Camels turn their attention to the cup

WADEBRIDGE Camels switch their focus away from the South West One West relegation battle to the semi-final of the Tribute Cornwall Cup on Saturday when they visit Camborne (2pm).

It is a repeat of last season's final at Redruth, which the Cherry and Whites won 16-13, with St Austell awaiting the winners.

Wadebridge are not best pleased as the match was due to be held on February 25, but Cornwall RFU agreed to Camborne's request to switch the date, as they had a re-arranged league game at Berry Hill that weekend. It means the Camels will be without several players, while there is also an unfortunate clash with their National Colts Cup quarter-final at Old Northamptonians the same afternoon, which will deprive them of regular goalkicker James Grubb and full back Will Pengelly.

If Camels can win both matches, it will be a dream double for the club, to go with their almost guaranteed survival in South West One West for another season.

"I think we are fairly safe in the league now, after last weekend's results and looking at the respective run-ins," said Wadebridge coach Dave Elston, whose team went down 26-11 at promotion-chasing Clevedon on Saturday.

"The only team that won in the bottom half was Paignton, who beat Avonmouth, with no-one else even picking up a bonus point, apart from Cleve, so the table stayed very much as it was.

"Penryn have still got to play Avonmouth and Brixham away, and Oldfield at home, though some of our remaining fixtures are quite tough as well."