Tamar Cup 2024/25

Cornwall RFU are pleased to announce that this season’s Tamar Cup will be played on Easter Saturday 19th April 2025 KO 14:30 @ Redruth RFC  This is a departure from the traditional mid week fixture and is being played much closer to the start of the County Championship campaign.

We hope that this new approach will enable and encourage Cornish supporters to get right behind the team over the Easter break. We hope to confirm the venue in the next couple of weeks.

The RFU have recently released County Championship fixtures for our
Men, Women and U20 Teams. There are some mouth watering clashes there
with both our Men and Women playing double Championship winners in
their respective groups. We are working hard behind the scenes to
arrange additional games with potentially some exciting fixtures. As
soon as we have confirmations will be releasing further details

Our mens team kick off their campaign with a home game against
reigning champions Kent who will no doubt be determined to win their
third consecutive title. Cornwall and Kent have won the past 4 County
Championships so this promises to be a titanic encounter. Our final
group game is at Hampshire who will be keen to avenge the defeat at
Redruth last season.

Our Women, semi-finalists last season in their County Championship
Division 2,  begin with an away game against reigning two-times County
Champions Hampshire.They then have two home games, the first against
Gloucestershire while the final group game is a fantastic contest
against our friends from the other side of the Tamar, Devon.

Our U20s begin their games at the end of March at home against
Gloucestershire before travelling to play Devon and completing their
group stage with a home game against Somerset.

We will post details of where matches are played as soon as we can, so
you can come along and support your Cornish teams.

Steve Murley

Chairman Cornwall RFU

Bill Beaumont Cup Division 1

Sat 24th May, Cornwall v Kent

Sat 31st May, Hampshire v Cornwall

Gill Burns Cup Division 2

Sun 18th May, Hampshire Women v Cornwall Women

Sun 25th May, Cornwall Women v Gloucestershire Women

Sun 1st Jun, Cornwall Women v Devon Women

Jason Leonard Cup Under 20s County Championship (dates tbc)

29th Mar, Cornwall Under 20 v Gloucestershire Under 20

26th Apr, Devon Under 20 v Cornwall Under 20 (Brunel Cup)

10th May, Cornwall Under 20 v Somerset Under 20

Sun 25th May, Divisional Finals

Note. Finals weekend at Twickenham is the 21/22 June.

Trelawny’s Army Chairman Phil Trevarton was at Redruth RFC on the 5th October to present Redruth Second XV with two Gilbert Match-balls in recognition of their promotion into Counties 1 Tribute Western West.
TASC has continued to provide all promoted Cornish Rugby Teams with kit for several years.

Further presentations will take place during this season to Hayle, Wadebridge Camels II and Launceston Ladies.

Tributes were paid to Ian Gordon as he relinquished his role as Hon. Secretary of Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club at the club’s AGM held at St. Austell Brewery Visitor Centre.

Club Chairman Phil Trevarton paid tribute to Ian’s 20 year tenure in the post, whilst Ian himself spoke of his great pride and recounted some of his anecdotes and names who had marked his stewardship of the Army.

To mark the occasion, presentations were made to both Ian & Trixie, with Ian also being made a Life Member of TASC.

Viven Broadhurst was also made a Life Member of TASC.

Phil Trevarton will cover the role of Hon. Secretary until a permanent replacement can be found.

Barbara Hocking took on the role of Vice-Chair following the resignation of John Rees.

TASC were pleased to have the new Chairman of the CRFU, Steve Murley as a guest for the evening.

Steve presented Dan Tyrrell with the Bill Osborne Memorial Shield as the Cornwall Player of the Year.

Colin Hatch was on-hand to present Pete Harris the Tony Mead Memorial Shield as the Cornwall Under 20 Player of the Year.

Sadly, Tia Larson was unable to be with us on the night having picked up an injury in a recent game, her award was collected on her behalf by Karen Bunt, who will ensure Tia has the Jess Humber Shield as the Cornwall Women’s Player of the Year.

Steve Murley was also presented with a cheque for £600 representing TASC continued support for Colts rugby in Cornwall.

Grateful thanks were expressed to St. Austell Brewery for hosting the event and their continued support for Cornish rugby.

Time to get voting for your Player of the Year Awards.

3 Categories;

Cornwall Men’s Player

Cornwall Under 20 Player

Cornwall Women’s Player

Votes need to be with Hon.Sec Ian Gordon by Sunday 25 August

Send your nominations to Ian email: ian.gordon865@btinternet.com or phone on 01579 320670

Following the final trials at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire on Sunday 9th June all
four Cornwall attendees have been selected for the SW team.

