Camborne 26, Newton Abbot 20

Camborne scored a total of 21 unanswered second-half points to secure a bonus-point victory over their Devon visitors in front of a large crowd at the Recreation Ground.

‘Town’ welcomed back Alex Ducker and Rhodri Mcatee who both missed the Boxing Day Milk Cup win against Redruth whilst Ashley Riches and veteran Dave Roberts came into the back row.

Playing down the slope Newton Abbot went ahead with an early penalty but the Cherry & Whites soon opened their account with a well timed Declan Matthews pass creating space for Alex Ducker to speed over in the turnstile corner.

Thereafter the visitors dominated proceedings up to the break and will reflect that although they built up a 20-5 lead they could have been even further in front as further opportunities went astray.

An excellent 19th minute converted effort was followed later by a penalty try awarded with the Camborne pack under pressure at a close range scrum.

On the half-time whistle an excellent penalty from a wide angle completed the first-half scoring.

Camborne went up a gear after the break and a length of the field move started by full-back Lewis Thomas eventually lead to Ducker sending centre Josh Semmens diving over in the scoreboard corner. Fly-half David Mankee landed a well judged conversion and it was game on at 12-20.

The home side trailed by just a solitary point after strong carries from No 8 Roberts and prop Malcolm Hearn on 56 minutes created a good position for winger Ducker to slice through the stretched defence for his second score of the afternoon converted by scrum half Mcatee.

With the visitors tiring the Cherry & Whites went in search of the winning bonus-point try hammering the line fruitlessly several times before eventually centre Matthews burst clear to stride over inside the last ten minutes.

Mcatee’s conversion completed the scoring and strong home defence thereafter ensured Newton Abbot finished with only the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Camborne: L Thomas, B Bawden, J Semmens, D Matthews, A Ducker, D Mankee, R Mcatee, A Zacharovas, T Southworth, J Drew (capt), N Stanleick, D Cook, A Riches, J Nicholls, D Roberts. Reps: M Hearn, C Bone, T Peacock.

Scorers: tries, Ducker 2, Semmens, Matthews; cons, Mcatee 2, Mankee