DAVID Mankee’s missed penalty in the last minute condemned Camborne to their first defeat at home this season.

The fly-half had the chance to push the Cherry and Whites a point ahead in the dying moments of their Tribute South West One clash with league leaders Cleve.

But his miss in what was the final kick of the match meant the host’s 100 per cent record this season at the Recreation Ground was brought to an end.

It was also just the third time in 45 months Town had been beaten in their own backyard.

Overall though the 25-23 result in favour of Cleve was just about fair enough as Camborne were not at their full flowing best.

Unforced errors crept into their game against a team who stuck to the gameplan they had set out.

Ash Harney gave the visitors an early lead when he breezed through the Town defence to run in a try with Ben Roberts adding the conversion.

Mankee cut the deficit to four points when he sent a penalty from 40m out between the uprights before being successful again moments later from the kicking tee.

Away captain Neil Evans was sin-binned for dissent, allowing Mankee to boot home a long range penalty, but the Cherry and Whites could not score any more points despite being a man up.

Cleve regained the lead going into the break after full-back Grant Thirlby had a kick charged down by Steve Bath, with the centre collecting the ball to get over at the corner.

Starting the second half 12-9 down, Camborne began trying to blast holes in the visiting defence and their power paid off eventually as flanker James Goldsworthy muscles his way in for a try.

Proceedings were becoming rather topsy-turvy with the lead changing hands again when Nathan Huntley created a chance for Harney to add a second try to his name.

Roberts’ conversion made it 19-16 and he extended the gap further by landing home a penalty.

However, Town were not taking matters lying down and again their forwards bashed their way into the try zone of Cleve.

This time the score came courtesy of a good driving maul which bossed their opponents before hooker Sam Bartle dotted the ball down.

A conversion gave them the lead again and a tense finish was guaranteed.

In the end it would prove to be down to the teams’ kickers to decide the final result.

Up first was Roberts who slotted home a penalty from 40m before Mankee was given the last chance to alter the scores.

Sadly for the hosts, their fly-half missed, meaning they had to settle for a losing bonus point.

CAMBORNE: 15 Thirlby, 14 Floyd, 13 Kevern, 12 Kenward (c), 11 Ducker, 10 Mankee, 9 Peacock; 1 Endean, 2 Bartle, 3 Hearn, 4 Whittle, 5 Lawton, 6 Bone, 7 Goldsworthy, 8 Roberts.

REPS: Pattison, Kemp, Parma.

TRIES: Goldsworthy, Bartle.

CONS: Mankee 2/2.

PENS: Mankee (3).