Saturday, September 21

Tribute Cornwall League Two

Perranporth 38

PERRANPORTH proved too strong for Camelford on Saturday running in six tries at The Droop.

On a wet and windy afternoon, ‘the Ford’ set off to the coast full of optimism after their 38-0 opening day over Stithians two weeks earlier.

After a minutes silence in honour of Camelford’s late president Nic Osborne, the whistle blew and a hard-fought first-half started where both teams attacked and defended throughout.

Camelford showed their improvements with a dogged display of tackling and line speed which thwarted an onslaught of powerful running by the Perranporth forwards and pushed them into mistakes.

Some intelligent kicking from Lee Grimes, Dan Stuckey and Tom Sandercock gave Camelford good field position but they were unable to turn this into points.

With five minutes of the half left, Perranporth gained a good field position and few powerful drives got them to within a few metres of the prize, one final push and they were able score the try they had had to fight so hard for, the conversion was slotted making the half-time score 7-0.

Just before half-time Camelford lost Grimes to an injury and he was replaced by Dave Saunter at scrum-half.

‘The Ford’ started the second-half in the same vain with strong tackling and dogged defence, but fitness and bad luck started to enter the fray.

An injury to visiting tighthead-prop Aaron Tharme meant that scrum time had to become uncontested.

After ten minutes of the second-half a yellow card meant Camelford’s battle become more difficult and soon the pressure told with Perranporth running in a breakaway try.

Over the next ten minutes Camelford again ramped up the defence and three attempts by Perranporth were rebuffed by a valiant and lionhearted effort. But as time went by, Perranporth managed to push over for another try. One try was converted during this time making the score 19-0.

With Camelford finally on back to full strength with Grimes re-entering the game on the wing, the damage had been done and Perranporth were able to run in three tries as Camelford became tired, as the score ended at 38-0.

Club spokesperson, Martyn Baker said: “We could hold our heads high after a dogged display in defence. The man of the match award could have gone to any of the players, the returning Steve Knight had a brilliant game, Dan Stuckey led the team brilliantly in his first game as captain, and Alastair Kennedy playing at seven was fantastic, the award in the end went to Matt Dyson playing his first game at blindside-flanker. He was a menace in defence all game.”

Camelford are back in league action this Saturday when Redruth Albany are the visitors to Lane End (3pm).

Camelford —

Buckley, Ferguson, Willshire, Sandercock, Knight, Stuckey, Grimes; Baker, Schofield, Tharme, Belsey, Luxton, Dyson, Kennedy, Headon.

Replacement: Saunter.