GILL BURNS DIVISION 3 FINAL

CORNWALL WOMEN 36 – 17 NOTTS, LINCS & DERBY WOMEN

By Bill Hooper

Cornwall Women made it an historic day for Cornish rugby with this deserved win in the inaugural Gill Burns Division 3 final. There was a brace of tries each for Amy Bunt, Tia Larson and Emma Stefanotti

It’s a win that will hopefully have a positive effect on Women’s rugby in the Duchy as young girls will see that they too can wear the black and gold and emulate the women who have astonished even their most ardent supporters this season.

It was the three counties that got the opening score when their full-back Cassie Milestone crossed in the corner, with fly-half Hannah Vandersluis landing a very good touchline conversion.

However, Cornwall soon got their opening try when centre Larson made a superb break to dance her way to the corner for an unconverted try.

The back row of Beth Hampton, Rhian Roberts and skipper Verity Holden were carrying well and working hard at the breakdown, whilst both props Mel Ruby and Kim Upcott put in a lot of work.

Further good play from the forwards and backs saw centre Lisa Allin put full back Amy Bunt in for a try and a 10-7 lead. Bunt’s strength when she stepped inside her opponent to dot down was sheer class.

With half-time approaching scrum-half Amy Warman fired out a pass to Bunt who saw space behind, using her speed to outwit the defence she strolled in from 55 meters to plant he ball under the sticks, with a cheeky smile at the camera from some 35 meters out!! Holly Williams conversion putting Cornwall in a strong position at the break 17-7.

Cornwall began the second half with a bang, wing Emma Stefanotti went off on a speculative run, saw the gap to sidestep the cover and streak straight to the try-line under the posts, Hawkins duly obliged with the extras.

NLD pulled back three points with a penalty from in front of the posts by Vandersluis, before Larson again showed her silky skills with solo run that sliced through the opposition from half-way to dot down under the bar, Faith Rowe on as a replacement bettered the try.

Stefanotti then completed her brace of scores taking a good pass from Holden. NLD completed the scoring with a short-range effort from the forwards that Vandersluis converted.

Cornwall earned a final penalty and were able to boot the ball off the park to start the celebrations.

Cornwall Women: Bunt, Stefanotti (both Ivybridge), Allin, Larson (both Bude), Hawkins (Penryn), Williams, Warman; Ruby (all Launceston), Rowland (Ivybridge), Upcott (Launceston), Gallagher (Bude), Milliken (Camborne), Roberts (Plymstock), Holden (Ivybridge, Capt), Hampton (Penryn).

Replacements: Carbis (Devonport Services), Ninnis (Camborne), Eddy (Launceston), Thompson (Penryn), Brazier (Truro), Rowe (Camborne),Towers (Truro).

Cornwall scores: Tries, Larson 2, Bunt 2, Stefanotti 2, Cons, Williams 2, Rowe.

Cornwall’s selectors have chosen their side to face Cheshire in the County Championship Final at Twickenham on Saturday 3 pm.

Will Trewin (Redruth) returns at full-back, whilst St. Austell’s Matt Shepherd reverts to the wing in place of Kyle Bradley, who is on the bench following the late withdrawal of Connor Gilbert due to injury.

On the bench Redruth’s Edd Pascoe returns following Naval duties prohibited his playing against Hertfordshire in place of Torin Clarke.

The Cornwall team will travel up on Friday and will be arriving at Twickenham Stadium at 1:30 pm, ahead of the team photograph outside the Spirit of Rugby at 1:55 pm. Cornwall supporters are asked to congregate on the West concourse to cheer the lads off the coach.

RFU will be streaming the match live, whilst BBC Radio Cornwall are providing live match commentary.

Cornwall team to play Cheshire at Twickenham Stadium Saturday 4th June 3 pm.

1. Tommy Phillips (Redruth)

2. Ben Priddey (Camborne & Royal Navy)

3. Jess Tompsett (Redruth)

4. Toby Freeman (Tonbridge Juddians)

5. Tony Whittle (Falmouth)

6. Ben Fox (Redruth)

7. Sam Stevens (Redruth)

8. Kyle Marriott (St. Austell) (Captain)

9. Jack Oulton (Redruth)

10, Fraser Honey (Redruth)

11. Alex Ducker (Plymouth Albion)

12. Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddians)

13. Jack Simmons (Redruth)

14. Matt Shepherd (St. Austell)

15. Will Trewin (Redruth)

Replacements;

16. Luke Barnes (Redruth)

17. Richie Brown (Redruth)

18. Craig Williams (Redruth)

19. Ben Hilton (Barnstaple)

20. Edd Pascoe (Redruth & Royal Navy)

21. Mike Austin (Cinderford)

22. Kyle Bradley (Redruth)

The Cornwall Women Selectors have named their side to face Notts, Lincs & Derby Women in the Gill Burns Division 3 final this Saturday 2:15 pm at the Richmond Athletic Ground.

