THE scoreboard doesn't always tell the full story of a game and last Saturday was one such day where three late tries gave league leaders Camborne Seconds victory at Bencoolen Meadow.

Barring those with long-term injuries, the home side fielded their strongest possible line-up and despite a two-week lay-off, showed few signs of rustiness.

Indeed, they took the lead on six minutes when a line-out deep in the visitors’ 22 saw hooker Harvey Cholwill finish off a classic catch-and-drive move.

Fly-half Brad Thomas was unable to nail the conversion, but five minutes later he made amends with a successful penalty after the Camborne pack had been penalised.

With the hosts good value for their 8-0 lead, the visitors now began to exert pressure up front as they put the squeeze on Bude's pack. In the 21st minute they cut the deficit to one point when tighthead prop Andrius Zachorovas drove over from close-range following a line-out and Harry Clemo added the extras.

Two scores in quick succession either side of the half-hour then gave Camborne the lead.

First, an unconverted close range try on 26 minutes from No.8 Aden Brassington tipped matters in his side's favour, followed a second spectacular effort from full-back Ewan Murray as he skipped up the touchline from halfway.

At the break Camborne led 19-8, but as with the first half Bude, started the second period strongly and on 46 minutes they cut the deficit to six points thanks to a well-worked try from No.8 Fred Saxton in the left corner following good work from skipper Will Hockridge and left-wing Oscar Davey. The conversion attempt from Thomas fell just short.

The Seasiders then powered forward, and the Cherry and Whites soon lost Clemo to the sin-bin.

From the resulting tapped penalty, the hosts' pack drove for the line and when they were stopped just short, scrum-half Olly Mounce quickly recycled the ball and it was sped down the line to outside-centre Ben Tharme who beat the cover defence to the line.

Olly Denford, now playing at 10 following Thomas’ withdrawal, nailed a brilliant kick for a 20-19 lead.

On the hour mark the game's momentum swung again, this time in the visitors' favour as flanker Finley Fry was sent to the bin for an apparent dangerous tackle, closely followed by Clemo's return.

A close-range unconverted try from outside-centre Max Jenkin, securing a bonus point for his side, gave Camborne a 24-20 lead and the match was set for a grandstand finish.

However, a second try from Brassington, despite a hint of a knock-on as he picked up from the base of a scrum deep in the home side's 22, converted by Clemo, put some daylight between the teams before replacement centre Charlie Butler delivered the hammer blow two minutes from time following a contentious line-out.

This Saturday, Bude again have no game as due to the ongoing Autumn Nations Series, although the seconds visit their Saltash counterparts for a friendly (2.30pm).

BUDE: Will Pharo, Edy Hilliam-Cooke, Ben Tharme, Olly Denford, Oscar Davey, Brad Thomas, Olly Mounce, Charlie Firman, Harvey Cholwill, Hayden Chater; Will Hockridge (capt), Alex Robinson; Finley Fry, Matt Maniglia, Fred Saxton. Replacements: Anthony Kennett, Josh Brown, Josh Rowland, Cobi Yelland.

Tries: Cholwill, Saxton, Tharme; Convs: Denford; Pens: Thomas.