LUCS 32 v 26 CAMBORNE
AN OUTSTANDING GAME OF NATIONAL LEAGUE RUGBY
Luctonians RFC v Camborne RFC
Saturday 11th November 2023 – Mortimer Park
Match Reporter – Alex Smith
Luctonians extended their lead at the top of National League 2 West with an exhilarating 32-26 win over Camborne in a game that went right to the wire in front of a vociferous home crowd.
The hosts got the scoring started on 4 minutes, as powerful centre Rob Aikman went through a gap after good build up play from the whole team, but the usually reliable Louis Silver would miss this conversion and all the others across the game, leaving the score at 5-0.
Camborne reacted instantaneously as an offload from their standout player Josh Matavesi, freed the backs, and winger Alex Ducker went in for a score converted by Aaron Simmonds for 5-7.
Lucs looked to take control of the game, with tries on 16 and 27 minutes, from Sam Hayler and Lewis Parkes respectively. Hayler’s coming off a brilliant break and offload from Silver, before fly half Tom Jones made amends for a few stray kicks, with a sublime delay on the pass to put his centre in for 15-7.
But Camborne hit back with two of their own from Ben Priddey on 29 and Matavesi on 35. Priddey’s effort was from a driving maul, before the ex-Fijian international and Premiership star Matevesi intercepted on the half way line for a converted effort giving the visitors a 15-19 lead. The half wore out with Lucs applying big pressure but getting nought for their efforts and so, despite bossing large chunks of the first period the Herefordshire men trailed at the break.
Half Time Score
Luctonians RFC 15 v 19 Camborne RFC
At the start of the second period Lucs would kick into gear however, with 14 unanswered points, as firstly Giles Morell scored a fortunate bonus-point try in the left-hand corner, before Silver found his kicking boots and added three penalties in nine minutes for a 29-19 lead after 62.
But as with the first half the Cornish visitors refused to lie down and got a try back through flanker Jago Sheppard after more good work from Matavesi. With Simmonds adding the easiest of extras for 29-26.
Silver added a crucial penalty with 10 minutes remaining and then Lucs had to withstand an enormous onslaught in the final minutes, defending multiple scrums and lineouts deep in their territory whilst roared on by the home support to seal the result 32-26.
Full Time Score
Luctonians RFC 32 v 26 Camborne RFC
This was an outstanding game of National League rugby, from two of the top sides in this division. Lucs showed their mettle and depth after losing a number of players to injury in the narrow defeat at Dings last week but still put in a really good performance against another strong opponent. The tough challenges continue for the black and whites as next week they travel to Bristol once more to face 2nd placed Clifton in a top of the table battle.
Luctonians Star Man
Archie Benson