At hooker, Nicole Rowland and Emily Carbis reverse their roles from the Somerset game. In the second row, Caitlin Milliken steps up from the bench to partner Alex Gallagher.

At half-back, Holly Williams starts along her Launceston clubmate Amy Warman. On the left wing Lydia Hawkins replaces Chloe Towers who is on the bench.

Both Claire Thompson and Oz Brazier come in to complete the bench.

Entry to Richmond is free on the day, whilst for those unable to travel the game will be shown via the RFU Streaming service. BBC Radio Cornwall will also be providing match commentary.

The Notts, Lincs & Derby Squad for the Final

1 Lauren Smith – Mellish

2 Natasha Champion – Boston

3 Holly Felton – Ashfield

4 Etilly Pigg – Nottingham Trent University

5 Emily Gallivan – West Bridgford

6 Seren Pepperall – Nottingham Trent University

7 Rebecca Humphreys – West Bridgford

8 Hannah Dennis – Stamford (C)

9 Abigail Lee – Lincoln

10 Hannah Vandersluis – West Bridgford

11 Jess Pearce – Stamford

12 Charlotte Lacy – Lichfield / University of Leeds

13 Paige Baker – West Bridgford

14 Jenna Bierton – Lincoln

15 Cassie Milestone – Scunthorpe (VC)

Georgina Tomlinson – Lincoln

Leanne Reeves – Ashfield

Matilda Coe – Derby

Sarah Driver – West Bridgford

Aoife Magee – Nottingham Trent University

Harriet Fluck – Lincoln

Holly Farrer – Nottingham Trent University

Travelling Reserve Annette Zhao – West Bridgford

Just to let you know, Saturday’s Cornwall appearance was Ben’s 50th, confirmed by Terry Carter Chairman of Selectors.
As you will understand to reach 50 caps in this era is very unusual. Graham Dawe was his Marjon coach at Plymouth University.
He has also played 18 times for England Counties, captained the team on the Georgia tour.
Besides his club appearances for London Irish, the Cornish Pirates, Mounts Bay, Launceston and now Barnstaple.
He was Alan Mitchell’s man of the match in Redruth Colts v Penzance Newlyn colts final at Truro, when Kevin Mosley offered him a Pirate contract as he left the field.
That season he played over 28 games and was young player of the season.
The following season he played along side former Bath and England International Martin Haag .
A member of the Mounts Bay team to win the Intermediate Cup at Twickenham.
After his match for England Counties v Irish Clubs XV at Darlington, Bill Beaumont presented a full England cap to him.
He was also invited to play for the Mickey Steele Bodger XV v Cambridge University in their final warm up game before the Varsity match, Bodger’s XV won .
Ben has just accepted a deputy head teachers post at Millfield School , Somerset. Starting in September.
I hope this is of interest to you and Trelawny’s Army supporters.

Jeff Wade

GILL BURNS CUP

CORNWALL WOMEN 28 – 27 SOMERSET WOMEN

By Bill Hooper at Hayle RFC

Cornwall Women staged a tremendous second half comeback to secure their place in this season’s Gill Burns Division 3 final, thanks in part to four successful conversions from tries scored close to the posts.  

It was Somerset who settled the quicker ably marshalled by their fly-half Holly Edmonds who caught the eye throughout.

Somerset took the lead with a good try from lock Cleo Fawcett converted by Daisy Pearce- Lyons.

Cornwall’s reply was not long in coming, a break by centre Lisa Allin saw her get the ball to wing Emma Stefanotti, who cut a great angle to score at the posts, fly-half Faith Rowe added the extras.

The mid-field collisions were intense on both sides. Somerset got a penalty they kicked to the corner they worked the ball well to set up a try for full-back Lucy Peters.

The visitors then got themselves two score ahead when wing Nina Samocki was put in at the corner. Both scores remained unconverted but Cornwall found themselves trailing 7-17 at half-time.

Cornwall had a good chat at half-time looking to put matters right, however the second half was barely underway when the game was interrupted for a good half an hour following a serious injury to Somerset prop Beckie Glover, which required a trip to hospital.

When the game resumed it was Somerset who got the first score as Peters bagged her second of the game.

Cornwall needed a quick response and it came from classy full-back Amy Bunt  who sliced through the cover to dot down under the posts for Rowe to add the conversion.

