LISKEARD-LOOE put in a brilliant performance before coming up just short in a pulsating encounter with runaway league leaders Camborne at a soggy Lux Park.

The Lions had won all but one of their league games so far this term, but had a two-week break between matches having seen their clash at Helston postponed a week earlier.

Seven days before that they were narrowly dumped out of the Lockie Cup by Plymouth side OPMs, meaning they hadn’t turned out in the league since seeing off Falmouth on home soil on November 8.

Saturday’s encounter with a Cherry and Whites side that were boosted by the inclusion of several fringe first-teamers, was the first between the two in the league, while the game was also Jay Masons 50th for the club. He lined up at scrum-half.

The first 28 minutes saw both teams probing each other’s defences, unfortunately Liskeard lost lock Max Dennison with a leg injury, and he was replaced by Dan Lethbridge during this time.

Then the visitors put together a play that saw them score an unconverted try in the corner.

But the hosts were ahead at half-time as in stoppage-time Liskeard were awarded a penalty deep in the visitors’ 22.

This was taken quickly by hooker Archie Doidge who drove for the line, and although he was tackled just short of the whitewash, managed to get the ball to ground and No.8 Flynn Elworthy picked up to dive over for a try that was converted by fly-half Callum Beaver from the touchline to take the score to 7-5 at the whistle.

It had been a tight close half with both sides coping well with a wet ball, but Liskeard were worthy of their two-point lead.

Following the restart, Camborne scored a converted try to obtain the lead at 12-7.

In the 50th minute Liskeard were awarded a kickable penalty which was taken and slotted by Beaver to make it a two-point game.

However, the match-clinching try arrived on the hour mark. Following a scrum, Camborne dotted down, this time unconverted, to make it 17-10 with a quarter of the game remaining.

Despite the effort put in by the Lions to at least gain a draw if not a win, the ball and pitch were getting slipperier, and wetter respectively, meaning no further scoring was to be had.

The view from the touchline was the Lions had played well and arguably put in their best performance of the season so far in holding the visitors as Camborne had scored a total of 312 points in their previous seven games, and in the end were unlucky.

The Liskeard man-of-the-match was awarded to evergreen lock Yestin Hutchings who put in a superb and physical display, in the game which was sponsored by Bond Timber.

The Lions are back in action this Saturday when they welcome St Austell Seconds to Lux Park for a 2.30pm kick-off.

LISKEARD-LOOE: Kieran Underhill, Alex Kendall, Jack Badnall, Jordan Smith, Sean Simmons; Callum Beaver, Jay Mason; Mike Prowse, Archie Doidge (capt), Jack Wilton; Max Dennison, Yestin Hutchings; Andy Rowe, Will Hoskin, Flynn Elworthy. Replacements: Ashley Evans, Dan Lethbridge, Mike McCarthy, Tim Naita.

Lions’ man-of-the-match: Yestin Hutchings.