Camborne v Bournemouth

Team Selection: Having missed the pre-season and the first two League games, Freddie Gleadowe makes a welcome return to Bournemouth colours. Likewise, Ben Russell who was called up late because of Ciaran Smyth’s withdrawal for family reasons, was on the bench. Right-wing Ryan Morrell, No. 8 Joe Desmond, flanker Joe Rees and scrum-half Grant Hancox were back, having all missed the Brixham game. Joe Desmond replaced Ben Kimber at No 8 whilst Ben took the absent Ciaran’s place as OS flanker, meaning Ben has played in all three back row positions in these first three League games. On the blindside, Joe Rees takes over from Matt Warwick who was at Salisbury with the twos to complete an extensive reshaping of the back line. Robert Heath, after making such an impact coming on at half-time last week as replacement lock, retains his place to make his deserved first start in the League. The front row is the one unit that remains unchanged for the third successive game. On the bench, newcomer Henry Turner makes his first appearance for Bournemouth and is rewarded with a long trip to the West Country. It all amounted to many changes to the line-up against Brixham but in the post-match huddle it was clear how delighted captain Alan Manning was, that despite those changes, it was such a strong, committed team performance.

The weather was very dull and mizly for most of the first half with very little wind, if any, but, as the front moved through, the weather brightened up to leave perfect conditions for a game of rugby football for the remainder of the game. Underfoot, recent rain had softened the surface which was a relief after all that hard stuff these recent weeks.

Camborne kicked off left to right as viewed from the stand and to their left.

