Camborne 24, BARFC 8 (28/11/15)

AN Other | 28/11/2015

Report by Tony Pomeroy

Bridgwater’s Camborne jinx struck again on Saturday when the game had to be abandoned after 71 minutes due to an injury to Bridgy scrum half Tom Fournier-D’Albe. With his head already heavily bandaged following a cut, he received another bang on the head and went down on halfway. With medical advice that he should not be moved and with the gloom descending rapidly, the sensible decision to curtail the game was taken and as more than 60 minutes had been played, the result stands. The good news is that Tom, who was treated by paramedics on the pitch, suffered no serious injury and travelled back with his colleagues on the team bus.
Of the other walking wounded, skipper Ollie Dunn left the field in the first half but, having passed concussion tests, returned for the second half whilst vice captain, Rob Allen also left the field following an injury but recovered after the game.
The game itself was a relatively drab affair spoiled by intermittent rain and a very strong cross-field wind.
Bridgwater brought back skipper Ollie Dunn after his appearance last week for Bristol ‘A’ with Ali Blundell in the second row. New signing Lewis Phillips was the front row replacement.
The game was won and lost in the scrummage, where the Camborne pack were dominant, disrupting many Bridgwater scrums and driving them off the ball.
Bridgwater had the better of the opening stages but could not make their territorial dominance count. The home side spurned a relatively easy penalty in the middle of the half and their gamble was well rewarded. Working hard in defence, Taylor Buller was yellow carded by Devon exchange referee, Stuart Reed. Camborne again spurned the kick and opted for a scrum close to the Bridgwater line. They drove forward before releasing the ball whence it reached centre, Richard Kevern, who scored easily. Fly half, Ben Stean, converted for a 7-0 lead.
Dunn left the field temporarily to be replaced by Luca Ercolani.
On Buller’s return – after over 12 minutes in the bin – Kevern then replaced him on the naughty step and Bridgwater were rewarded with a short range penalty , kicked by Chris Ashwin, for a 7-3 half time score.
With Dunn returning for Nick Spellissy after the break, Bridgwater started brightly. Ashwin tried a very ambitious 43m penalty that soared wide on the wind before Rob Thompson replaced Blundell.
Bridgwater were then penalised and Camborne kicked to touch in the Bridgy 22. They took clean lineout ball and set up an unstoppable driving maul that ended with flanker, James Goldsworthy, touching down for an unconverted try.
Bridgwater then lost Joe Bussell who was winded when he was in the way of a loose kick, giving Phillips his Bridgwater debut. Rob Allen was injured at the same time and was replaced by Spellissy, with Buller in the centre and Garryn Basson on the wing.
Midway through the half, Camborne pressure saw Kevern burst through for his second try, converted by Stean.
Bridgwater then replaced James Bryant with the now recovered Bussell and Blundell returned for Dan Kemmish.
Almost immediately, Bridgwater were pushed off their own scrummage ball and it was moved left to Camborne Director of Rugby, Liam Chapple , who had been pressed into service at scrum half for the day, scored the bonus point try in the corner. At 24-3 the game was effectively over.
However Bridgwater had the last word. They were again pushed off their own ball deep in the Camborne 22. Camborne cleared but the kick somehow ended in the arms of Spellissy, whose 30m dash down the touchline was rewarded with an unconverted try.
Minutes later the game was brought to its premature conclusion.
Bridgwater, who now have Somerset Coach, Mark Hawkes, assisting them, have some tough thinking to do regarding scrummaging. On too many occasions this year, the pack has been shunted backwards and this has proved costly. In this game also the tactic of kicking out of hand in open play did not always succeed as in the strong wind, for both sides the lineout proved something of a lottery. However, much of the penalty kicking to touch by James Martin was exceptional.
With other results in the league being fairly beneficial to Bridgwater, they remain in second place in the table. They will hope to wrap up the first half of the season with three more wins, stating next week at home to Bideford – this game will kick off at 2-15 pm, as will all games in December and January.
Prior to the Bideford game, there will be a Friends of Bridgwater lunch and this will be preceded at 11-00am by the opening of the John Garland Memorial Garden at the Club. All old players and club members are warmly invited to attend this ceremony.
It was interesting to note that the Camborne v Bridgwater & Albion match was covered on BBC Radio Cornwall. They did not do a full commentary but instead took regular summaries throughout the game. Their commentator was a former Somerset referee, Peter Richmond, who refereed at National Panel level, and it was nice to catch up with old times over a cup of tea prior to the game. Wouldn’t it be good if BBC Somerset took an interest in local rugby – I am not sure they even know the game is played in the County. With Taunton and Bridgwater both near the top of their respective leagues, this would be a good time for local radio to get involved.

Scorers :
Camborne
Tries: Kevern (2), Goldsworthy, Chapple
Cons:Stean (2)

Bridgwater & Albion
Try: Spellissy
Pen:Ashwin

Bridgwater Team:
James Martin, Rob Allen, Rob Gurnett, Garryn Basson, Oscar Tregenna, Chris Ashwin, Tom Fournier-D’Albe, James Bryant, Gavin Knight, Joe Bussell, Ali Blundell, Dan Kemmish, Nick Spellissy, Ollie Dunn (Capt), Taylor Buller.
Replacements – all used : Lewis Phillips, Rob Thompson, Luca Ercolani

Referee : Stuart Reed (Devon RRS)

Tags: featured, full-image