Sat 11 Sep 2021
Royal Wootton Bassett won their first-ever match at South West Premier league level with a famous victory over their opponents who have been one of Cornwall's top sides since their formation in 1878.
The game was played in front of a massive crowd and was preceded by a Second XV match against 8 Training Battalion REME for the McCue Cup - a celebratory rugby match to honour Lance Corporal James McCue (REME) who was killed in action in Iraq in 2003 and repatriated through Wootton Bassett.
Bassett started well with early pressure but the first Camborne attack in the third minute was initially well defended before a loose pass was intercepted on the 22 and Camborne ran in under the post for a converted try. Bassett immediately went on the offensive and scrum half Owain Hire went close to scoring.
Shortly after, Hire made another sensational break, sniping through the Cornish defence, before feeding young winger Scott Douglas who powered over. Centre Connor Tomley slotted the conversion to level things up at 7-7.
Camborne then had a penalty following an offside infringement which was successful and restored their lead. Bassett now began to get well on top with sustained pressure on the Cornish line. Full back Tom Fieldsend playing his first game since his return from a spell at Newbury RFC was held up on the line following a characteristic mazy run.
Shortly after, following a scrum the ball was fed wide and Douglas bulldozed his way over the line for his second of the game which restored the Bassett lead.
Camborne were then guilty of being offside at the ruck and Fieldsend struck the penalty for Bassett to lead 15-10. Just before the interval a speculative punt up-field saw the ball bobble in the in-goal area. Skipper Gavin Ougan pounced on a moment of indecision to touch down to the joy of the partisan home crowd. Fieldsend converted to send Bassett in with a 22-10 half time lead.
Any idea that this was going to be anything over than a really tough encounter were quickly dispelled when the Cornishmen seized control of the game. Their large forwards began to put the Bassett side under a lot of pressure and only some great defence prevented a score.
The sustained pressure looked likely to be rewarded and it wasn't a surprise when a secure scrum allowed the ball to be fed wide for the Camborne winger to race over for a try that was converted.
Camborne continued to press and a superb attack in the 60th minute saw the back division produce a 2 man overlap with a try under the posts. The conversion saw the visitors retake the lead by 24-22.
Bassett continued to press hard and the Camborne forwards appeared to tire. In the 70th minute a further Camborne offside offence gave Fieldsend the opportunity to slot what was to be the match winning score.
Bassett were led off the field by the holy trinity of experienced forwards; skipper Gavin Ougan and fellow Dorset & Wiltshire County players, Phillip Bardwell and David Hogg. An historic day for RWBRFC that will live long in the memory.
Scorers:
- Scott Douglas 2T
- Gavin Ougan 1T
- Connor Tomley 1C
- Tom Fieldsend 2P, 1C