In addition to their success Will Perkin has been named as captain of the SW squad
and Jack Statton the vice-captain which is a fabulous achievement.

Pictured at Hartpury College after the final trials
Idris Logan – Helston
Will Perkin – St Ives
Jack Statton – Launceston
Pete Harris – St Austell

The SW team will now play other RFU regions on the weekend 21 to 23 June in
Warwickshire.
Congratulations on their selection and I know the players would like to thank the
CRFU and Trelawny’s Army for their support throughout the trials.

Colin Hatch
Cornwall Under 20 Team Manager

Cornwall U20’s into SW Squad

Following the recent SW trials held at Hartpury College Gloucestershire, 5 Cornwall
U20 players have been selected into the SW squad for a further training session on
Sunday 9 th June.
This further session will be held at Hartpury College once again which will mean
many hours on the road once again for the Cornwall players!!
The 5 selected players are –

Angus Williams – Penryn
Pete Harris – St Austell
Will Perkin – St Ives
Idris Logan – Helston
Jack Statton – Launceston

The following week the SW squad will be travelling to Warwickshire where they will
compete against the other regions within the country.

Ben Smith- Redruth, Idris Logan- Helston, Will Perkin- St Ives, Pete Harris- St Austell
and Jacob Chapple – Redruth, pictured above at the recent trials.
The Cornwall U20 section and players would like to thank the CRFU and Trelawny’s
Army (TASC) for their support during this process.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating all the players who attended the trials.

Colin Hatch
Cornwall U20 Team Manager.

TASC Hon. Sec Ian Gordon presented the match ball to Cornwall captain Ben Priddey at the Hampshire game at Redruth on Saturday.

Ian, along with his wife Trixie were invited to the CRFU pre-match function at Redruth, in recognition of Ian’s 20 years tenure as TASC Hon. Sec before he steps down at September’s AGM.

Also at Redruth on Saturday were some of the 91 side, they too enjoyed being guests of the CRFU and paraded around the ground at half-time. They received the cheers and applause they richly continue to deserve.

GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2 SEMI-FINAL

DURHAM WOMEN 25 -17 CORNWALL WOMEN

By Bill Hooper

Two late tries denied Cornwall Women a trip to Twickenham as Durham edged this pulsating yet at times physically brutal game in the final 10 minutes of a match played in very warm conditions.

Cornwall made a good start with Lisa Allin scoring an unconverted try after just 3 minutes to the joy of the vociferous travelling support.

Durham’s speedy winger Laura Wood gave notice of her danger with a good run that set alarms bells ringing in the Cornish defence.

Cornwall continued to harry the home side, whilst the tackle count was mounting, Durham knew they were in a game.

A mistake by Cornwall led to a try from Wood who dotted down under the posts giving skipper Marguerite Julia a comfortable conversion.

The breakdown was fiercely contested by both sides with Liz Langton catching the eye, as did skipper Megan Arnold, there was also great work from Roberta Smith-Scotland.

Cornwall’s cause was not helped with injuries to both Millie Chaston and Georgia Hall in quick succession, which saw the introduction of both Joey Sandercock and Abi Smith much earlier than planned by the coaching staff.

Up front Kim Upcott was putting in her big drives almost getting over the whitewash herself, Durham found her a handful to deal with.

Approaching half-time Cornwall strung some phases together with Tia Larson’s pass finding Sandercock out wide, the winger showed good pace getting in at the corner for an unconverted try and a 10-7 half-time lead.

Cornwall, trying to play out of their twenty-two were pinged by the referee for crossing offering Durham a penalty which Julia kicked to level the scores.

Cornwall obtained good field position, from a tap penalty they moved the ball wide with Becky Bennett making good ground to score near the posts, Megan Okey then kicked a conversion courtesy of the crossbar.

Durham’s bench made a difference as Cornwall tired in the crucial final moments. Two tries from Jess Clubby and Nicole Johnstone sealed their place in the final where they will meet Hampshire Women.

For Cornwall disappointment, but the Women can be proud of their superb campaign, which has confirmed them as force to be reckoned with at this level.

Coach Jo Holden said. “I am so proud of the girl’s performance today they really gave Durham a good hard game. Crucially we needed a score to put us two scores ahead, sadly we couldn’t quite manage it, that doesn’t take anything away from my pride in the squad and the levels of performance we have achieved in a short space of time.”

