Photo – Tommy Phillips receives his Under 20 Cornwall Player of the Year award from CRFU Chairman Denis Preece
A frenetic weekend that saw me on Saturday at Redruth and then on Sunday at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for bone crunching Pool D decider between Ireland and France.
Back at Redruth, and a welcome win for the Reds against a very lively Chinnor side in National League 2 South.
The game marked a return to the Recreation for scrum-half Greg Goodfellow, now plying his trade with the “Villagers”.
The game was tight with the Reds winning 34-32, and ended in bizarre fashion, when the visitors were pressing but their prop miss-heard a call, kicking the ball dead with the final play much to the consternation of his team-mates and the unbridled joy of the Redruth players and supporters.
Redruth tries were scored by lock Luke Hattam, hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie (2), centre Sam Parsons and flanker Shaun Buzza, with Dave Mankee, making his league debut for the Reds kicking three conversions and a penalty.
Sadly it’s still the same story for the Cornish All Blacks as they slipped to their sixth straight defeat going down at Old Elthamians 49-11. Ryan Westren scored their try with Rhys Brownfield kicking a couple of penalties.
The next two weeks will be pivotal for the All Blacks, as they have two home games on the trot.
In Tribute South West 1 West, Camborne maintained their good run with fourth win, this time beating North Petherton 24-18. Ben Kemp, Jack Simmons (2) and Sam Bartle all crossed for the Cherry and Whites, with Ben Stean adding a couple of conversions.
In Tribute Western Counties West, Truro caused a surprise with a spirited win at St. Austell 13-9. Scrum-half Danny Dunstan and prop Ethan Patterson scored tries for the City side, with Toby Armstrong kicking a penalty. For the Saints, Andy Ashwin kicked three penalties. Both sides lost players to a red card, with Adam Kellow (St. Austell) and Darren Jacques (Truro) being sent for an early shower.
Saltash defeated Wadebridge Camels 45-38 at Moorlands. Tries by Ryan Rayner, Todd Crofts, Will Morton, Callum Cload, Jason Carroll and Sean Crawford were all converted by Max Venables, who also kicked a penalty.
For the Camels, prop Ian Burnard (2), James Grubb (2) and Mark Grubb scored tries with James Grubb kicking all five conversions and a penalty. Both sides meet again this weekend in the Tribute Cornwall Cup!
Penryn lost at home to Exeter University 38-15.
In London 2 SW, London Cornish won 49-12 at home to Winchester. The exiles scored tries through prop Mike Bond, flanker Tom Ievers, lock Ben Ievers, centres Craig Chatley and Luke Spells and wing Tom Jeffery, whilst their first try was a penalty-try award, fly-half Philip Dale landed all seven conversions.
In Tribute Cornwall and Devon League, Falmouth caused an upset defeating St. Ives 12-6 at the Rec. Josh Symons and Justyn Irons scored tries for the Eagles, with Irons kicking a conversion. Grant Thirlby kicked two penalties for the Hakes.
St. Ives are through to the semi-finals of the Tribute Cornwall Cup, as Hayle have withdrawn.
Hayle defeated Bodmin 19-8. Tries for the Lions were scored by Joel Cameron (2) and Ashley White with Damien Lynnes kicking a couple of conversions. For Bodmin, Cody Armstrong scored a try and Jamie Taylor a penalty.
Bude lost for the first time this season 23-20 at Tavistock. Adam Black (2), James Comber and Joe Wilson all scored tries for Bude.
Bude will entertain Camborne this Saturday in the Cornwall Cup.
Pirates Amateurs slipped up at Plymstock 20-13 and Newquay Hornets lost at the Sportscentre 29-0 to Plymouth Argaum.
The opening round of games in both Tribute Cornwall 1 & 2 saw Camborne School of Mines beat Veor 59-3, Lanner defeat Perranporth 32-0 at Tregenver Road in Falmouth, Illogan Park get the better of Liskeard-Looe 36-21 and Helston defeat St. Agnes 24-7.
In Cornwall 2, Roseland beat Stithians 36-0, Lankelly-Fowey defeated Redruth Albany 62-21 and St. Just won at Camelford 19-14.
On Sunday in the Greene-King Championship, Cornish Pirates got their first win in five games with an excellent 21-17 win against London Scottish at the Mennaye.
Rheon James and Craig Holland scored tries with Kieran Hallett adding a conversion and three penalties.
It was just the boost the Pirates needed, and with their Canadian Internationals set to return post rugby World Cup, results should improve rapidly.
The much-heralded Duchy League for second teams also got under way last Saturday. There were wins for the Camborne 38-17 against the Camels, Launceston 66-29 Truro, St. Austell 53-17 at Newquay Hornets and Redruth 33-26 at Penryn.
