Sheffield RUFC       24       –        26       Camborne RFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 26^th September 2026

After our trip to deepest Devon and a somewhat very professional Plymouth Albion last week, we were to hosts to newly promoted Camborne RFC, who have made an excellent start to the season with two victories, with just the one loss, at home and also to Plymouth Albon.  With a further injury to Chris Hooper on top of those recently suffered by Sinjin Broad and Cuchulain Livingstone and Jake Hicklin, and further the long-term injuries to Archie Crapper, Cammy Catleugh and Josh Redfern, Sheffield are going to have to dig deep in to the reserves of the squad.

To this effect, we saw Will Smith moved from the inside centre to the left wing, with Matty Drennan taking the no 12 shirt.  The right wing and outside centre spots went to debutants, Brayton Taylor and Jack Delaney.  Felix Crapper moved off h bench to start at openside flanker, with Will Henshaw dropping to the bench together with Harry Chubb.  Additionally, Will Archer and Rhodri Campbell swapped places at Hooker and the bench.

The early twenty minutes or so of the match was fairly evenly balance, with possibly, Camborne slightly shading it.  However, as the match moved in to the second quarter, some loose Sheffield play allowed Camborne get away from their 22-metre and moved up field to Sheffield’s 22-metre, where they secured ball from a lineout and powered forward to find space to get over the try line, for right wing Harry Larkins to touch down to the left of the posts.  Fly half, Fraser Honey added the conversion, and Camborne were leading by 7 points nil.

However, Sheffield soon found a way to get back in to the match very quickly.  Sheffield were awarded a penalty on Camborne’s 22- metre and kicked to the corner.  They secured the lineout and drove for the line.  Camborne defence was breached and captain Ben Whitney dotted down.  Callum Posa added the conversion and the scores were tied at 7 points all after twenty-six minutes.  The remainder of the half was again a war of attrition, with neither team truly looking like they were going to break the deadlock, with the defences on top.  However, with Sheffield on the attack inside Camborne’s 22-metre, Sheffield were awarded a penalty and Camborne’s flank forward, Sam Matavesi received a yellow card.  Sheffield kicked in to the corner again and another driving maul followed, with hooker, Rhodri Campbell touching down with less then a minutes to play.  Callum Posa converted to take Sheffield out to a 14 point to 7 lead at the break.

The second half started well enough for the home team, but aa yellow card for Elliot Fisher and a penalty for Camborne gave the momentum to the visitors.  Sheffield held Camborne at bay until just before Elliot’s return, when a further penalty saw Camborne with  lineout close in to Sheffield’s try line and the dam burst with Camborne’s fullback, Frankie Nowell cruising through the defence to score adjacent to the posts.  Fraser Honey added the conversion and the scores were tied again, now at 14 points all after fifty-six minutes.

Sheffield battled back and again found a way to get back in to the lead.  A penalty saw Sheffield with a lineout close in on Camborne’s tryline and another driving maul saw Camborne’s defence crumble and replacement hooker, Will Archer scoring the third Sheffield try, wide out on the left.  Callum could not add the conversion, but Sheffield led again by 19 points to 14 with sixty-one minutes on the clock.  Camborne Showed why they have had such a goo start to the season, where they have shown an ability to come back from behind in their games.  So not too much later, Hooker, Ben Priddey drove over the try line and touched down for Camborne’s third try.  Fraser Honey missed the conversion, and once again the scores were tied at 19 points all after sixty-six minutes.

Sheffield were however, not done, despite seeing second row Dom Parson receiving a yellow card on sixty-eight minutes, and just minutes later Sheffield let the backs play with the ball for right wing, Brayton Taylor went over wide out on the left.  Callum could not add the conversion, but once again they had the lead at 24 points to 19 on seventy minutes.  However, the loss of Dom added the pressure on Sheffield, and as Dom returned, Ben Priddey went over for his second try and Camborne’s fourth to tie the scores again at 24 points all.  Unfortunately, Fraser Honey did no miss the conversion and Camborne sneaked into a slender two-point lead at 26 points to 24 with less than 3 minutes to go.  Sheffield had one last chance to get back, with an early penalty to give them a lineout on Camborne’s 22-metre, but a not straight call from referee, Owen Taylor, saw the match end with Camborne taking home five points and leaving Sheffield with two bonus points.

Camborne RFC Team: –

Forwards: – 1: Tommy Southworth; 2: Ben Priddey; 3: Jon Drew; 4: Jago Sheppard; 5: Adam Hughes; 6: Barnaby Elderkin; 7: Sam Matavesi (Capt.); 8: Herbie Stupple.

Backs: – 15: Frankie Nowell; 14: Harry Larkins; 13: Ben Power; 12: Josh Matavesi; 11: Jay Toogood; 10: Fraser Honey; 9: CJ Boyce.

Replacements: – 16: Declan Prowse; 17: Ben Woodmansey; 18: Will Hennessy; 19: Barnaby Waddell; 20: Matt Shepherd.