Bournville 12 Camborne 40
Bournville’s eight-match unbeaten home record came to a halt against a well-drilled and clinical Camborne side who demonstrated why they are hot favourites to win National Two West.
While there was no disgrace in losing to such an in-form side – only Loughborough Students have beaten Camborne this season – the disappointment was that Bournville gifted them most of their early points and found themselves 26-0 down after 24 minutes.
Having almost recovered from a 27 points deficit at half-time at Hornets last week, Bournville gave their supporters hope when Alex Evans and Stef Thorp scored well-worked tries either side of half-time.
But against a side with the vastly experienced Josh Matevsi in the centre Kyle Moyle at full-back and Ben Priddey at hooker plus England Under-20s international Josh Bellamy – on loan from Harlequins – at fly-half it proved to be too little too late for Bourns.
Bournville expected Camborne to play a tight forward-dominated game so it came as something of a surprise when the Cornishmen came out and produced some slick handling and off-loading using Matavesi as the fulcrum.
Bournville needed accuracy and calmness under pressure but two missed lineouts in the first 13 minutes were easily picked off by Camborne to put wing Alex Ducker and flanker Jordan Nicholls over for tries.
Matavesi then picked a hole in the defence to set up right wing Harry Larkins for the third try and the bonus point was wrapped up four minutes later when Priddey was driven over from close range for his 14th try of the season.
Bournville managed to get a fingertip-hold into the game when a long period of sustained pressure was rewarded when Evans powered over in front of the clubhouse.
When Thorp picked the perfect line to round off a another neat attack and Freddie Morgan added the extras Bournville had sights on at least a try bonus point.
But Morgan then knocked on as he tried to attack from deep, Thorp was penalised at the resulting scrum and from the lineout, Priddey was driven over for his second try.
The hat-trick – Priddey’s third in successive matches – did not come until two minutes from time but it came from direct and decisive rugby and meant that Bournville failed to collect a point for the first time this season.
A couple of clever breaks from the Williams brothers – Owen and Rhys – were Bournville’s best efforts in the final quarter but Camborne also squandered a golden scoring opportunity when Bellamy’s deft chip set up Ducker but the wing knocked-on with the line at his mercy.
The big plus for Bournville was an outstanding all-round performance from openside flanker Adam Shaw who tackled ferociously and worked tirelessly in the loose on his return from injury.
Through the Viewfinder
Lee Sullivan
