The CRFU last night announced the date and venue for their Representative match against Crawshay’s Welsh XV
The match will be played on Saturday 30th April 2022 at CAMBORNE RFC, kick-off time to be advised.
Please put this in your diary.
The CRFU last night announced the date and venue for their Representative match against Crawshay’s Welsh XV
The match will be played on Saturday 30th April 2022 at CAMBORNE RFC, kick-off time to be advised.
Please put this in your diary.
We held our A.G.M. at the St. Austell Brewery Visitor Centre, President Sean Jarvis presiding.
With the club only just emerging from the covid lockdown, there was little in way of reports from the various posts on the committee, and regrettably no player presentations to be made.
Treasurer Viv Broadhurst reported that the club finances were in good order.
We were delighted to welcome our new Merchandise Secretary Jackie Thomas to her first meeting.
Both David Saunter, Chairman and Alan Milliner, Rep to the RFU Council represented the CRFU.
Alan gave us an update on where we were regarding the County Championship task group, the recommendations will go before council next month, fingers crossed!
David, came along to thank TASC for funding the rugby shirts for Bodmin College, one of which he brought along to show us with Trelawny’s Army on the front, looking very smart on the black and blue shirt.
David also mentioned that a donation would be made from the CRFU to TASC following the disposal of redundant kit.
This year’s A.G.M. was also the moment when two of the original committee from 1993 stood down, John and Margery Rowe, who have both given the club sterling service over 28 years. Our President made a presentation of Cornish goodies to them both and thanked them for all their work.
John hasn’t totally finished as he will still be organising our annual dinner in February.
Club member Lesley Wellington made a generous donation to the club on the night for which we are most grateful.
Following the singing of Trelawny a pasty supper was enjoyed by “One & All.”
Pictures credit: Barbara Hocking & Phil Trevarton
James Murray who plays his rugby at Redruth RFC was presented with his U20’s Cornwall cap recently at his home club.
James earned his tie on his first appearance for the U20’s back in February 2019 and was a regular squad member until the last game before Covid 19 struck in the away victory against Gloucestershire in March 2020. Had it not been for the pandemic he would have potentially made several further appearances and had his cap presented at one of the games in front of his teammates!
James is currently studying at Cardiff Met University. The CRFU President John Sumnall congratulated James on his achievement and wished him well in his future rugby career.
Congratulation to James on this well-deserved presentation.
Colin Hatch
CornwallU20 Team Manager
Clubs and players have until next Sunday, 5th September, to get their names in for this season’s Under 20s selection.
Any eligible player who wants to have a go for the Cornwall Under 20 squad this season needs to get his club coach to nominate them using the form available from the CRFU website. Nominations need to be with Colin Hatch by 5th September.
Check out the link for the information
Any queries contact Colin Hatch (Team Secretary) email: hatch0348@btinternet.com
The Ladies GB 7’s team competed well during the Olympic Games tournament but sadly just missed out on a bronze medal losing to Fiji.
Part of the squad in Tokyo was Deborah Fleming , who was born in Gulval.
We congratulate Deborah on her participation in the games.
Massive congratulations to Sam on his tremendous performances for Fiji in the two test series against New Zealand.
What a sight to see the Camborne’s Cornish-Fijian powering down the touchline in the build up to a Fijian try during the 1st test.
No doubt we shall see Sam involved again come the Autumn test schdule.
Trelawny’s Army wishes Luke Cowan Dickie the very best of luck when he runs out for the British & Irish Lions Test side against South Africa in the 1st test on Saturday.
Chons da Luke.
Jersey Reds 32 Cornish Pirates 31
In what was their final game in this season’s truncated Greene King IPA Championship, the Cornish Pirates fell just short of achieving a victory at the Jersey team’s Stade Santander International ground, reports Phil Westren
In the try stakes the Pirates outscored their opponents by five tries to four, but it was not enough, although they at least ended the match with two bonus points.
