Bodmin 25, Illogan Park 7
BODMIN achieved their 12th bonus point win of the season with a comfortable but uninspiring victory over Illogan Park.
They now sit clear 14 points clear at the top of Cornwall Two with only five league matches remaining.
Their next league match promises to be a keenly contested battle as they travel to St Day on Saturday February 16. The teams' last meeting on January 12 ended in controversy when the referee abandoned the match after three players were sent off.
On a dark and dreary afternoon, a heavy pitch and a stop-start tempo didn't allow Bodmin to play the fast-paced running rugby they have thrilled the Clifden Park crowd with on most occasions this season, subsequently creating a very fragmented game.
Bodmin started brightly though, controlling possession and crashing over the gain line time after time only for Illogan to illegally turn the ball over and ruin Bodmin's momentum. The referee was wise to Illogan's infringements and regularly sent them retreating ten metres.
Indeed it was a quick tap penalty five metres out from hooker Max Roberts that opened the scoring as he powered over from close range.
Shortly after the try, following persistent infringements, Illogan's tight head prop was sent to the sin bin.
Bodmin, already dominating before they were given the numerical advantage, increased their pressure upon the visitors but only managed to add the one score during the ten minutes.
Superb counter-attacking rugby from full back Dan Pooley saw him beat a couple of defenders before the ball was well recycled and spun wide for winger Paul Carter to dive over in the corner and stretch the lead to ten.
Illogan were keen to get themselves back into the game and were assisted by some Bodmin indiscipline, offsides being penalised to give Illogan an easy route for a lineout in the corner.
From the resultant lineout Illogan used their sizeable pack to create a driving maul and touchdown over the try line. The extras were then added to reduce the deficit to three.
Bodmin, however, didn't panic and continued to control possession and try to work their way into try scoring areas. It was an excellent piece of individual skill that added the next score for the home side though as Carter collected the ball on the right wing before chipping over his opposite number and diving onto the bouncing ball to take the score in at half time at 15-7.
The second half was a rather low key 40 minutes of rugby as the game became more and more fragmented.
Broken up with frequent scrums and the occasional lineout, Bodmin continued to dominate the exchanges but without adding any scores.
When Bodmin eventually did score it was a training ground move that created a huge gap for fly half Mark Trevarthen to slot through and give Bodmin the all important try bonus point.
The conversion was missed but Bodmin now led by 13 and were cruising towards the final whistle.
Bodmin's fifth and final try was came from back rower Connor Dymond who burst through some tiring tackles to score.
Bodmin: Pollard, Roberts, TJ Hicks, Day, Cullip, Dymond, Williams, Taylor (c), Helgesen, Trevarthen, Fairman, Cunniffe, Coad, Carter, Pooley.
Replacements: T Hicks, Haimes, Read, Couldrey.
Scorers. Tries: Carter (2), Roberts, Trevarthen, Dymond.
Man of the Match: Dan Pooley.