Camborne kicked the Bournemouth clearance return low and to their right where it was fielded by full-back Alex Sutherland. From with-in his own 22m, he cleared left for a Camborne throw-in on the halfway line. Although Bournemouth managed to drive Camborne back to their 10m line, a knock-on at the line-out saw Camborne have the put-in at a scrum. Fly-half Adam Long kicked long and to his left deep into the Bournemouth 22m and the excellent Camborne chase put the visitors under much pressure and were rewarded with another put-in at a scrum just 10 metres out from the Bournemouth line. Bournemouth were penalised at the scrum and in defending the Camborne quickly taken penalty, scrum-half Grant Hancox was ‘yellow carded’ for a dangerous tackle and inside centre Alex Peel took on the role of scrum-half. Hmmh! Not a good start. Maintaining the pressure, Camborne opted for another scrum but this time on the Bournemouth 5m. They broke right and the forwards forced their way over to score left of the posts. Scrum-half Sam Carter kicked the goal and Camborne led 7-nil after six minutes play. As I said, ‘not a good start’. Full-back Alex Sutherland restarted right, and the ball went into touch for a Camborne throw-in on their 22m. Going left, Bournemouth forced the turnover and Camborne were penalised for ‘going over the top’ in their efforts to retrieve the situation. From still on the Camborne 22m, Sutherland found an excellent touch just 5m out from the Camborne try line for a promising attacking line-out. The throw-in was duly secured, and the forwards drove for the line. Camborne were again penalised, this time for bringing down the maul and Sutherland again found touch on the 5m line. As before, the forwards drove for the line, but a stout Camborne defence forced them to release right. Fly-half Ben Meaden, spotting that Ryan Morrell was very lonely and feeling out of it in the vacant spaces out there on the wing, decided that it was only fair he should be part of this and kicked an immaculately judged ball for the aforesaid winger to catch it and spot it unopposed. Sutherland was given the responsibility of kicking the goal which he duly did to tie up the scores at 7-all, 11 minutes into the game. That settled the nerves a little for us on the touchline, alright then us up in the stand. Inside centre Max Horton restarted by kicking left returned in kind by Bournemouth and had the fortune of Camborne knocking on for a Bournemouth scrum. Bournemouth kicked left and a good chase by left-wing Ollie Grainger-Williams (OGW) helped force the Camborne error in the contact for a Bournemouth scrum inside the Camborne 22m. Bournemouth took the ball into contact and Camborne were forced to concede a penalty in their attempts to stem the strong tide of Bournemouth players. Sutherland again found touch to his left on the Camborne 5m. The miscreant Hancox was restored at this point but remained an onlooker as the Bournemouth forwards secured the throw-in and drove for the line for the tighthead Luca Firetto to score his first try of the season and a respectable 15th of his League career. Hancox kicked the goal and Bournemouth took the lead for the first time at 14-7 after 17 minutes play. Camborne restarted left and Bournemouth cleared right for a Camborne line-out on the Bournemouth 10m. Securing the throw-in, Camborne went right and kicked. Sutherland fielded the ball and kicked only to find Camborne running it back, but they knocked the ball on to save any Bournemouth blushes who had a scrum on their own 10m. From the base of the scrum, Hancox kicked left for OGW to chase. Despite the winger’s tackle, Camborne broke out into the Bournemouth half. A kick through just carried over the line for Sutherland to touch down for an ‘in goal’ drop out. In an attempt to catch Camborne unawares, Sutherland kicked right but Horton recovered the ball just metres out from the Bournemouth line and was over wide out on the left. Carter couldn’t convert but, at least, Camborne were back within two points at 12-14 after 22 minutes play. Sutherland restarted left and was back in position to field the Camborne kick return. The full-back, in turn, kicked and the Bournemouth chase managed to charge down Camborne’s kick, the ball bouncing into touch to Bournemouth’s left on the Camborne 10m. The Camborne throw-in was not straight for a Bournemouth scrum. The Bournemouth forwards drove their opposite numbers back, but referee Ellis Davis blew his whistle to stop play in order an injury to hooker Alan Manning’s eye could be attended to by physio Harri Lawrance. The hooker was forced to retire to be replaced by Ben Russell who took his place on the flank in place of Ben Kimber who took over as hooker. From the reset scrum, Bournemouth went right and were awarded another scrum after a Camborne knock on in the contact inside the Camborne 22m. Coming left, Bournemouth were penalised for ‘crossing’ and Carter found touch to his left inside the Camborne 10m. Camborne went right from the line-out and Bournemouth were penalised on the halfway line, Carter pressing them even further back by finding touch to his left on the Bournemouth 22m. The throw-in was won by Bournemouth rather untidily, but Hancox was able to tidy up and kicked. A good chase by the Bournemouth backs retrieved the ball but when they swung the ball left were penalised for ‘being off their feet’ as they piled into a tackle. Carter again pressed Bournemouth back by finding touch to his right inside the Bournemouth 22m. The throw-in was secured at the back and the Camborne forwards drove the ball before releasing left but the three-quarter move was met by a determined Bournemouth defence. Nonetheless, they retained the ball and swung it right but were penalised midfield and Sutherland found touch to his right on the halfway line. From the line-out, Bournemouth went left but Camborne were penalised defending the threat. From inside the Camborne 10m, Hancox struck a fine goal to stretch his side’s lead to five points at 17-12 after 36 minutes play. Camborne restarted left and Hancox was on hand to bang the ball back, finding touch to his right for a Camborne throw-in on their own 10m. Camborne rather got their timing wrong resulting in a dummy throw-in by hooker Aden Brassington and Davis awarded Bournemouth a free kick. Bournemouth went left but Camborne turned the ball over and broke right. This promising counterattack came to naught though when they were penalised and Hancox was given a similar chance to his earlier effort for a kick at goal but, this time, just a couple of metres inside the Camborne half. However, the result wasn’t similar as the normally reliable kicker pulled the kick and the ball went ‘dead’ for a Camborne 22m drop-out. Hancox fielded the ball and an exchange of kicks saw Bournemouth have a line-out on their left outside the Camborne 22m. The stoppage in play enabled Manning to be restored and Russell returned to the bench. The throw-in was again rather untidy, but Bournemouth managed to retain possession and attacked right. Camborne managed to stop the attack right on their left-hand touchline but as a result of the contact, lock Robert Heath was shown a yellow card. From the resulting penalty, Horton found touch to his left and referee Davis blew for half-time having played three minutes of injury time.