For their fleeting visit, flying in and out of the island on the day, team changes for the Cornish Pirates included welcoming back AJ Cant from injury. He slotted in at full-back with Tommy Wyatt moving to the wing. In the pack there were returns for loose-head prop Marlen Walker and for hooker Dan Frost ahead of him joining Wasps in the summer. Also, on the tight-head berth, former Namibian under 20s international Patrick Schickerling was set to make his debut.
As the Pirates ran out at Stade Santander International the sound of supporter applause was a welcome one. Missed because of Covid by the Pirates at home this season, it was the third occasion that the Reds had welcomed spectators since regulations on the island permitted.
In a match that in the first quarter gave no indication of a points flow that would ultimately follow, matters were also a little heated at times, at least providing proof that this was no flimsy end of season affair.
The Pirates had launched a first meaningful attack when it was ever busy hooker Dan Frost who linked with wing Maliq Holden and centre Will Butler. Play was taken to the right corner, and hopes were high of a score, but following a line-out six metres out scrum-half Jean-Baptist Bruzulier appeared to have been unluckily adjudged that the ball was nudged forward.
When the first points were registered, they went the way of the Reds. Referee Mr Richards had felt obliged to have a quiet word with Pirates’ lock Josh Caulfield following a contretemps, and after Jersey gained territory from a penalty award, from a second penalty offer it was the Championship’s top scorer, fly-half Brendan Cope, who started the scoreboard ticking.
Home supporters watching this affair were delighted, and even more so when just a couple of minutes later wing Tom Williams won a high ball challenge for him to then sprint in from halfway for a try scored to the left of the posts. Cope added the extras to make it 10-nil.
For the Pirates they now had a challenge on their hands, and one that demanded a response. Credit to them, therefore, that following a catch and drive it was debutant Schickerling who showed raw power to force his way over the line. Attempting the conversion from wide on the right, fly-half Arwel Robson’s effort drifted just wide.
Flanker Antonio Kiri Kiri soon twice showed the athletic pace that he offers as a backrower but, after the Pirates were next penalised again, from a resulting catch and drive hooker Eoghan Clarke scored a converted try to make it 17-5 to Jersey.
Approaching half time, the scoreline was one few might have expected, however the Pirates thankfully reacted once again, as Robson put centre Will Butler into space who timed his pass to enable the supporting Cant to run in an unconverted try.
Arriving at halftime with the score reading 17-10 looked much better, and although the performance thus far had been a little disjointed at times, that the Pirates had come back into the game surely boded well for an interesting second period.
The opening period of the second forty was evenly contested, however after the Pirates lost skipper Tom Duncan to the sin bin, the Reds extended their lead with a converted try scored by full-back Scott Van Breda.
Against a Jersey side that in general has gone from strength to strength in their decade competing in the Championship, it was time for the Pirates to respond once more, and they did, as some fine interplay ended with Frost scoring a try that was converted by Robson.
With play now entering the last quarter, a 61st minute Cope penalty opened a 10 points gap, with it on the balance of play looking that the Reds would be winners. There was still time for Pirates, but too often there was frustration that opportunities created had broken down, and after the Reds scored their bonus point providing fourth try through replacement hooker Jack Macfarlane it was surely all but game over.
Well, that was not a script to be followed by the never-say-die Pirates, who deserved enormous credit in time remaining to provide a real grandstand finish. They were not able to sneak a victory but late tries scored by replacements Shae Tucker and Rhodri Davies, both converted by replacement fly-half Will Cargill, got them within a whisker of their hosts. A win was naturally sought, however in the context of this match to secure not just a four-try bonus point but also one for losing by less than seven points, was rightly some consolation.
After the game, and at the end of a season like no other, Cornish Pirates’ joint head coach Gavin Cattle commented:
“We pride ourselves in never giving up and we saw that at the end, but at the same there were some aspects of our play that disappointed.