Cornwall Women: Tia Larson (Bude), Millie Chaston (Ivybridge), Lily Relton (Truro), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Becky Bennett, Meg Okey (both Ivybridge), Lisa Allin (Bude); Caitlin Eddy (Helston), Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (all Launceston), Caitlin Milliken (Ivybridge), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock).

Replacements: Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Emily Kneale, Abigail Smith, Joey Sandercock, Amy Warman (all Launceston), Amy Bunt (Ivybridge).

Scores: Tries, Allin, Sandercock, Bennett, Con, Okey

BILL BEAUMONT CUP

CORNWALL 48 – 24 HAMPSHIRE

By Bill Hooper, at the Recreation Ground, Redruth

The Twickenham dream may have been fully extinguished when Surrey forfeited their final match against Kent late on Friday afternoon, but the Cornwall supporters flocked in their masses to Redruth to make it a mini Twickenham experience.

All the trimmings where laid on, Trelawny’s Army revelled in the presence of the Cornwall team of 91, guests of honour of the CRFU, the Falmouth Marine Band, the pasty being hoisted on the crossbar. The Cornish sunshine and the Cornwall team performance and a good old sing song post-match also helped put smiles on their faces come the final whistle.

Seven tries scored in a resounding win, but great game, against a valiant and dogged Hampshire side, showed just what the competition can offer if organised properly!

Head coach Graham Dawe was satisfied with his side’s performance. He said. “It was tight up to half-time, we only led by three points and Hampshire were deservedly in the game. We said at half-time that we didn’t need to chase the game, the conditions playing down the slope will help us and that Hampshire will tire, we had a very strong bench, and that made the difference.

“We were much better today on the penalty front and worked very hard at the breakdown, whilst outside we showed vision playing the ball.

“We made a great start to the second half, Honey put us in the right area of the field, we won the ball putting us in a position to exploit their defence, we played sensible rugby, were patient and chances came our way. We have blooded some good young players this season and they will only get better in the seasons to come, so I am very confident that we can go on to better things.”

Hampshire scored first thanks to an early penalty from Lewis Dennett, their big forwards put in some telling drives.

It didn’t take long for Cornwall to reply as Duncan Tout, who had an outstanding game in the centre, ran in a great try from distance, Honey adding the first of his five conversions.

Ryan Morrell ran hard into the Cornwall twenty-two setting up a lineout for the visitors that led to a try by Kanter Wittock, bettered by Dennett.

Honey tied the scores with a penalty, however, Hampshire soon struck again when Max Fletcher made good ground before slipping a pass to Curtis Barnes to dot down, Dennett again found the uprights with the extras.

Good play from Harry Larkins and Josh Semmens led to a popular score in the corner from Dan Tyrrell, the winger repeating the dose just moments later off a great CJ Boyce pass to put Cornwall 20-17 to the good at the break.

Cornwall needed a fast start to the second half playing down the famous slope, it came thanks to giant lock Hugo Culverhouse who stormed like a demented wildebeest into Hellfire corner to score a great try to huge cheers from the packed ranks of supporters.

Cornwall had a cushion and they continued to press the pedal to the metal with further tries from Jordan Nicholls twice, the second off a great pass from man-of-the-match Tout, and Boyce.

Hampshire never threw in the towel and were rewarded with a penalty-try near the end, which no one could begrudge them.

Cornwall: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell), Harry Larkins (Camborne), Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddians), Josh Semmens (Pirates Ams), Dan Tyrrell (St. Austell), Fraser Honey (Rams), CJ Boyce (St. Austell); Tommy-Lee Southworth, Ben Priddey (Capt), Jon Drew (all Camborne), Hugo Culverhouse  (Guernsey), Edd Pascoe (Redruth), Ben Fox, Sam Stevens (both Redruth), Mark Bright (Richmond).

Replacements: Tom Cowan-Dickee (Plymouth Abion), Declan Prowse (Camborne), Jordan Nicholls (Camborne), Pat Walton (Plymouth Albion), Adam Hughes (Camborne), Sam James (Redruth), Will Tanswell (Camborne).

Cornwall scores: Tries Tout 14, Tyrrell 34, 36, Culverhouse 41, Nicholls 60, 67, Boyce 63, Cons, Honey 15, 42, 61, 64, 68, Pen, Honey 25