Wadebridge Camels 15 Sidmouth 20

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Wadebridge Camels 15 Sidmouth 20

WADEBRIDGE Camels head coach Mike Rawlings was furious with his players after their frustrating season of inconsistency continued with a home defeat to bottom-four side Sidmouth.
Rawlings could not find a single positive thing to say to his squad in the dressing room after the match, and even suggested to them that he might have been better off putting out the club’s colts team, who had played in a cup quarter-final the night before!
“It was really, really disappointing, especially after the way we played against Camborne the week before, and we were kind of expecting a huge win,” he said.
“All credit to Sidmouth. We were very lucky to get 15 points and get a bonus point out of the game. The guys didn’t deserve it.
“The passion, pride and mental attitude going into the game was just not there,” he said.
“They have all got the skill level and the ability, but for some reason they pick and choose the games they want to switch on for.
“I don’t think they quite understand that, by losing at the weekend, if other teams behind us win their games in hand, we are back in a relegation battle, whereas if we had won we would have been safe.
“We just didn’t switch on. We had five penalties and we didn’t find touch, we were carrying the ball with one arm into contact and knocking on and being stripped, and defensively, it was like we had targets painted on our chests.
“The players are bringing it on themselves at the moment, and they know what they have got to do and what they are capable of.”
Sidmouth took a 10th-minute lead with a try by outside centre Rory O’Brien, and eight minutes later fly half Paul Richardson added a penalty for an 8-0 advantage.
Camels fly half James Grubb missed a penalty chance just before the break, before O’Brien grabbed his second try of the game soon after half-time, with Richardson this time slotting the extras to make it 15-0.
Wadebridge got back into the match with a try by former Cornwall scrum half Shaun Hawkey, who came out of retirement to help the Camels, who were missing their usual number nines Adam Collings (suspension) and Chris Humphrey (unavailable).
Grubb’s conversion hit the upright and Sidmouth then scored a catch-and-drive try through Josh Mynett to all but seal victory.
However, a late Camels rally saw a try by prop Richard Treleaven, converted by Grubb, who also kicked a penalty, to earn a losing bonus point.
One positive was the return to the Camels shirt off the bench of experienced prop Gareth Bilkey, who has rejoined the club from Newquay Hornets.
Camels have a weekend off before a tough trip to second-place Kingsbridge on March 19.
Wadebridge: Pengelly, Bright, Pretty, D Thomas, D Hawkey, James Grubb, S Hawkey, Treleaven, Tarby, Scott, Blemings, Dawe, Ballard, Hitchings, Blackmore. Replacements: Bilkey, Smith. Not used: Stone.
Wadebridge: Try: S Hawkey, Treleaven; Con: James Grubb; Pen: James Grubb.
Sidmouth: Tries: O’Brien (2), Mynett; Con: Richardson; Pen: Richardson.