“In the set piece, and especially come maul time, Jersey had the upper hand, as we appeared at times to lack our usual energy.
“To finish fourth is for us a little frustrating because we wanted and aimed for a top three finish, but with a small squad anyway injuries unfortunately went against us.”
Jersey Reds: 15 Scott Van Breda, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Jack Roberts (23 Bader Pretorius, 75), 12 Dan Barnes, 11 Brendan Owen, 10 Brendan Cope, 9 Max Green (James Elliott 42); 1 Dan Richardson (17 Ollie Dawe, 72), 2 Eoghan Clarke (16 Jack Macfarlane, 55), 3 Ciaran Parker (18 Jack Higgins, 72), 4 Zak Farrance (19 James Scott, 60), 5 Sean O’Connor (20 Matti Williams, 72), 6 Macauley Cook, 7 Lewis Wynne (captain; 22 Josh Bainbridge, 62), 8 Max Argyle.
Cornish Pirates: 15 AJ Cant (23 Shae Tucker, 68), 14 Maliq Holden, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Will Butler, 11 Tommy Wyatt, 10 Arwel Robson (22 Will Cargill, 74), 9 Jean-Baptist Bruzulier (21 Rhodri Davies, 51); 1 Marlen Walker (17 Jack Andrew, 63), 2 Dan Frost (16 Tom Channon, 74), 3 Patrick Schickerling (18 Sam Rodman, 63), 4 Josh Caulfield (Fa’atiga Lemalu, 50), 5 Danny Cutmore, 6 Matt Bolwell, 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 8 Tom Duncan (captain; John Stevens, 64).
Yellow card: 8 Tom Duncan (54).
Scorers:
Jersey Reds – tries: 14 Tom Williams (22), 16 Eoghan Clarke (34), 15 Scott Van Breda, (55), 16 Jack Macfarlane, (73); cons: 10 Brendan Cope (22, 34, 55); pens: 10 Brendan Cope (21, 61).
Cornish Pirates – tries: 3 Patrick Schickerling (26), 15 AJ Cant (38), 2 Dan Frost (58), 23 Shae Tucker (77), 21 Rhodri Davies (79); cons: 10 Arwel Robson (58), 22 Will Cargill (77, 79).
Referee: Dean Richards
Cornish Pirates 52 Hartpury 26
By Phil Westren, at the Mennaye
Playing their penultimate fixture in this season’s somewhat shortened Greene King IPA Championship campaign, in what was also their last home game the Cornish Pirates won convincingly against Hartpury.
It was an entertaining encounter, with both sides playing their part. A total of 12 tries were registered in the match – four for the visitors and eight for the Pirates, including a hat-trick apiece for skipper Tom Duncan and replacement hooker Dan Frost.
There were several changes in the Cornish Pirates team that won at Coventry last time out. In the backs, with a fit again Maliq Holden returning on the wing, Will Butler reverted back to inside centre. Also, at scrum half, after several appearances off the bench, Jean-Baptist Bruzulier returned to the starting line-up.
As for the forwards, Hayden King wore the number ‘1’ shirt, whilst Tom Cowan-Dickie, who had made three appearances as a replacement since recovering from injury, was about to make his first start of the season. As for the pack’s back five, they remained the same.
Playing towards the Newlyn end of the ground it was Hartpury who opened the scoring. Fly-half Josh Bragman made a jinking run inside the Pirates ‘22’, and with the ball ultimately worked left it was wing Ben Foley who scored an unconverted try in the old Western National corner.
In the same period of play Cowan-Dickie’s match also cruelly came to an end, the luckless hooker having to depart proceedings because of a neck injury.
