CORNWALL’S BILL
BEAUMONT CUP SUCCESS CELEBRATED AT COUNTY HALL
By Bill Hooper
Members of the Cornwall team along with officers from the Cornwall RFU and also representatives from both Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club and the Falmouth Marine Band attended a civic reception held at County Hall in Truro last Friday afternoon.
Chair of Cornwall
Council Hilary Frank welcomed everyone to County Hall and praised the Cornwall
team and expressed how proud everyone in the Duchy was with their superb win
against Cheshire in the final at Twickenham.
In reply CRFU
President Peter James, thanked the council for their hospitality and expressed
his pride and joy as a Cornishman in the fine qualities of an exceptional team,
and the unrivalled support from the Cornish supporters.
Cornwall team
captain Ben Hilton also spoke about the game and the quality of his players and
paid tribute to the outstanding support the team received all through the
Championship from the fans, especially Trelawny’s Army and the Falmouth Marine
Band.
Councillor Frank,
who has also been involved with assisting with the preparations for the Rugby
World Cup in Japan later this year, arranged for special RWC pin badges from
the organising committee to be presented by an attaché from the Japanese Embassy
in London.
The proceedings
concluded with the singing of Trelawny, led by the City of Truro Male Choir.
With the dust of the Cornish rugby season barely settled following Cornwall’s dramatic win in Sunday’s Bill Beaumont Cup Final, Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly has moved to add two further members from the Cornwall side to his playing squad.
Redruth Director of Rugby Nigel Hambly welcomes Chris Fuca, Fraser Honey and Matt Shepherd to the club. Photo Jeff Till
Both Matt Shepherd and Fraser Honey have put pen to paper
and agreed to join Redruth for next season from Plymouth Albion.
In addition, Hambly has also brought former Redruth
favourite Chris Fuca back to the club as forwards coach for next season.
Speaking at the Recreation Ground on Tuesday evening
Honey was looking forward to the challenge of playing for Redruth. He said. “I am delighted to have signed for
Redruth, it’s a club I have followed for many years. I think I can bring
something to the club and also improve my game with the quality of the coaches here;
I have a huge amount of respect for Nigel, Chris and Matt.
Honey was really excited about the prospects for the new
season as the pieces begin to fall in place. “The support here at Redruth is
the best in the league, I’ve played here for Launceston and Bury St Edmunds as
well as the various county age groups, so I know many of the lads already here
from those days and of course with the wonderful month we have just had with
the Cornwall squad, I’ve played with Jack Oulton when I was at Launceston and
he was on loan and I think we have proved that we form an exciting half-back
partnership.
Matt Shepherd returns to the club in a player/coach role
and is equally enthusiastic about the prospects for the new season. He said. “I
feel that this is the right move for me now at this stage of my rugby career, I
am really looking forward to working with both Fucs and Nigel, I’ve heard a few
stories about Nigel he’s a legend here and huge respect for what he did to get
Redruth playing in National 1. I think having both of them here will attract a
number of players to the club.
Not only will Shepherd bring a wealth of experience to
the side but he is also looking forward to helping develop the young talent
that came through the club last season. “There are a lot of really good young
players at the club, boys like Jack Simmons, Aaron Simmonds, Jack Hodge and I
really am looking forward to helping them develop to the next stage of their
rugby careers.
Returning to the club having cut his coaching teeth at
St. Ives Chris Fuca is thrilled to be back at the club he calls home. “I am
delighted to be back, I spoke with Nigel earlier in the year but I wanted to
honour my commitments at St. Ives for last season before agreeing anything. I
am really looking forward to my role as forwards coach. I shall be purely
coaching to start with but I might have a run out if I am fit enough at some
stage.
“I think the player signings that we have announced
tonight shows real intent from the club that we need to improve on last
season’s results, and I think the work going on at the club both and off the
park shows that the club want to push on and make a statement this season. Both
Fraser and Matt are hugely respected by the other players and they can only
help improve the playing standards at the club.
Fuca is keen to get the Redruth edge upfront back. “Maybe
last season our scrum wasn’t quite the potent weapon it’s been in previous
seasons, so no question that is something I shall be working on. Fitness has a
big role to play so there will be a lot of fitness work pre-season and work on
our plays going into the new season. We will bring in some expertise for
various areas like strength and conditioning and make sure everything is done
in properly planned way.
Director of Rugby was pleased with his first signings for
the new season. “I am really pleased to having both Matt and Fraser joining the
club for next season and to have Chris back here in a new role for him. Fucs is
an icon here and I think he has a very bright future in a coaching role, I
think he will relish the challenge of coaching at this level.
