CAMBORNE 29 – 15 LUCS

‘IT WON’T BE A GROUND THAT WILL SEE MANY HOME DEFEATS’

Camborne RFC vs Luctonians RFC
Saturday 13th December 2025 – The Recreation Ground
Match Report by Geoff Vickress

Early Christmas cheer was somewhat lacking in this top of the table fixture played at Crane Park, which sits on the aptly seasonally named Cranberry Road in Camborne. The two top sides played out a physical, and at times overly spirited affair, which referee Mr Adam Wookey did well to control.

The game was only 4 minutes old when Camborne Fijian International, Josh Matavesi, got himself sent off for serious foul play by running across the field to get involved with an early skirmish in the Lucs dead ball area; Jack Goodwin for Lucs receiving a yellow for his involvement.

This early incident however didn’t phase Camborne who were on the front foot for most of the half, not allowing Lucs any real try scoring opportunities. Camborne winger, Ducker, scored with some ease when the home side, moving the ball swiftly through their back line, saw Ducker over the whitewash, Moyle converting for a 7-0 lead after 9 minutes.

There was plenty of noise from the large home crowd with nigh on a thousand present, and they had more reason to celebrate when Nicholls, for the home side, broke away to run in their second try, Moyle again converting for a 14-0 lead after 16 minutes.

Lucs hadn’t really troubled the home side and left themselves a hurdle to climb when Jack Goodwin was shown his second yellow card, which became a red, for more of a team yellow for the high number of penalties conceded. The sides were now back to parity with numbers on the field, and Camborne used the penalty awarded to great effect when their hooker Priddey was driven over from the resultant line out maul, Moyle again converting to lead 19-0 on the half hour.

Lucs regrouped and started to play some good rugby, probing the home side in their half and making good inroads. And they deservedly got points on the board when Lucs Starman and captain Ben Link scored a trademark driving maul try, just before the teams dispersed for their half time refreshments; Owen Randell missing the conversion. Half time then with Lucs having plenty to do.

Half Time Score
Camborne RFC 19 – 5 Luctonians RF

The Black and Whites started the second half with plenty of endeavour and had the home side on the back foot playing ‘downhill’. They scored an excellent try after only 5 minutes when a delightful dink kick from Tom Jones into space,saw both Giles Morell and James Wheeler swiftly behind the Camborne defensive line, with Wheeler dotting down to reduce the deficit to a score line of 19-10.

The home side were back on the attack from the restart, and Hussell muscled his way over to increase the home sides lead to 24-10. The conversion attempt was hastily chased down by Frank Kelly, but he was adjudged to have come off the line too early and the first attempt, which hit the post and bounced out, was retaken by Moyle who slotted over to give the home side a lead 26-10 after 55 minutes play.

On the hour, Camborne chose to stretch their lead from the dependable boot of Moyles, when he knocked over a penalty (29-10). No quarter was being given by either side in what was a very physical encounter, and Lucs hard work and physicality saw them earn a penalty minutes later, as Camborne No8 Buzza incurred the wrath of the referee for being offside too often, and a yellow card to boot. Replacement Bryn Goodall used his kicking ability to good effect, putting Lucs into the home side’s 22 from the resultant penalty, and Lucs impressive line out maul worked once again, with Ben Link driving over. However, the kick was again missed and Lucs had to make do with a 29-15 defeat.

Full Time Score
Camborne RFC 29 – 15 Luctonians RFC

Lucs will be disappointed not to have got more from this long-distance defeat, whereas Camborne will stretch their advantage at the top and probably deservedly from this game, where they nullified Lucs’ threats. It’s not a ground that will see many home defeats this season, if any, and Lucs have travelled home, licking their bruises and wounds, but ready and willing to go again next Saturday.

Much should be made of the fact that this game marked Joe White’s record breaking appearance for Luctonians at National level rugby, where he takes the honour away from another club legend Mat Hackley. 223 games at this level is no mean achievement and, at only 29 years young, let us hope he finds the willingness and fitness to continue for another few seasons at least. Congratulations Joe White.

This coming weekend, Lucs host bottom of the table Syston in their pre-Christmas game at Mortimer Park. Syston recorded an impressive home victory against third placed Barnstaple this past Saturday. Camborne will be travelling just up the road, quite literally, for what is the most local of local derby fixtures vs Redruth.

Luctonians Man of the Match
Ben Link

You can view video of the Lucs try highlights here.

Picture Credit – Shots-by-Jazz, Camborne RFC