Hartley had a sprinkling of experienced performers in their ranks, and none more so that Botswana-born No. 8 Iain Grieve, who is a former Bristol, Plymouth Albion, and Ealing Trailfinders player. However, soon after home full-back Tommy Wyatt twice impressed to take a high ball under pressure, the first example seeing him light up the Mennaye with an excellent kick ahead and chase, the Pirates worked the ball left for Holden and Butler to apply pressure at the scoreboard corner. With the Pirates scrum also showing dominance, referee Mr. Thomas had no hesitation in awarding the Pirates a penalty try.
The visitors strived to respond, but in the process Pirates’ wing Alex O’Meara suddenly intercepted and immediately put on the burners to run half the length of the field for a score at the Penzance posts. Fly-half Arwel Robson’s conversion made it 14-5.
Hungry for more points, the Pirates cause was being helped by the mounting penalty count against Hartpury. Able to post the ball to the corners, the opportunities to set up potent catch and drives delivered the goods, with firstly converted tries for Duncan and Frost, the latter’s a bonus point providing effort, and then another for Frost, this time unconverted.
Yes, 33-5 looked good on the scoreboard, but there was still time before the break to enable the Pirates to further extend their lead, which they did, when Duncan’s second converted try, scored in the 39th minute, made it 40-5.
During the afternoon, the club flag at the Mennaye Field flew at half-mast. This was a mark of respect to the memory of former 500 games player and team secretary Keith Stirling who had passed away during the week. Words were also expressed in memory of Camborne stalwart Peter Floyd and to Barry Chadwick, brother of Pirates’ match day volunteer Mark Chadwick, following news that they too had sadly died.
Back to the rugby action, the last 40 minutes at home for the Pirates this season, there was every hope that they could kick on and register still more points. They did, with the energetic Frost and Duncan each securing their hat-tricks, but there was credit also to Hartpury who, on the scoreboard at least, troubled the operator most. The impressive Bragman scored a try and two conversions, and there were also fine tries touched down by centre Robbie Smith and wing Sam Goatley, whose final try of the game was converted by centre James Williams
Speaking at the end of Saturday’s encounter, Cornish Pirates joint head coach Gavin Cattle said:
“Naturally we are pleased with scoreline, as it is one we would certainly have taken before the game, and although I didn’t enjoy the first or last 10 minutes we played some good bits of rugby in between.
“In the first half our catch and drive worked very well, with Arwel kicking well out of hand to put us in good positions which enabled us to apply the pressure close to the Hartpury line, and it is something we could perhaps have made more of in the second period, the lesson being don’t get bored of what works.
“Our front row also formed a powerful unit and that again also gave us a platform to help keep the scoreboard ticking over.”
Gavin added:
“We were a little disappointed that Hartpury managed their bonus point try at the end, but through playing catch up rugby and shifting the point of contact they deserved it.”
Cornish Pirates: 15 Tommy Wyatt 14 Alex O’Meara 13 Rory Parata 12 Will Butler 11 Maliq Holden 10 Arwel Robson 9 Jean-Baptist Bruzulier; 1 Hayden King 2 Tom Cowan-Dickie 3 Jay Tyack 4 Josh Caulfield 5 Danny Cutmore 6 Matt Bolwell 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri 8 Tom Duncan (captain).
Replacements (all used): 16 Dan Frost 17 Marlen Walker 18 Sam Rodman 19 Fa’atiga Lemalu 20 Paddy Ryan 21 Rhodri Davies 22 Will Cargill 23 Joe Elderkin.
Hartpury: 15 George Simpson 14 Sam Goatley 13 Robbie Smith 12 James Williams 11 Ben Foley 10 Joshua Bragman 9 Oscar Lennon; 1 Olly Adkins 2 Will Crane 3 Mitch Walsh 4 Dale Lemon 5 Arthur Clark 6 Joe Howard 7 Will Safe 8 Iain Grieve.
Replacements (all used): 16 Luke Stratford 17 Ash Challenger 18 Ciaran Knight 19 Ehize Ehizode 20 Morgan Monks 21 Matt Jones 22 Luke Eves 23 Ervin Muric.
