Rugby: Camborne slip to heavy defeat away to Hornets

Camborne suffered their second away National Two West defeat of the season as a superb team performance by a pumped-up Hornets secured the spoils in Weston-super-Mare.

Hornets had only suffered a single home defeat this season, and on a bad day at the office for the visitors, this record deservedly remained intact.

The off-colour Cherry and Whites had no complaints but on the final whistle were able to take some comfort from news that challengers Luctonians’ reverse at Hinckley ensured the gap at the top of the table remained unchanged.

Failing to capitalise on early catch-and-drive pressure set the tone for the visitors in the afternoon, as the game remained scoreless throughout the first quarter.

In 20 minutes, Camborne took the lead when wing Robin Wedlake ran on to full back Kyle Moyle’s astute kick downfield to dot down an unconverted try wide out.

The home side responded strongly to go 14-5 up before Rory O’Kane saw a long-range penalty drift wide in time added on at the break.

With all to play for in the second period, the Hornets increased their advantage with a try that went unconverted before Alex Ducker, on as a replacement, followed up his own chip ahead to touchdown.

Fly half O’Kane then landed a superb touchline conversion to make it 19-12.

The visitors couldn’t build any real pressure, however, and midway through the half they fell further behind to the home side’s bonus point try, easily improved from in front of the posts.

Though new signings Herbie Stupple and scrum half Dan Roderick were showing up well for Town, a decisive fifth Hornets try on 67 minutes left a mountain to climb at 33-12.

Inside the last ten minutes, left wing Ducker again went over for a try, giving the Cherry & Whites a chance of a losing bonus point.

Late on these hopes were extinguished with a last gasp home try followed up by a conversion going over via both posts, which summed up Camborne’s day and sealed an excellent victory for Hornets.

Camborne: K Moyle, R Wedlake, G Edson, J Matavesi, F Love, R O’Kane, CJ Boyce, J Andrew, B Priddey, B Watson, J Prisk, A Hughes, H Utton-Smith, J Nicholls, S Buzza (replacements) K Beasley, A Rolls, H Stupple, D Roderick, A Ducker.

Camborne: tries; Ducker (2), Wedlake.

Conversion; O’Kane.