FALMOUTH 3pts

WADEBRIDGE CAMELS 19pts

After a week off due to the bad weather, Falmouth were at home on Saturday in an important Cornwall and Devon League clash against Wadebridge which was anticpated as being a closely contested match.

This was Wadebridge's first visit to the Recreation Ground since 2001. Saturday's game was crucial for both sides as before the match Wadebridge occupied seventh spot with 10 points whilst Falmouth were two points adrift of Wadebridge and lying in ninth place having played the same number of games.

At this stage in the season every point matters as the bottom six teams battle against relegation.

Falmouth had a rousing start in the first 15 minutes and took complete control of the game. After Wadebridge handled in a ruck Falmouth were awarded a penalty from which Adrian Downing scored. From this point Falmouth continued to push forward and from an excellent long drive nearly scored, but were unfortunate to lose possession just before the line.

From a Falmouth deliberate knock on Wadebridge were awarded a penalty which was missed as it rebounded off a post. Wadebridge quickly tried to score from the re-bound but their attempt was unsuccessful as the half time whistle blew.

As on so many other occasions this season the second half was a different game with Falmouth looking a defeated side. Early in the second half two yellow cards were awarded, one to each side for pushing as tempers flared.

Twenty-five minutes into the second half it was Wadebridge who were making all the running. D. Lock drove the ball forward and found a gap and passed the ball to S. Nicholas who scored, A. Hicks converting.

Play degenerated rapidly and became scrappy and dull to watch. Tempers go the better of the players with a fight breaking out and there two more yellow cards shown by the referee. Shortly afterwards Falmouth's Jon Biggins was red carded for a late tackle.

From this incident Phil Hoare for Wadebridge scored an unconverted try.

It was disappointing as Falmouth became careless and started to lose much of their ball and a mis-tackle by Falmouth led to B. Philips scoring a final converted try for Wadbridge.

What had started out so positively ended miserably with Falmouth appearing to be uncharacteristically overpowered by Wadebridge. The end result was 3-19.

This Saturday Falmouth are away against South Molton where they really do need to win some crucial points.

The "A" team will be playing Perranporth at home. Kick off is at 2.30pm.

Wadebridge 2nd XV 10pts

Falmouth A XV 5pts

This was an evenly contested game which Wadebridge won because they took advantage of shoddy defending by Falmouth in the first 15 minutes to score two unconverted tries which turned out to be match-winners.

Falmouth started slowly and were quickly caught napping by a Wadebridge side whose forwards controlled the game up front before releasing the ball to their speedy outsides.

The two early tries were well taken, but they gave Falmouth the shaking they required and the visiting team then started to put things together. Eventually pressure told and the ball was moved wide for Tom Spiller to score a good try in the second quarter of the match.

The second half turned out to be a stalemate. Both teams tried hard to register more points, but defences were rock solid and the scoreline remained unchanged.

On Saturday Falmouth 1st XV travel to South Molton in North Devon for another league fixture while the "A" team are at home to Perranporth 2nds in a Merit Table match which kicks off at 2:30pm.