The news we have all being dreading broke this morning. The RFU have ended the season below the Premiership.

This means, apart from the leagues, national and local cups, that the Bill Beaumont, Gill Burns and Jason Leonard Cup competitions are cancelled for 2020.

There will be no presentation this season at our AGM of the Bill Osborne or Jess Humber Shields, however as the Under 20s played their pool games we will be presenting the Tony Mead Shield to our Under 20 player of the year at our AGM in September.

Full statement from Bill Sweeney RFU CEO in the link

Please read the statement from the RFU via the CRFU website

GLOUCESTERSHIRE U.20 27 – 31 CORNWALL U.20

By Bill Hooper at Shaftesbury Park

A late try from skipper Aaron Simmonds gave Cornwall Under 20s a deserved win against fancied Gloucestershire Under 20s.

Cornwall’s hearts were in their mouths as referee Julian Rainford at first appeared unsure of the grounding, happily for the Cornish lads his assistant saw the grounding. The win sees Cornwall top their group to earn a home quarter-final in two weeks time.

Whether that game goes ahead remains to be seen, for now the Cornwall squad can reflect on a job well done.

Cornwall got off to a cracking start, pressing in the Gloucestershire twenty-two, lock Steele Barker charged down an attempted clearance, gathered the ball before passing inside to fellow lock Mawgan Osborne who scored. Simmonds added the first of his four conversions.

The Gloucestershire boys, rattled, then conceded a penalty in front of the posts that Simmonds calmly popped over to stretch the lead.

Eventually the home side settled with their fly-half Tom Price getting them on the board with a penalty.

A searing break from Charlie Levick set up Cornwall’s second try that led to the Osborne brother combining to send Toby over for another converted try.

Flanker Tom Spiers again caught the eye with his work at the breakdown turning ball over and dangerous with the ball in hand.

Gloucestershire were starting to get some momentum at scrum time, they pressurised the Cornwall line and from a 5-metre scrum their powerful No.8 Adam Hopkinson drove over for Price to convert.

Cornwall will be disappointed in the manner they saw their lead disappear, attacking in the opposing twenty-two, a stray pass was hacked on by Gloucestershire’s Tim Andrew, the wing showed his speed hacking on again to win the race to the line, Price’s conversion tying the scores at half-time.

Cornwall started to use their bench, Mishka Fibbens and Joe Best came on putting in some big drives. 

Spiers’ good work was temporarily halted when he appeared to be harshly sin-binned. Price took the chance to put his side ahead from the kicking-tee for the first time.

Under the cosh Cornwall conceded another try from a close-range scrum with Hopkinson once again the scorer, Price’s conversion giving Gloucestershire a 27-17 advantage with the clocking ticking down.

Prop Eliot Salt, who had a fine game, took a heavy knock that stunned him for several minutes, it gave Cornwall the chance to refocus.

Cornwall had to throw the dice, they piled on the pressure, Spiers was held up over the line, suddenly the home side saw yellow.

Following several concerted drives near the Gloucestershire line Cornwall got their lifeline thanks to Cameron Taylor, Simmonds calmly slotted the extras to make it game on once more.

Back came the Cornish lads, patience being their watchword, the calmly went through the phases that led up to Simmonds try, a dramatic comeback!

It wasn’t over, Cornwall had to withstand a final Gloucestershire surge near their line, but when they knocked on Cornwall had their win.

After the final whistle Cornwall coach Richie Kevern was delighted with his side’s never say die attitude. “We showed some character out there today, to have made that good start and then find yourself ten points down nearing the end the lads could have cracked, but they showed a mature attitude, were patient and forced the errors from Gloucestershire, they earned that win the hard way.”

Cornwall U.20: Levick, Brooks, Simmonds (Capt), Plummer, Bullen, Tucker, Stacey; Looker, Oliver, Salt, Barker, M Osborne, T Osborne, Spiers, Wickham.