Sutherland started the second half by kicking left and Camborne responded by finding touch to their right beyond their 22m for a Bournemouth line-out. The ball was ‘overthrown’ and was recovered by Camborne who went left. A forward pass midfield nullified the threat and Bournemouth had a scrum but were promptly awarded a free kick. A bad pass left gave Camborne the chance to kick right. OGW recovered the ball but was dispossessed and Camborne scored to the left of the posts to tie up the scores at 17-all, but Carter kicked the goal to put his side ahead for the second time at 19-17 just a couple of minutes into the half. Sutherland restarted by kicking left and Camborne ran the ball back into contact for Carter to kick right. Bournemouth responded by kicking back and Camborne ran it back going left before kicking. Morrell does well in first fielding the ball and then evading the chaser to set up his own kick and chase into the Camborne 22m where Camborne cleared left for a Bournemouth line-out outside the Camborne 10m. A Bournemouth kick from the line-out was kicked back and Bournemouth ran it back. Camborne managed to recover the ball and kicked it left for a Bournemouth line-out inside the Camborne 10m. Bournemouth’s line-out woes continued with Camborne winning the throw-in and they went right. Carter kicked but Bournemouth were awarded a free kick and Sutherland found touch to his right, outside the Camborne 10m. Bournemouth drove off the line-out. In the face of a stout Camborne defence, they released the ball left but were forced into touch for a Camborne throw-in outside their own 22m. At least, 10 minutes into the half, it gave an opportunity for Heath to be restored to the fray. Securing the ball, the Camborne forwards first drove the ball before releasing it to their backs who broke out going right into the Bournemouth half. This promising move was thwarted when Davis awarded a penalty to Bournemouth and Sutherland found touch to his left. At the line-out, Bournemouth were awarded another penalty and Sutherland found again touch but this time to his right. This stoppage, 12 minutes into the half, enabled Freddie Gleadowe to come on in place of outside centre Jack Young. Bournemouth contrived to lose the ball at the back and Carter kicked left for a Bournemouth line-out on the Camborne 10m. From the line-out, Bournemouth attacked left, and Camborne were penalised as they tried to defend. Sutherland found touch further to his left inside the Camborne 22m. The drive off the line-out went to ground and a quickly taken penalty was whipped left and OGW was over in the corner, managing to run the ball closer to the posts. Hancox eschewed this offer of help, the left-footer pulling his kick at goal across the face of the goal, but Bournemouth were back in the lead at 22-19, 16 minutes into the half. Camborne kicked left fielded by Heath. A good Camborne chase put the lock under pressure, but his fellow forwards were there in numbers and Firetto broke out from the maul and made good progress down the right before feeding Morrell. A prop feeding a winger. What do you make of that? The wing chipped and chased but, in trying to recover the ball, knocked it on for a Camborne scrum on their own 5m. The Bournemouth eight put Camborne under pressure but recovered sufficiently for Carter to clear left. His kick was half charged down, and the ball went into touch outside the Camborne 22m for a Camborne throw-in. Again, the line-out was untidy as the two sides competed for the ball but Bournemouth were penalised for their efforts and Horton further relieved the pressure by finding touch to his left on the Camborne 10m. Securing the throw-in, Camborne kicked and did well to recover the ball swinging it wide right to set up a dangerous attack before coming back left. However, the Bournemouth defence was up to the task and in holding up the Camborne attack earned themselves a penalty on their own 22m. Sutherland found touch to his right, but the throw-in was overthrown, and Camborne recovered the ball. They went left but it would appear Davis was playing advantage because when played ‘stalled’ he came back to an earlier Bournemouth infringement (offside?) just outside their 22m. From in front of the posts, Carter kicked the penalty to tie up the scores at 22 apiece, 26 minutes into the half. Sutherland