Cornwall needed a couple of tries and they came from one of the stand out performers during the campaign, centre Tia Larson, she carved a great line to score the first and then calmly took a loose kick to speed in under the bar, both  tries were bettered by Holly Williams to put Cornwall 28-22 ahead.

A late try by Fawcett gave Somerset the chance to win the game but the conversion from wide proved too challenging for their kicker. Cornwall secured the ball with time up and booted it into touch to confirm their win, to huge cheers from the large crowd.

After the final whistle Cornwall’s forwards coach Jo Holden was so proud of the team. “They put their heart and soul into that game, I am so proud of them, even when we were trailing I felt they could find a way to get back in the game and they did just that.”   

Cornwall Women: Bunt, Stefanotti (both Ivybridge), Allin, Larson (both Bude), Towers (Truro), Rowe (Camborne), Warman; Ruby (both Launceston), Carbis (Devonport Services), Upcott (Launceston), Gallagher (Bude), Westgarth (Truro), Roberts (Plymstock AO), Holden (Capt, Ivybridge), Hampton (Penryn).

Replacements: Rowland (Ivybridge), Milliken (Camborne), Eddy (Launceston), James (Bude), Perry (Helston), Hawkins (Penryn), Williams (Launceston).

Cornwall scores: Tries, Stefanotti, Bunt, Larson 2, Cons, Rowe 2, Williams 2

Somerset Women (Bath unless stated): Peters, Shandley-Edwards (N Petherton), Hutchinson (Hornets), Guerrini, Szamocki (Bristolians), Edmonds, Donaghy (N Petherton); Wynne, Stevens (Chew Valley), Glover (Yeovil), Spencer (N Petherton), Fawcett, Burgess, West, Pearce-Lyons.

Replacements: Harding (Yeovil), Foley (St. Mary’s), Wetherall (Bridgwater A), Bamsey (N Petherton), Taylor (N Petherton), Blakely (Hornets).

Somerset scores: Tries, Fawcett 2, Peters 2, Szamocki, Con, Pearce-Lyons

BILL BEAUMONT CUP

HERTFORDSHIRE 24 – 50 CORNWALL

By Bill Hooper

Three tries during the third quarter gave Cornwall the platform to earn another trip to Twickenham on 4^th June to play Cheshire in a repeat of the dramatic 2019 final.

Hertfordshire gave early notice that they might pose Cornwall a few questions with their strong backs and it showed when the hosts went ahead thanks to a try from centre Josh Rudling.

Cornwall struck back almost immediately, good play between wing Alex Ducker and full-back Matt Shepherd saw Shepherd score with fly-half Fraser Honey adding the extras.

Ducker then turned from provider to scorer as he weaved his way to the try-line with Honey again on cue with the extras.

Try number three wasn’t long in arriving, a kick to the corner by Honey saw lock Tony Whittle secure the lineout ball and from the drive hooker Ben Priddey score with Honey again adding the extras.

Credit to Hertfordshire, they stormed back impressively , flanker Alex Banna made good ground before full-back Nick Foster skipped through some poor Cornish tackling to score. Then centre Sam Jones scored both tries converted by Dan Watt to make the half-time score 19-21 to Cornwall.

There can be no doubt that Cornwall had a good talking to at half-time because they emerged a different team after the break. Within a minute of the re-start Shepherd made a break with centre Jack Simmons on hand to score.

Honey having added the conversion to Simmons’ try, then slotted a penalty from 35 meters to stretch the Cornwall lead.

Lock Toby Freeman then broke away from a maul on the twenty-two to romp under the posts, before some close quarter work was finished off by prop Jess Tompsett, Honey added a conversion to Freeman’s score to make it 43-19.

Cornwall looked to the bench with Torin Clarke coming on to make his senior county debut in place of Whittle. 

Cornwall hadn’t finished, a scrum in the Cornwall twenty-two saw the ball go loose with replacement Connor Gilbert slipping the ball to Mikey Austin who ran 80 meters to score Cornwall’s final try, Honey’s conversion brought up the 50 points.

Hertfordshire had the final say when Jamie Hoyes got their fourth try.

Shepherd booted the ball off the park and the referee’s final brought huge cheers from the Cornish faithful.

Speaking after the game Cornwall’s assistant coach Marek Churcher said. “I was pleased with the performance, we finally got into our stride early in the second half, which snuffed out Herts’ hopes of a comeback. It was a bit of physical wave we had to ride out during the first half, but a good half-time chat re-focused the lads and they bossed the second half. We got a little bit sucked in to the way Herts wanted to play and we said at half-time let’s get back to the Cornish way and that saw us through.

