FOLLOWING a week of biblically proportionate rain, Camelford managed to get their game on at home to Stithians, but it was the West Cornwall side that left Lane End with a 48-12 victory.

Camelford, who are going through a period of re-building, had a squad of 22 available for the fixture but a series of mistakes gave the visitors the win.

Scoring began seven minutes into the game. As both sides were battling for supremacy Stithians rucked very well to get clean possession and spin the ball wide for their centre to outpace The Ford to dot down in the corner. An exceptional conversion from their young scrum-half put them 7-0 up.

On 20 minutes Camelford were getting on top of the game and gained a penalty 35 metres out. The ambitious attempt at goal by Rick Gilbert landed short giving the visitors possession and a chance to counter. They worked their way back up field with some impressive rucking, which the home side failed to deal with. Eventually Stithians scored out wide again through some slick handling and another excellent conversion put them 14-0 up.

Camelford responded well but were unable to clear out of their 22 or keep possession in tight play. Stithians were sharper at this point and following another cleaned out ruck, were able to exploit a weakness in the Ford’s stretch defensive line and broke through the centre. Inexplicably, based on the first two conversions, this easy addition was not successful; leaving the visitors with a 19-point lead, which they soon increased by seven.

With a couple of minutes of the first half left it was time for the home side to be resolute themselves and to push to get some respectability into the score. The meticulous Luke Plummer pressured the Stithians scrum 25 metres out and won possession for the home side. As they drove at the defence, a penalty was awarded and Craig Thompson (back from football duties) was the swiftest thinker snapping up a quick tap penalty. As he dodged for the line he fed to Ian Burnard who crashed over for the try. Callum Fritchley easily converted, reducing the lead to 26-7.

The second-half began in the same vein as the previous one had ended. But Stithians continued to pepper the home try line and found themselves 43-7 up by the hour thanks to a further three tries, although only one was converted.

Finally, the Ford showed what can be done with clean possession. They worked up to the visitors’ half way and clean swift ball put Mike Burton in acres of space out on the left wing. He ran in from the halfway line, just avoiding the rampaging Stithians defenders in the process. Craig Thompson hit the upright with the conversion attempt to leave them 43-12 down.

Camelford’s difficult afternoon was summed up as Stithians managed to score before the end.