Camborne 25, Ivybridge 18

Camborne stayed in touch with the National League Three leaders with a deserved victory over fourth-placed Ivybridge at the Recreation Ground.

Though hard hit by injuries, the home side responded with a performance full of determination and spirit against an Ivybridge side keen to run the ball after every opportunity.

Damian Cook returned at lock to lead ‘Town’ packing down in the second row with new signing giant Fijian Timoci Kava. Taron Peacock came back at scrum half and wing Noah Sixton also returned after a long injury lay off.

For the Cherry & Whites industrious prop Jon Drew was man of the match whilst the back row of James Goldsworthy, stalwart Martin Woolcock and emergency flanker Rhodri McAtee all made telling contributions.

With first use of a stiff breeze blowing up the slope the Cherry & Whites hit the front on 6 minutes when impressive No 8 Goldsworthy broke the visiting cover and brushed off the final tackler to dot down. David Mankee added the extras.

Ivybridge were soon on level terms however courtesy of a sweeping long range handling move that ended in a converted score.

Midway through the half the home side regained the lead when fly half Mankee found the posts with an excellent long range penalty shot.

Camborne were then denied at close range on a couple of occasions before crucially the visitors spilled the ball deep in their own territory as the interval neared. All action Goldsworthy secured the loose ball and from the resulting play young full back Rhys Brownfield did extremely well to force his way over.

Trailing 15-7 at half time Ivybridge made a dream start to the 2nd period when their full back dived in at the corner flag for an unconverted try inside the first couple of minutes.

The home side’s response was almost immediate as a penalty was punted to the corner and urged on by the loyal supporters on the West Bank the forwards drove from the lineout for Goldsworthy to bag his 2nd try of the afternoon. Mankee expertly curled in the angled conversion for 22-12.

On the hour Ivybridge saw a penalty award reversed on their own 22 metre line and Mankee stepped up to fire over the regulation kick to give ‘Town’ some hard earned breathing space with an advantage of 13 points.

Though the visitors soon cut the deficit with a penalty the home side then went desperately close to the try bonus point when McAtee was held up inches short.

Ivybridge worked hard to get back into the game in the closing stages but were forced to settle for just a losing bonus point from a further penalty shot with the final kick.

Camborne: R Brownfield, M Westren, J Simmons, J Semmens, N Sixton, D Mankee, T Peacock, M Hearn, S Bartle, J Drew, D Cook (capt), T Kava, M Woolcock, R McAtee, J Goldsworthy. (Reps) M Penrose, N Welstead, T Townsend

Scorers: tries, Goldsworthy 2, Brownfield; cons, Mankee 2; pens, Mankee 2.

• Camborne now look forward to a mouth watering Cornish derby clash at Launceston this weekend.