As for Matt,I am delighted to see him back at Redruth. I
had spoken with one or two other potential candidates but it didn’t work out,
Marek Churcher suggested I approach Matt and he was immediately very receptive
to what I had in mind. Matt’s proven quality and hugely respected as player and
I think he has lot to offer in a coaching role here. When I approached Matt
about the role he told me he still wanted to play, for me that was the best
response to hear from him, he will bring his huge experience to the squad.
As for Fraser, I’ll be honest I haven’t seen a lot of him
playing, but from what I have seen he is very good and reads the game intelligently,
kicks the ball well and puts you in good areas on the field, his success rate
kicking for goal is high so all in all a quality player with proven ability in
National 1.”
Hambly also confirmed that Chris Allen would take up the
Team Manager’s role for next season and said that plans for the second team next
season were progressing as well as the colts
set up for next season under Steve Larkins.
Matt Shepherd, held his nerve to split the uprights with the conversion of Seti Raumakita’s game-saving try to win Cornwall the Bill Beaumont Cup to the delight of the Cornish fans who went beserk at the final whistle.
Credit to the
crest-fallen Cheshire boys who must have thought they had the game won, but
this Cornish side never gives up, despite playing the second half with fourteen
men, got their just rewards for an outstanding campaign.
Huge praise to the players, selectors and coaching staff, especially Marek Churcher, who perhaps doesn’t always get the credit he deserves, but who’s contribution is massive.
Prop Jess Tompsett
travelled up on the supporters bus on the morning of the game as his partner
had given birth to a daughter just hours earlier.
Cornwall arrived at the West Car Park to be greeted by the hordes of black and gold clad fans from Trelawny’s Army, One & All, united behind our boys. The reception the team got off the bus was truly inspiring.
Despite the lateness
of the hour there was a good crowd packed into the lower tier of the West
Stand, with the Cornish crowd in full voice as the teams entered the pitch.
Conditions were nigh
on perfect at kick-off despite the usual swirling breeze at Twickenham.
Cornwall had the better of the opening exchanges, but couldn’t breech the Cheshire defence. That set the scene for much of the first half, dogged defence.
Cheshire then had a
long period of territory and possession with wings Rory Hardman and Sam
Stelmaszek looking lively.
The Cornish back row
of Sam Stevens, Edd Pascoe and Brad Howe got through a lot of work, whilst Tony
Whittle had his usual all action game.
The deadlock was finally broken, by guess who? Alex Ducker. Taking a pass from centre Richie Kevern, Ducker burst through a pair of Cheshire defenders to speed to the line, Fraser Honey kicked the conversion and Cornwall were 7-0 up as the fans cheered like mad.
Cheshire roared back
at Cornwall, but once again the Cornish defence was outstanding, tackle after
tackle knocked the big Cheshire forwards back, with Cornwall winning turnover
ball.
In the lead up to half-time, Cornwall had a penalty on the Cheshire 10 metre line, in front of the posts, Honey elected to kick for goal, his kick rebounding off the Twickenham posts.
Following a ruck
there was an altercation near the touchline involving scrum-half Jack Oulton,
after the officials deliberation, referee Phil Davies brandished a red card at
Oulton, Cornwall would have to play the whole of the second half with just
fourteen men.
Cornwall need to re-organise, Shepherd moved to scrum-half, and Craig Williams came on for the excellent Dan Job, who had carried well as well as Tompsett.
Cheshire sensed
blood and went for it. Pressure eventually told when fly-half Tom Morton
squeezed over in the corner for a try he couldn’t convert.
Both sides looked to
the bench to find that extra lift, both George Jones and Grant Randlesome had
the Penryn contingent on their feet as they surged up field.
But it was Cheshire who now exerted the greater pressure, they drove at the Cornwall line and despite heroic defence by the black and gold, they finally mauled over for a try from Tom Sanders, Morton slotted the conversion and it was Cheshire ahead as the clock ticked down.
Cornwall had a penalty with Shepherd kicking to the corner, three times Cheshire were penalised and thrice Shepherd went for the same, try-scorer Sanders was the first dispatched to the bin for cynical play, followed by Jack Collister.
From a scrum five-meters out Shepherd saw Raumakita running hard from deep, the pop pass was perfect and the giant Fijian burst the tackle to score, as Twickenham went mad.
A Matt Shepherd conversion with the final kick of the game gave Cornwall the Bill Beaumont Cup in a tight final against Cheshire.
Cornwall led 7-0 at half-time thanks to an Alex Ducker try converted by Fraser Honey.
Playing the whole of the second half with just fourteen men following a red card to Jack Oulton, Cornwall withstood Cheshire pressure until finally cracking to an unconverted try.
