Stithians gain revenge

Bodmin slipped to the their third defeat of the season as a dominant Stithians pack laid the foundations for a hard fought win over their second places opponents.

After Bodmin ended a three game winless streak last week against Perranporth they will be bitterly disappointed not to have backed up that performance away to a team they had blown away earlier in the season.

From the very beginning of the match the Stithians pack were on top of their counterparts as each scrum saw the Bodmin pack rattling backwards and often disintegrating.

An early drop goal had given the home side the lead but outside of the set piece Bodmin seemed to be the team on top. This was confirmed when Bodmin attacked wide and winger Luke Chapman finished well, handing off the Stithians full back to cross in the corner. Scrum half Cody Armstrong superbly converted from the touchline for a 7-3 lead.

Whilst Bodmin were on top in the loose they couldn't get away from being truly outmuscled in the scrum. Stithians ultimately profited with a 5 metre scrum marching the visitors back over their own try line for the home Number 8 to have the simplest of finishes. The conversion was fired wide to leave the game with the finest of margins.

Bodmin were then forced into a couple of front row substitutions through injury but this did little to effect the powerful Stithians pack who remained on top throughout.

A clever kicking game from the home side had Bodmin pinned back inside their own half and regularly conceding territory. This was to be the platform for Stithians second try as a knock on covering another clever kick provided the hosts with a 5 metre attacking scrum which yielded much the same result. A walk over and easy try for Stithians' Number 8. Again the conversion was missed to leave the half time score at 13-7.

Bodmin then began the second half by upping the pace of the game at every opportunity. Tap penalties and quick ruck ball created impressive gains and the tactic seemed to be paying dividends when outside centre Andrew Coad burst through the middle and accelerated away from the defence to slide over the whitewash. Coad again adding the conversion for Bodmin to regain the lead.

The visitors then added a third try just moments later when they continued to increase the pace of the game. This time Armstrong darted blind from a ruck and showed good strength to stretch out and dot down in the corner. The scrum half wasn't able to convert his own try from out wide though, leaving Stithians just the one score behind.

Despite the fact that Stithians continued to control the scrum Bodmin continued to dominate the loose exchanges and looked like they were going to be going back to Clifden Park with a win under their belts. However the game completely turned in one single play as Bodmin attacking on halfway shipped the ball wide and looked to be in behind their hosts only for the crucial pass to be intercepted and see the Stithians winger streak down the sideline to score. Furthermore the touchline conversion was then added to well and truly take the wind out of Bodmin's sails.

With just under 15 minutes to play Bodmin continued to attack but having been in the ascendancy were simply unable to get their momentum back and find that vital winning score.

Indeed Stithians then made sure a kick wouldn't be enough to win it as the home side near enough sealed the win with a penalty from in front of the posts.

Bodmin strung a number of phases together in the dying stages but made few significant dents into the Stithians defensive line and were eventually turned over to signal the cue for the final whistle and a tough defeat for promotion pushing Bodmin to take.

This Saturday sees Bodmin's last league game before Christmas as they take on bottom side Roseland (2.30pm) in a must win game to keep their promotion push going with some momentum.

Jenkins, Couldrey, Taylor, Day, Thomas, Pulford, Wendon, Orton, Armstrong, Pooley, Carter, Trevarthen, Coad, Chapman, MacPhee

Replacements: Roberts, Hicks, Brooks, Cunniffe, Helgesen

Tries: Chapman, Armstrong, Coad
Conversions: Armstrong (2)

Harbour Brewing Co. Man of the Match - Dan Pooley