For programme notes, including published team lists, click HERE
16th September 2017 Cleve 20 Brixham 11
Three points from three matches is all that Brixham have to show for the opening games. Although all three games have been close, the injuries picked up on Saturday things are not making things look too bright with two of the promotion favourites up next.
Brixham had the better of the first half in terms of territory and possession but statistics don’t win games. An early try scoring opportunity was lost when the ball was spilt forward and several other chances went begging as Brixham were unable to make the most of the line-breaks they created.
A penalty goal from the boot of Tom Putt gave the Fishermen the lead just before the break but when a high ball was misfielded shortly afterwards the Cleve winger was on hand to recover it and score a try in the corner.
A five points to three deficit at the break was increased five minutes into the second half when Cleve scored a try from a short range lineout, going round the back to touch down.
After their first half “dominance” Brixham found themselves much more on the back foot in the second period and the hosts could rue a number of chances that they missed.
The more so when, from a lineout outside the Cleve 22, a brief rolling maul formed and Brixham hooker Koree Britton peeled off with the ball. His offload was passed on to winger JP Simonetti who touched down at armslength in the corner. The conversion was missed.
With the game entering the final quarter Cleve restored their lead with a try off the back of a 5metre scrum – after Brixham had halted a couple of runs for the line. Brixham reduced the deficit to six points with a Putt penalty after a promising attack was halted and with the homesters now leading by six points the game was still there for Brixham.
The desire and ambition was there, the ability to break through the Cleve defence was not. Cleve made the game safe with a penalty goal and seemed relieved at the finish.
9th September 2017 Brixham 20 Camborne 21
Brixham had their first home league game on Saturday and for the second week running a close affair left them disappointed.
In the first half Brixham played down towards the Mudstone End and in the opening exchanges totally dominated possession. Threatening the try line is one thing, scoring is totally different. Camborne went upfield to threaten themselves and a penalty goal on the 12 minute mark put them ahead. A second attempt shortly after could have doubled their lead but came back off the post.
Brixham went back on the attack but a chance to level the scores was missed when Tom Putt put his kick just wide. A second attempt soon after was also unsuccessful.
With half-time approaching a brief spell of attacking by the visitors resulted in a converted try and a ten point lead.
In the time remaining Brixham mounted almost continuous offence but all their efforts were pointless and the half-time whistle ended when Brixham were denied a try.
In the first half Brixham showed glimpses of what they could do but were let down by mistakes – not to mention the efforts of a well-organised defence.
Brixham were on top in the opening minutes of the second period and sowed that they could penetrate, rather than just stretch the visitors’ defence. The path over the try-line was shown by outside half Tom Putt who double stepped the Camborne defence to score under posts from halfway. Just minutes after, following a scrum on halfway, centre Tom McLean burst through before offloading to winger Connor Bedwell who touched down in style. Putt converted both and Brixham led 14-10.
The lead did not last long. When Brixham attempted to run the ball from deep a fumble gifted possession to Camborne and an unconverted try put them a point in front.
With both defences holding firm only penalty goals troubled the scoreboard in the final stages. The Camborne lead was extended to four points before Brixham reduced it to one again with twenty minutes remaining.
Brixham regained the lead when Putt scored his second penalty but this was short-lived as Camborne retaliated in like fashion and their one point margin remained till the end.