Yellow card: Knight.
Scorers:
Cornish Pirates – tries: Duncan (3), Frost (3), Penalty Try, O’Meara cons: Robson (5).
Hartpury – tries: Foley, Bragman, Smith, Goatley; cons: Bragman (2), Williams.
Referee: Alex Thomas (RFU).
Penryn Versus the British Lions!?
With the British Lions squad for South Africa due to be announced on Thursday, hopes will be that perhaps a couple of Cornishmen could be included, namely former Penzance & Newlyn RFC and now Exeter Chiefs products Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Nowell. Luke is surely in with a good chance whilst Jack (a 2017 ‘Lion’ in New Zealand) might just come back into consideration now that he has recovered (long may that continue) from injury.
We also remember that our ‘Stack’ Stevens was a British Lion on the successful 1971 tour to Australia & New Zealand. However, something few will be aware of, is that many gifted players from that squad also played for a ‘1971 British Lions’ side against Penryn in September 1973. Scotland’s Doug Smith, the manager of the 1971 team, got together the representative side to play at the Memorial Ground, which was even coached by the legendary Carwyn James who two years earlier had been instrumental in plotting the Kiwis downfall.
John Dawes, captain in 1971, skippered the invitation XV, his team comprising other ‘greats’ of the game such as flying Welsh wing Gerald Davies, centre John Spencer, hooker John Pullin, flanker John Taylor and, of course, ‘Stack’. The fixture formed part of Penryn’s centenary celebrations and it was the only time that the Lions, who emerged 38-10 victors, had played a British club side.
There is one player missing from the British Lions team photograph image taken in 1973 – perhaps nature called at the last minute. Most faces I can recognise and identify, whilst a few I can only recognise but not name – so can you
Back row l-r: Dr. Doug Smith, ‘’Stack’ Stevens, John Pullin, perhaps Mike Slemen – a guess only), John Spencer, Peter Dixon, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, John Taylor, Carwyn James; Seated l-r: Tommy David, Unknown, John Dawes (captain), Gerald Davies, Geoff Evans.
As a point of interest, this game was played less than two weeks after John Pullin had led England to a 16-10 win against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland – when ‘Stack’ was a try-scorer in the memorable victory.
Formed in 1872, Penryn RFC has a proud history as Cornwall’s most senior club. Notable ‘Borough’ players include former England internationals Vic Roberts (who toured with the Lions to Australia and New Zealand in 1950), Roger Hosen, Kenny Plummer, and Chris Martin.
Tom Voyce (nine caps 2001-2006), started in Penryn’s junior teams, and Hugh Vyvyan (one cap in 2004) played a season at Penryn in the 1990s.
Of their county players George Jago was a legendary figure a century ago, whilst in later decades the names of Graham Bate, Roger Harris, John “Cheyenne” Blackburn, Colin ‘Knocker’ Kneebone, Dave (Benji) Thomas, Gerry McKeown and Franklyn Johns come speedily to mind.
The 1960s and into the 70s formed a golden era for Penryn. They won the CRFU ‘unofficial’ Championship eight times and not only won all 29 of their Cornish inter-club games in 1967/68 but also won the Cornwall KO Cup in what was its first season. It was a competition they would all but dominate to the mid-1970s.
Other highlights included guesting in the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham in 1970, reaching the quarter-final of the RFU Knockout Cup in 1972 – they lost at home 28-4 to a Coventry team boasting nine England internationals – and then in 1973 enjoying another terrific Cup run. Their opponents on the second occasion, again at the Memorial Ground, were mighty London Welsh, who at the time had the likes of John Dawes, J.P.R. Williams, Gerald Davies and John Taylor in their ranks. The famous Exiles emerged 19-6 winners. Both cup games were played in front of 5,000 plus gate.
Looking back, however, I guess it was that special match against the 1971 British Lions that was a stand-out to many – a one off game that will never be forgotten.
Phil Westren