
EXETER CHIEFS XV 38 – 14 CORNWALL
By Bill Hooper
Despite this defeat Cornwall can take plenty of positives from the game ahead of the Bill Beaumont Cup games.
The young Exeter Chiefs side showed plenty of willingness to move the ball at speed and in fly-half Louie Sinclair the man-of-the-match.
Despite a bright start by Cornwall they soon found themselves 14 points down, first of all Chiefs countered from their own line with Campbell Ridl dotting down and then Olly Baston charged over, both scores bettered by Sinclair.
Cornwall needed a reply and it came through Aiden Brassington (pictured scoring) who fed off an inside pass from Josh Matavesi, Matt Shepherd adding the extras.
Whilst Cornwall bossed the scrums they lost their wrecking ball Matavesi in mid-field after 15 minutes.
The black and gold levelled matters when Jamie Prisk burrowed over for a try bettered by Shephard, but Chiefs had the last word of the half as Noah Fenton was put away by Sinclair for an unconverted try just as Cornwall were reduced to fourteen when Jordan Nicholls was sent to the sin-bin.
The second half saw both sides turn to the bench at regular intervals; understandably Cornwall found the pace of the game difficult in the warm conditions.
Sam James had a couple of good runs for Cornwall as they came close to adding to their tally, however it was Chiefs who added to the scoreboard as Cornwall again went down to fourteen men when Duncan Tout was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on as they scored three second half tries from Ollie Miall and in the final five minutes two scores with Sinclair finishing off from a Fenton pass.
A good workout for the Cornwall squad ahead of the game against Kent, having beaten Hampshire they will travel to Redruth looking to seal a place in the Twickenham final.
Cornwall: Matt Shephard (St. Austell, Capt), Duncan Tout (Tonbridge J), Jack Simmons (Redruth), Josh Matavesi (Camborne), Ben Plummer (St. Austell), Dan Rutter (Redruth), Josh Pengilly (Brunel Uni); Kye Beasley (Camborne), Tom Cowan-Dickee (Redruth), Tyler Gendall (Redruth), Jamie Prisk (Redruth), Dan Goldsmith (Launceston), Adam Hughes (Camborne), Jordan Nicholls (Camborne), Aiden Brassington (Camborne).
Replacements: Luke Barnes (Redruth), Luis Powell (Truro), Charlie Short (Launceston), Adam Powell (St. Austell), Ben Hancock (Bude), Jack Hazelton (Camborne), Harry Larkins (Camborne), Will Hennessy (Camborne), CJ Boyce (Camborne), Sam James (Redruth), Cam Fogden (Launceston).
Cornwall scores: Tries Brassington 11, Prisk 34, Cons, Shepherd 12, 35
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