcome Perranporth to Lane End.

Camelford —

Palmer, Jasper, Dyson, Willshire, Burton, Stuckey, Robinson; Yeatman (captain), Baker, Burnard, Belsey, Evans, Schofield, Grimes, Roach

Replacements: Tharme, Lovell

Tries: Roach, Yeatman

Convs: Stuckey

Pens: N/A

Camelford’s man-of-the-match: Mike Willshire