restarted left and the willing OGW gave chase and tackled the ball carrier. Camborne, nonetheless, managed to clear left for a Bournemouth line-out outside the Camborne 22m. Bournemouth went right, and a miss pass midfield was almost intercepted, but it was knocked on for a Bournemouth scrum inside the Camborne 10m. The opportunity was taken for Henry Turner to come on for his first playing opportunity in place of tighthead prop Firetto. Going left, OGW had another good run but, when the ball came back inside, a determined Camborne defence turned the ball over and, further to that, Bournemouth were penalised in trying to get the ball back. Camborne found touch to their right on the Bournemouth 10m. Securing the throw-in they went left. A pass midfield didn’t go to hand and Bournemouth were awarded a penalty. From the Camborne 10m. Hancox kicked a fine goal to put his side back in the lead at 25-22, after 32 minutes play in this second half. Camborne restarted left and a good chase put receiver, blindside flanker Joe Rees, under some pressure and the ball was knocked on for a Camborne scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Camborne went right but another pass didn’t go to hand to stall their efforts. Recovering, they came back right but the Bournemouth defence forced the turn-over and they kicked down field, the ball going into touch on the left on the Camborne 22m. Camborne secured the throw-in and their forwards drove the ball but were ‘held up’ for a Bournemouth put-in. Hancox swung the ball right and what followed, and forgive my partisanship, was sublime. Any words of mine are quite insufficient to describe the move, the timing of the passing, the movement of the players but suffice to say, outside centre Freddie Gleadowe, in his first game this season, did very well to put Sutherland into space and the full-back was over unopposed for the bonus-point try. I’m glad to say he survived unscathed from the joyous mobbing by his fellow players. Perhaps caught up in the excitement, Hancox, from right of the posts, pulled his effort just to the right of the near upright but still leaving a ‘two-score’ lead at 30-22, after 37 minutes play in this second half. Bournemouth contrived to get themselves penalised at the restart and Horton found a good touch to his left on the Bournemouth 22m. Fortunately, Bournemouth secured the throw-in and Meaden kicked right for a Camborne line-out inside the Bournemouth 10m. Securing the ball, the Camborne forwards drove the ball, but Bournemouth ‘won’ the ball and released it right for a strong run down the wing, but the Camborne defence forced the ball carrier into touch for a Camborne line-out. Swinging the ball wide, Camborne attacked down the left but, wide out, Morrell, judging the situation well, made a timely interception and, to the obvious despair of the home crowd, ran from well inside his own half to deliver a killer score under the posts. Hancox kicked the goal and, after two minutes of injury time, Bournemouth stretched away to 37-22. Camborne restarted left, fielded by Rees. Russell broke down the right and he almost put Morrell free, but the timing of the pass meant it went into touch instead for a Camborne throw-in just outside their 22m. Bournemouth secured the ball and Camborne were penalised in their efforts to retrieve it. Hancox had a quick word with the referee and promptly kicked the ball off for Davis to blow for no side to end the match.

A well-earned win in the end but I will leave it to the coaches for their own analysis and assessment of the game. Well said captain Alan Manning in his post-match huddle. One can only concur how gratifying it is that everybody, despite the changes we have experienced over these first three games, gels and works together to give such a resilient team performance.

‘Well done’ to Jake Guildford on being the Bournemouth Man of the Match. Typical of our newcomers’ outstanding contribution to their new club’s cause.

The win means we move second in the table, tying with Exeter University on 15 points but with an inferior match-points difference. We are the only two sides with maximum points with the other two unbeaten sides, Hornets having a non-bonus point win at home to Launceston and Exmouth, perhaps unexpectedly, drawing a high-scoring match at home to Old Centralians.

Doug Warren