Cheshire then went on to score a second try, this time converted and looked to be heading for the win.
However, Cornwall’s never-say-die attitude was rewarded at the end when Seti Raumakita cut a great line to score and tie the scores, leaving Shepherd to add the coup de grace.
Cornwall completed their final training session at Redruth RFC yesterday evening with the squad looking forward to Sunday’s Bill Beaumont Cup final 5-45 pm at Twickenham.
The squad will
prepare on Sunday for the game, before the coach ride to the Stadium.
Many thanks to Warren’s Bakery who have kindly provided the squad with pasties for the trip up, also to Tribute Brewery and Kelsal Steele who have sponsored a range of O’Neills leisure wear so that the squad will look “proper” at HQ.
Sunday morning sees the Family coach set off from Hayle RFC at 7 am and they will meet up with the Trelawny’s Army coaches and others from the duchy along with our “exiles” to greet the team as they arrive at Twickenham at around 3:45 pm to sea of black and gold.
For those early arrivals at Twickenham head to the Cabbage Patch for 12-noon, where choirmaster Stu Hoy will lead the singing of the Cornish. Pasties will be available.
For those unable to
travel to Twickenham, there will be full match coverage by BBC Radio Cornwall,
with Dick Straughan and John Martin your commentators.
It is expected and
hoped that ERTV will provide match footage of the game. See the RFU site for
updates.
Two of the stars from this season’s Cornwall side have been picked for England Counties tour to Georgia, leaving almost immediately following the final whistle in Sunday’s Bill Beaumont Cup Final.
For both Jack Oulton (Redruth) and Alex Ducker (Camborne), it is worthy recognition as both players have enjoyed a stand out season for both their clubs and Cornwall.
There are two games scheduled, both against a Georgia XV, with the first game taking place in Kutaisi on the 7th June and the second in Tbilisi on the 11th June, both games kick-off at 6 pm local time.
England Counties squad to tour Georgia
1. Tom Williams* Kent and Blackheath
2. George Porter* Gloucestershire and Cinderford
3. Henry Paul* Surrey And Esher
4. Danny Herriott* Kent and Blackheath
5. Nathan Morris* Kent and Old Elthamians
6. Neil Briggs * Cheshire and Sale FC
7. Bob Birtwell Lancashire and Sedgley Park
8. Joe Makin Yorkshire and Hull Ionians
9. John Kelly* Devon and Plymouth Albion
10. Ollie Hodgson Durham and DMP
11. Andrew Hughes Lancashire and Sale FC
12. Harry Hone Gloucestershire and Cinderford
13. Stephen Leonard * Kent and Cambridge University
14. Jack Daly Kent and Blackheath
15. Jack Oulton* Cornwall and Redruth
16. Dan Mugford Devon and Plymouth Albion
17. Greg Lound* Surrey and Rosslyn park
18. James Tincknell Yorkshire and Hull Ionians
19. Kieron Moffat* Kent and Old Elthamians
20. Lewis Minikin Yorkshire and Hull Ionians
21. Callum McKenzie* Durham and DMP
22. Craig Holland* Surrey and Chinnor
23. Nick Hankin* Hertfordshire and Bishops Stortford
It will be the third time
the two counties have faced each other in the final, Cheshire won the first
final in 1998, 21-14, whilst Cornwall won the second final three years ago,
35-13, Matt Shepherd notching twenty points in a memorable performance with a
try, three penalties and three conversions.
There are just a couple of positional changes for the final. Jon Dawe moves to the wing whilst Richie Kevern moves from full-back to the centre to partner club mate Jack Simmons with Shepherd having recovered from injury that forced him to miss the Devon game.
In the back row, Edd Pascoe
retains his place with fit again Sam Stevens returning having also missed out
against Devon.
Disappointingly, there is no
place for Bude winger Kyle Speare who is named as a travelling reserve.
The replacements bench will
supply plenty to the team’s performance when they get their chance. Penryn pair
George Jones and Grant Randlesome are bound to play a full part at rugby HQ, as
will Wadebridge’s Matt Ballard.
The whole squad at training joined in with the congratulations to Alex Ducker and Jack Oulton on their selection for England Counties tour to Georgia, which departs immediately after the final.
While there are still 80
minutes of rugby to be played, this Cornwall team will give everything and more
in this final game of their season and be a credit to their families, their
clubs and their county. They have played with pride and passion wearing the
black and gold and that has always been a hallmark of great Cornwall sides of
the past.
The selected squad will be
travelling up to Twickenham on Saturday and will arrive at the ground at
approximately 3.30 pm on the Sunday and look forward to being greeted by the
Cornish crowd as they step off the coach.
