By Martin Symons
NATIONAL LEAGUE TWO WEST (SATURDAY)
Camborne 58 Taunton Titans 25
CAMBORNE maintained their unbeaten start to the National League Two West season with a comprehensive victory over Taunton.
‘Town’ went in front in the second minute when flanker Jordan Nicholls dived over for Kyle Moyle to convert, and soon after left wing Alex Ducker ran on to a Josh Matavesi cross kick to dot down.
Ben Priddey was next over for 17-0 before the Titans hit back with a converted close range try, followed by a regulation penalty.
Fly-half Will Hennessy, making his first start, showed his strength to cross for the bonus point score, to which Moyle improved (24-10).
Although Taunton got closer with a further penalty, the influential Hennessy sent out a well-judged pass to Moyle who cut through unopposed for the fifth home try. Moyle also converted.
On 32 minutes hooker Priddey bagged his second try from a catch and drive, again converted by Moyle, and almost immediately Camborne went out of sight at 43-13 when Matavesi burst over from a switch pass move.
Priddey completed his hat-trick before the break from close range.
The Cherry and Whites continued the onslaught early in the second half, bringing up the half century as prop Jack Andrew rode two tackles before stretching out to touch down.
When a 53rd minute penalty was punted to touch in the West Bank corner by Matavesi, from the lineout inevitably Priddey powered over for his fourth try and the loudest cheer of the afternoon.
Camborne went close to scoring on several more occasions through Moyle and Ducker, before Taunton ran in a long range converted effort going into the closing stages.
Late on the visitors bagged a further consolation try, but the home side held firm in the final moments to deny even a losing bonus point.
CAMBORNE: Kyle Moyle, Harry Larkins, Connor Gilbert, Josh Matavesi, Alex Ducker, Will Hennessy, CJ Boyce; JackAndrew, Ben Priddey, Jon Drew, Jack Heazelton, Dan Marais, Jordan Rose (capt), Jordan Nicholls, Aden Brassington. Replacements: Tommy-Lee Southworth, Declan Prowse, Kaea Griffiths, Will Tanswell, AJ King.
Tries: Priddey (4), Ducker, Nicholls, Hennessy, Matavesi, Moyle, Andrew; Convs: Moyle (4); Pens: N/A.
By Paul Hayes
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
St Austell 26 Brixham 22
DAN Tyrrell scored a last-gasp try as St Austell overturned a 15-point half-time deficit to beat Brixham at Tregorrick Park.
The hosts started well and pressure was rewarded when scrum-half Matt Shepherd scooted over from a tap penalty (7-0).
Brixham soon wrestled control and two well worked tries from Matt Crosscombe and Louie Drennan saw them take a deserved lead (7-14).
The Saints struggled to impose themselves and the visitors continued to build the scoreboard pressure thanks to Crosscombe’s second and a Mitch Pinkus penalty (7-22).
The Saints were an entirely different proposition in the second period and it was almost one-way traffic.
Tries from full-back Max Bullen and prop Matt Boothby closed the gap to 22-19 with just over ten minutes remaining.
Brixham’s defence and discipline then wilted under the constant pressure, and two yellow cards in the final stages to Jamie Hext and Jason Capaldi was evidence of the desperate rearguard action.
The winning try came with the last play of the game when the newly-crowned Cornwall RFU Player of the Year, Dan Tyrrell, crossed in the corner.
Shepherd’s touchline conversion brought the final whistle and a 26-22 win to the delight of the Saints players and supporters.
ST AUSTELL: Bullen, Stanlake, Plummer, Parsons, Tyrrell, Ashwin, Shepherd; Montgomery, Harris, Boothby, Arms, T Daniel, Marriott, Taylor, Powell. Replacements: Rowe, Vian, Tregilgas.
Tries: Shepherd, Bullen, Boothby, Tyrrell; Convs: Shepherd (3); Pens: N/A.