LUCTONIANS threw a spanner in the title race as they defended superbly in the last 10 minutes in their own red zone to deny Camborne any points for all their extensive efforts, running out 25-14 winners and leaving the title chase still wide open.
Camborne, unbeaten in 10 games, arrived in Herefordshire looking to run over the home side with their swiftness and speed of hand, but were met by superb defiance by the home side.
Luctonians were behind after only five minutes when, with two early penalties conceded for infringements, Camborne took full advantage of field position for back row Jordan Nicholls to break away and hooker Ben Priddey to run in from 20 metres, converted for an early 0-7 advantage.
But Lucs were soon back in the game when Camborne were penalised in front of the posts for a high tackle allowing Owen Randell to knock over to reduce arrears to 3-7.
And it was only shortly afterwards when Randell was knocking over his second penalty to reduce the score to 6-7 following another Camborne misdemeanour.
Lucs, once again roared on by their vociferous home support, were giving the league leaders a testing time.
However, they were subdued on 17 minutes when Camborne used a close in line-out drill to great effect to see rumble over for his second converted try, to extend their lead to eight points (6-14).
But this was a fired-up home side, and they showed enormous character to answer almost immediately when their hard hitting second row Owien Harriot-Davis dotted down following a neatly worked line out drill, the conversion missed for a 11-14 score.
It was an all-action game as both sides threw everything they had at the contest, defences working overtime, and it took a little bit of magic from Lucs captain Ben Link, who with a deft pass put full back Charlie Grimes away to score just before the half hour, with Randell converting to put the home side ahead for the first time at 18-14.
The home side stretched their lead when the diminutive Seb Robinson-Hall scrambled over just before half time from close in, with Randell converting to send the home side in 25-14 at oranges and fully deserving of their lead.
The second half, although did not provide many scoring points or real opportunities, provided plenty of excitement in what was an excellent battle of two fully committed sides going toe to toe with no quarter given by either.
Camborne scored with only one of three penalty kicks through on the hour (25-17), with Lucs not allowing Camborne and their big pack to gain any territorial advantage and also subduing their Fijian stars who showed glimpses of their undoubted ability.
The last 10 minutes, with the clock running well past the 80 minutes marker, were played deep in the Lucs’ red zone where they stood firm on their tryline to send their opponents home with nothing to show for their efforts.
Lucs travel to Bournville next week where they could relegate the home side if results go against them.