Replacements: Taylor, Fibbens, Bennett-Murray, Best, Stoddern, Murray, Clemo.

Cornwall scores: Tries. M Osborne, T Osborne, Taylor, Simmonds, Cons, Simmonds 4, Pen, Simmonds.          

Ian Gordon presented the match balls to the Cornwall under 20s on Sunday. Former county player Paul Hurrell took receipt of the balls.

Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship team, play their only home fixture in the pool stage of the 2020 Jason Leonard Cup. The team host Berkshire at Camborne RFC with a 1330 kick off time on Sunday 23 February, and will be played on the main pitch.

Cornwall Under 20 coaches Richie Kevern and Tyler Gendall have made ten changes, three positional, to the side ahead of Sunday’s Jason Leonard Cup pool game against Berkshire at Camborne RFC.

Coach Rich Kevern said – “The first game against Devon has to be a wakeup call for the players. We had lots of opportunities to win the game but didn’t take them and allowed a strong Devon team to get back into the match. Discipline is another area we have to improve and to ensure that we keep to our game.

The changes are; in the front row, James Lambourn comes in at loose-head with Oliver Mackenzie at hooker.

In the second row Penryn’s  Steele Barker partners Mawgan Osborne, whilst Toby Osborne goes from lock to blindside flanker.

Saltash player Jack Wickham comes in at No.8.

There is a change at half-back with James Tucker starting at fly-half, with skipper Aaron Simmonds moving to the outside centre berth, St. Austell’s Ben Plummer moves to inside centre and fellow Saint Fraser Nottle coming in at 14.

Another Penryn player, Charlie Levick comes in at full-back.

The coaches are at present unable to confirm the complete line up on the replacements bench due to re-arranged league matches taking place on the Saturday, however they have named five forwards with three backs to be added.

Cornwall Captain Aaron Simmonds said; – “The guys were disappointed with our performance against Devon. We had been prepared well by the coaches but let ourselves down in a number of areas on the field which cost us dearly and ultimately the result! This is our only home game and it would be great to get the fantastic Cornish crowd to turnout and support us at Camborne on Sunday. ”

CRFU President John Sumnall said “We are pleased to be playing this game at Camborne RFC and thank the club and its members for hosting us. Our first game saw 13 young players representing the County at this level for the first time and although the result in a tight game went against them, I am sure they will be up to the challenge of this tough game against Berkshire. It is fantastic to see so many different clubs represented, and we thank them and our sponsors for their support to enable these fixtures to be played.”

Berkshire lost their opening game to Gloucestershire so both counties will be looking for a win to kick-start their hopes of making the knockout stages.

Cornwall‘s final pool game will be hosted by Dings RFC in Bristol on Sunday 15 March where the opponents will be Gloucestershire.

The team manager Colin Hatch said; -“The President rightly points out the number of new players that played in our last game, however it is no different for any other county in this competition. A number of these guys are playing rugby week in and week out for their clubs at all levels of the game. We have emphasised the fact that this competition is short and if we don’t perform then it is over for this season. I am sure that the players will have learnt from the first game and will want to make amends in this home game.”

Cornwall Team to play Berkshire

Coaches – Rich Kevern + Tyler Gendall, assisted by Adam Kevern + Brad Howe

Gates open to the public at 1230, with entry for adults costing £5 including a programme. Young people under the age of 16 accompanied by an adult get free entry.

It has been confirmed by the RFU that the date for this year’s Bill Beaumont Cup Final has been moved from 21st of June to Saturday 30th May.

The county finals will not be part of the England V Barbarians game package which remains at it’s original date.

The good news is that all 5 county finals will be played at Twickenham on the same day, with the Bill Beaumont Cup Final scheduled for 3 pm.

At this stage it is not clear which part of the stadium will be open for the finals, probably just the West Stand lower.

Bryan Llewellyn will advise of travel packages available when sorted.

Obviously, Cornwall will have to qualify first, this is just a heads up.