“Getting to Twickenham is a great boost to the players and supporters after all people have gone through these last couple of years, but now we must focus on our next game and prepare accordingly.”

Hertfordshire: (O.Albanian unless stated): Foster (Blackheath), Parkhouse (Hertford), Jones, Rudling (Hertford), Ricci, Watt (Capt), McPhun; Ramzan, Walliker (Blackheath), Flanagan (Tring), McGurk (Bishop’s Stortford), Thacker (Bishop’s Stortford), Banna (Hertford), McCartney (Tring), Forbes (Hertford).

Replacements: Hewitt (Hertford), Samuel, O’Gorman (Tring), Jarman (Tring), Kendrick (Hertford), Hoyes (Hemel Hamstead), Watson (Tonbridge Juddians).

Herts scores: Tries, Rudling, Foster, Jones, Hoyes, Cons Watt 2

Cornwall (Redruth unless stated): Shepherd (St. Austell), Bradley, Simmons, Tout (Tonbridge Juddians), Ducker (Plymouth Albion), Honey, Oulton; Phillips, Priddey (Camborne), Tompsett, Freeman (Tonbridge Juddians), Whittle (Falmouth), Fox, Stevens, Marriott (Capt, St. Austell).

Replacements: Barnes, Brown, Williams, Hilton (Barnstaple), Clarke (Plymouth Albion), Austin (Cinderford), Gilbert.

Cornwall scores: Tries, Shepherd, Ducker, Priddey, Simmons, Freeman, Tompsett, Austin, Cons, Honey 6, Pen, Honey. 

Cornwall’s selectors have been forced to make a couple of changes to the Cornwall side that enjoyed a fine win against Hampshire last Saturday by 78-12.

Matt Shepherd has switched to full-back in place of the injured Will Trewin, who suffered concussion near the end of Saturday’s game.

Redruth’s Kyle Bradley comes in on the wing for his county debut, Kyle has impressed during his maiden season at the Reds.

On the bench Edd Pascoe is unavailable due to Naval duties, so former Cornwall captain Ben Hilton returns to the match day 22. The other change is Torin Clarke, the former Cornwall Under 20 captain who comes in on the bench in place of Brad Howe.

Kick-off at Hertford RFC is 3 pm with BBC Radio Cornwall providing live match commentary.

Cornwall team to play Hertfordshire at Hertford RFC Saturday 21^st  May 3 pm.

1. Tommy Phillips (Redruth)

2. Ben Priddey (Camborne & Royal Navy)

3. Jess Tompsett (Redruth)

4. Toby Freeman (Tonbridge Juddians)

5. Tony Whittle (Falmouth)

6. Ben Fox (Redruth)

7. Sam Stevens (Redruth)

8. Kyle Marriott (St. Austell) (Captain)

9. Jack Oulton (Redruth)

10, Fraser Honey (Redruth)

11. Alex Ducker (Plymouth Albion)

12. Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddians)

13. Jack Simmons (Redruth)

14. Kyle Bradley (Redruth)

15. Matt Shepherd (St. Austell)

Replacements;

16. Luke Barnes (Redruth)

17. Richie Brown (Redruth)

18. Craig Williams (Redruth)

19. Ben Hilton (Barnstaple)

20. Torin Clarke (Plymouth Albion)

21. Mike Austin (Cinderford)

22. Connor Gilbert (Redruth)

Tickets available on the gate at Hertford RFC.

GILL BURNS CUP

MIDDLESEX WOMEN 5 – 10 CORNWALL WOMEN

By Bill Hooper

Cornwall Women made it two wins on the bounce with a gutsy display at Grasshoppers RFC against their hosts Middlesex Women.

A very even first half saw both sides have scoring chances but the defences held firm. It was Cornwall Women who got the important first score some 17 minutes into the half when following a penalty that missed touch wing Emma Stefanotti hacked the ball into clear space, with the Middlesex defence wrong-footed, she kicked on again before gathering to score at the posts.

Cornwall were unable to convert so it remained 5-0 to Cornwall until half-time.

In the second half Cornwall were under almost constant pressure but their defence was unrelenting with a huge tackle count. Eventually Middlesex got over the line to level the scores thanks to prop Louise Simons.

Cornwall remained unfazed to put in a strong finish which saw full back Amy Bunt pick up a loose ball to run in the winning score from her own half, tackled short of the line she managed to place the ball on the line for the winning try.

Cornwall now face Somerset Women at Hayle RFC next Sunday 2 pm kick-off with a place in the Gill Burns Division 3 final at stake.