Chard 18 Camborne 22

Camborne mounted a spirited defensive effort late on to record another superb away victory to maintain their promotion challenge at the top of South West One.

The Cherry and Whites had a dream start sweeping into an early 14-0 lead and then held to win at notoriously tough Chard for the 2nd season running.

There were four changes to the ‘Town’ starting line up with Dean Pascoe back from a long injury lay off and Laurie Manna plus Rob Floyd in the back line whilst stalwart Nigel Endean started upfront.

In the opening exchanges Alex Ducker intercepted deep in his own half and raced fully 75 metres to touch down under the posts. David Mankee knocked over the regulation conversion.

Still inside the first ten minutes scrum half Pascoe kicked downfield and left wing Ducker won the race with the covering home players for the touchdown. Fly half Mankee added the extras for a 14 point advantage that stunned Chard.

By half time the home side had regained their composure and chipped away at the Cherry & Whites advantage to reduce the arrears to a single point.

From the restart with the Town forwards matching the powerful home pack there was no further home scoring in the third quarter even though the visitors lost three players to the sin bin.

On the hour full back Grant Thirlby coolly booted a 40 metre penalty for 13-17 and things soon got even better for Camborne when Pascoe released Ducker who scorched over to complete another excellent hat-trick of tries.

Though the home side edged closer with an unconverted score to make it 18-22 late on determined ‘Town’ tackling ensured another richly deserved away success.

Camborne face another tricky away fixture this weekend with the rearranged visit to Bideford.

Camborne: Grant Thirlby, Rob Floyd, Laurie Manna, Steve Kenward (capt), Alex Ducker, David Mankee, Dean Pascoe, Nigel Endean, Sam Bartle, Leigh Hocking, Ben Kemp, John Griffiths, George Hall, Cameron Bone, Dave Roberts (Reps) Andreas Zachorovas, Martin Woolcock, Liam Chapple

Camborne tries: Ducker 3. Cons: Mankee 2. Pen: Thirlby