Members from Trelawny’s Army were invited to this season’s Cornwall team get-together held at the Eden Project, reports Bill Hooper

There were some 150 players, family, CRFU officials and guests present, which also saw the launch of the 2020 playing shirt designed by O’Neills. Our current player of the year Tony Whittle is seen modelling the new shirt below.

At the conclusion of the formal part of the event members of Trelawny’s Army led the singing of “Cornwall, my home” and “Trelawny”.

Founder member of the Army was pictured proudly holding the Bill Beaumont Cup.

Thanks must be expressed to the CRFU for inviting us and to the Eden Project and St. Austell Brewery.

JASON LEONARD CUP

UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

DEVON U.20Ss, 30 – 18 CORNWALL U.20 s

By Bill Hooper at Cross-in-Hand, Ivybridge

Cornwall got their campaign off to a disappointing start with this defeat to Devon.

Sadly, Cornwall were the architects of their own demise with indiscipline costing them dear with two yellow cards in the space of 4 second half minutes.

Devon scored two tries during the sin-binning making it a mountain to climb for the Cornish youngsters, who to their credit responded with a couple of tries.

Frustratingly, Cornwall had the better of the first half, enjoying good territorial advantage, but crucially unable to turn it into scores.

Cornwall coach Richie Kevern was naturally disappointed at the final whistle. “Indiscipline cost us today, going down the thirteen men made it very difficult. We really didn’t make the most of our chances in the first half and that was equally frustrating. We will go away now and prepare for the Berkshire game at Camborne in four weeks time.” 

There were positives for Cornwall Skipper Aaron Simmonds looked very accomplished at fly-half, Tom Spiers was a handful in the back row, both the Osborne brothers in the boiler house went well, Eliot Salt carried well, whilst Mishka Fibbens made a big impact off the bench.

Simmonds gave Cornwall the lead after 31 minutes with a penalty. This was cancelled out by Harry Ottaway for the hosts. The same player then nudged Devon ahead with his second penalty that was matched immediately by Simmonds to leave the scores tied 6- all at the break.

Ten minutes into the second half was when it started to unravel for Cornwall. Open-side flanker Tom Spiers was harshly carded for a ruck offence.

Devon capitalised laying siege to the Cornwall line with eventually hooker Reece Bartlett forcing his way over, Ottaway adding the conversion.

It was then that fellow back row Cameron Taylor was binned, Devon took full-advantage launching an unstoppable forward drive with No.8 Adam Northcott scoring, Ottaway’s conversion putting Devon 25-6 up.

With the clock against Cornwall fresh legs came on, prop Mishka Fibbens made an instant impact ploughing through the Devon defence to crash over, Simmonds on the money with the extras.

Cornwall gave it a good go creating a chance for Mawgan Osborne out wide, the lock danced along the touchline to squeeze in for an unconverted try.

Now trailing by just seven points could Cornwall snatch a draw? They had chances but couldn’t take them, instead Devon made the game safe as lock Ethan Pearce made good ground evading some tired tackle before finding wing Devon Jewsbury who finished well to score Devon’s bonus point try. 

Cornwall U.20: Adam Long (Camborne), Guy Brooks (Penryn), Ben Plummer (St. Austell), Isaak Welsh (Truro), Max Bullen (St. Austell), Aaron Simmonds (Capt), Ali Stacey (both Redruth); Callum Looker (Cardiff Met), Rory Mead (Bude), Eliot Salt (Cardiff Met), Mawgan Osborne, Toby Osborne (both Pirates Ams), Cameron Taylor (St. Austell), Tom Spiers (Truro), Aden Brassington (Redruth).

Replacements: James Lambourn (Pirates Ams), Mishka Fibbens (Penryn), Jack Wickham, Devon Bennett-Murray (both Saltash), James Tucker (St. Austell), James Murray (Redruth), Fraser Nottle (St. Austell).

Cornwall scores: Tries, Fibbens, M Osborne, Con, Simmonds, Pens, Simmonds 2