Despite taking a 15th minute lead through hooker Matt Honour, Clevedon were unable to add any further score and came up agonisingly short of a losing bonus-point against a side seven points clear at the top.

The visitors came into the game having played just 140 minutes of rugby in 2016, but it was they who made the brighter start, enjoying early possession and territory.

Camborne were a constant threat on the counter attack and from a well-organised driving maul, but the visiting defence held firm during the first half hour.

Clevedon came close to opening the scoring on ten minutes, when Mike Taylor saw a long-range penalty come up just short – but five minutes later, after the Clevedon pack had driven Camborne 20 yards from an impressive maul of their own, Taylor’s chip through was hacked on by Aaron Rice.

When the outside centre was hauled down a metre short of the line, quick hands from Harvey Russell and Dean Ashfield found Matt Honour, who burrowed his way over in the corner for the opening try of the afternoon.

The next ten minutes featured three yellow cards, two for Camborne and one for Clevedon’s Dean Ashfield for an adjudged deliberate knock-on – but the away side were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

Camborne hit back on the half hour mark, when their prop picked a neat line in midfield to score under the posts – and the conversion made it 7-5 to the hosts at half-time.

The second half began with Camborne in control and they extended their lead with a penalty from under the posts.

They continued to chip away at the Clevedon defence, but sturdy work from centre Dean Ashfield and flanker, Rory Biggins kept the leaders at bay.

Camborne were reduced to 14-men on 60 minutes, with their third yellow of the afternoon – but yet again, Clevedon failed to break down their depleted opponents.

The home side kicked a third penalty on 70 minutes to open up an eight-point lead, and try as they might, Clevedon were unable to get within the seven points required for a losing bonus-point that they probably deserved.

Taylor saw a 78th minute penalty drift just wide in testing conditions underfoot, and his long-range drop goal a minute later suffered a similar fate.

Clevedon welcome Bideford to Coleridge Vale on Saturday – kick-off is 2.15pm.

Clevedon: M Taylor, O James, A Rice, D Ashfield, M Lowis, T Thie, W Carpenter; B Largenton, M Honour, B Bosley, D Rawle (c), T Statton, H Foley, R Biggins, H Russell.