Tribute Western Counties West
Wadebridge Camels 17 Truro 18
By Nigel Walrond
WADEBRIDGE Camels player-head coach Mike Rawlings described his side’s performance as “frustrating” as they lost by a point to their promotion rivals at Molesworth Field.
The third-versus-first Cornish derby looked all over as the city side stormed into a 15-0 lead inside the first quarter.
Camels came back well to lead by two points at the break, but Truro nicked it with a penalty in a very tight and tense second half to condemn Wadebridge to only their second defeat of the season.
“It was a good, physical, tight game - what you expect from a local derby – and we put on a good show for the fans, but unfortunately we didn’t come away with the victory,” said Rawlings.
“We paid for a poor first 15 minutes, and then some of our decision making in the second half cost us dearly and cost us the game.
“We were kicking away possession when we were inside, or on the edge of, their 22 and we looked like we lacked a bit of confidence.
“We had a structure and a system that we have been playing well with, but maybe the pressure, or just the whole day, got to a few boys, and one or two decisions in strike zone areas were frustrating.
“Defensively, Truro were very strong and they were quite physical in that area and maybe they were potentially up for it a little bit more.
“But we met them at set piece time, we most probably had the more dominant scrum, and the line-outs were 50-50.
“Truro rely a lot on first-up carries, and I think they are the biggest and most physical side we have come up against this season.”
While it was frustrating to lose at home, Rawlings was keen to look at the bigger picture, with Camels now lying fourth in the table, but only two points off second place, and a home game to come on Saturday against struggling Wellington, who lost 49-0 at home to Exeter University last weekend.
“We are only seven games into the season, we are sitting in the top four and it is a difficult league and I think Truro will suffer one or two losses along the way,” said Rawlings.
Truro built a 15-point lead inside the first 16 minutes, with winger Ieuan Boone’s early try added to by a long-range drop goal from full back Ashley Hosking.
Hosking then intercepted a pass to run in from 50 metres out, and he added the extras to stretch the lead even further.
Camels hit back before the break, with a penalty by fly half James Grubb, who then converted a well-worked try by winger Dom Hawkey to cut the deficit to only five points.
Then, with half-time approaching, tight-head prop Jack Scott crossed the whitewash and Grubb again added the extras to give Camels a 17-15 lead at the break.
Truro began the second half well and regained the advantage with a Hosking penalty, and they hung on to that lead partly thanks to some excellent defensive work.
Wadebridge had the chance to steal the win in injury time, but Grubb’s long-range penalty attempt failed to hit the target as Truro made it six victories out of seven games.
Wadebridge: Pengelly, Bright, Kempthorne, Thomas, D Hawkey, James Grubb, Collings (capt), Treleaven, Ballard, Scott, Dawe, Johns, Smith, Rawlings, Blackmore. Replacements: Tarby, House, Boyling.
Truro: Hosking, Boone, Williams, Stuthridge, Badcock, Champion, Brandham, Jacques, Martin, Rees, Vinson, Denning, Trescothick, Riches (capt), Tidball. Replacements: Bowns, Cross, Symons.
Wadebridge: Tries: D Hawkey, Scott; Cons: James Grubb (2); Pen: James Grubb.
Truro: Tries: Boone, Hosking; Con: Hosking; Drop goal: Hosking; Pen: Hosking.