Camborne 18, Barnstaple 20

Camborne gave their high flying Devon visitors a huge shock at the Rec and only a late home penalty flying agonisingly wide allowed a streetwise Barnstaple leave with the spoils.

‘Town’ gave a debut at scrum-half to Matt Butler and the youngster put in a fine performance in his first game at South West Premier level.

After seeing off early pressure the Cherry & Whites took the lead with a superb try when Alex Ducker weaved his way upfield from deep in his own half before releasing Rhodri Mcatee to race over under the posts. Wing Ducker’s regulation conversion made it 7-0.

On the half-hour the visitors levelled when the forwards drove over from close range for Jake Murphy to add the extras.

As the half-time whistle approached centre Murphy stroked over a penalty to send his side in 10-7 up at the break.

With the slope in their favour Camborne soon got back in front when centre Declan Matthews again intercepted on halfway and romped over for an unconverted try.

Murphy edged Barnstaple back ahead with a 47th minute penalty success but this was answered as the highly entertaining game entered the final quarter with fly-half Mcatee’s close range penalty shot for 15-13.

Crucially the visitors then immediately regained the ball when outstanding lock Tony Whittle appeared to be impeded from the restart and their fly-half dummied and darted clear for an excellent individual try. Murphy’s routine conversion made it a five points lead.

Camborne roared back down field and when an attack was halted illegally on 67 minutes Mcatee coolly found the posts with the resulting penalty for 18-20.

Inside the last five minutes as the wily visitors ran the clock down the Cherry & Whites had their chance from 35 metres but Mcatee was narrowly off target leaving only the consolation of a well deserved losing bonus point.

Camborne: L Thomas, B Bawden, J Semmens, D Matthews, A Ducker, R Mcatee, M Butler, A Zacharovas, T Southworth, J Drew (capt), T Whittle, D Cook, P Hinchley, J Nicholls, J Rose, (reps) M Hearn, N Stanleick, L Chapple.

Scorers: tries, Mcatee, Matthews; con, Ducker; pens, Mcatee 2