Report by the Southwest's premier rugby correspondent Conrad Sutcliffe

Camborne 3, Torquay Ath 36

South West Two WestAll the top sides in South West Two lost at Camborne last season - Torquay among them - so there was a certain degree of trepidation in the Tics' camp at opening the season there.

Those fears proved groundless as Torquay took the Cherry & Whites apart in almost every aspect of the game.

A reshuffled pack had former Redruth forward Jon Arnold moved from lock to No.8 and Ben Cole shifted sideways from the base to blind-side flanker. The switch worked as Arnold scored two tries from his new spot - and Cole got one as well.

Playing director Colin Rylance was cock-a-hoop at the result and eagerly looking forward to the first home game of the season this Saturday, against the Clevedon side coached by former England player Mike Rafter.

"I am over the moon about the result as it exceeded our expectations," said Rylance.

"We were a bit worried about going to Camborne and went down there more in hope than expectation of getting a result like this.

"Camborne were a bit fiery and physical in the first half, but we stuck to playing the rugby and made them look poor when we did that.

"It was a great start to the season and sets us up nicely for Clevedon, who look like being a useful side judging from their big win over St Mary's Old Boys."

From their first real attack Torquay went ahead when flanker Tom Havill went over off the back of a close-range line-out.

Camborne fly-half David Mankee reduced the arrears with a long-range penalty on the half hour but, before the break, Ben Cole was driven over from a catch and drive and Arnold touched down from a close-in scrum.

Full-back Matt Jackson's conversion made the half-time score 3-17.

Arnold scored a second pick-up try early in the second half, which Jackson converted for a 21-3 lead.

A fifth try on the blind-side flank by right-wing Jimmy Hill put Torquay over the horizon.

Prop Nick Gill bagged a try at the front of a line out and Jackson slotted the wide angled conversion to complete a comprehensive win.