There may be many in the Cornwall
rugby community who will be baffled by the RFU decision to move the 5.30pm kick-off
to 5.45pm
Cornwall team to play Cheshire at
Twickenham on Sunday 2nd June. Kick off 5.45pm
15. Matt
Shepherd Plymouth Albion
14. John Dawe Plymouth Albion
13. Jack
Simmons Redruth
12. Richie
Kevern Redruth
11. Alex Ducker Camborne
10. Fraser
Honey Plymouth Albion
9. Jack Oulton Redruth
1. Dan Job Lanner
2. Rob Elloway St. Ives
3. Jess
Tompsett Redruth
4. Tony Whittle Camborne
5. Ben Hilton
(captain) Barnstaple
6. Edd Pascoe Redruth & Royal Navy
7. Sam Stevens Redruth
8. Brad Howe Redruth
16. Matt
Ballard Wadebridge Camels
25. Craig
Williams Redruth
18. George
Jones Penryn
19. Grant
Randlesome Penryn
20. Taron
Peacock Camborne
21. Dean Bonds Redruth
22. Seti
Raumakita Plymouth Albion
Travelling Reserves:
Rikki Bentham, Kyle Speare, Rhys Brownfield, Charlie
Nicholson or Greg Thomas
Cornwall booked
their return to Twickenham in impressive style scoring eight tries as they defeated
a gutsy Devon side.
There was a late
change to the published team, with Sam Stevens failing a late fitness test.
Fellow red Edd Pascoe came into the back row, with Falmouth’s lock Dan
Sanderson onto the bench.
Roared on by Trelawny’s Army, Cornwall kicked off and looked to stamp their authority on the game.
It didn’t take long
with an opening try after just four minutes scored by the mercurial Alex Ducker
following some good phases by the Cornish forwards, Ducker’s balance and pace
bamboozled the Devon defence.
Fly-half Fraser Honey
made no mistake with the first of his five successful conversions.
Devon came back into
it with some good play from former Cornwall player Lewis Paterson and the
impressive back row Tom McGratton, they earned a penalty that fly-half Tom Putt
kicked to cut the deficit.
Honey then missed with a penalty attempt at the other end, before the game erupted with a dust up involving Brad Howe and Devon’s Dean Avery, both players were invited by referee Nick Wood to spend ten minutes on the naughty step.
Cornwall’s defence
was again rock-solid with Pascoe knocking over Devon players at will.
Cornwall then found
themselves down to thirteen men when Ducker was adjudged to have deliberately knocked-on,
it seemed a harsh call.
Putt, who had just
seen a penalty attempt canon off an upright, made no mistake at the second time
of asking.
Cornwall survived
the short period of being down to thirteen before Howe returned, indeed wing
Dean Bonds was just inches away from scoring Cornwall’s second try.
The Black and Golds maintained the pressure near the Devon line, with penalty decisions going their way at scrum-time, eventually it told as scrum-half Jack Oulton sniped, seemed to lose balance but kept his feet to score near the posts, Honey was again successful with the extras.
Full-back Charlie
Briant went close for the green and whites, denied once more by the granite
Cornish defence.
With half-time fast approaching Cornwall got their third try, from a ruck near the Devon line, prop Dan Job drove and planted the ball on the line, Honey’s conversion put Cornwall in the driving seat at the break 21-6.
Cornwall didn’t deal well with the kick-off at the beginning of the second half handing possession to Devon, they went through the phases near the Cornwall line before scrum-half Ben Watts went over, Putt’s conversion brought Devon back into contention momentarily as Cornwall got their act together getting the bonus point try through the impressive Howe, Honey again made no mistake with the conversion.
Just four minutes
later further pressure in the Devon twenty-two saw giant prop Jess Tompsett
drive over for try number five, and Honey adding his final conversion.
The Cornwall supporters were by now in full-cry as Cornwall, with the game in the bag cut loose with further tries from Kyle Speare, following great work from Ducker, Jon Dawe, given the scoring pass by full-back Richie Kevern and finally Taron Peacock, who found a big hole and gleefully accepted it.
Devon did have the final say with a try from Avery from a missed lineout near the Cornwall line, converted by Putt, but by then Cornwall’s black and gold army was in full celebration as the plans for Twickenham were being made.
Head coach Graham
Dawe was pleased with the win. “Delighted for the boys but it took us awhile to
get going, we fell foul of the referee again, so we have to make sure we
understand what he wants. We will look to prepare for Twickenham and make sure
the boys are in the best shape going into that game.”
DEVON (Ivybridge
unless stated): Charlie Briant, Billy Pinkus, Rhys Palmer (Okehampton), Lewis
Paterson, Frank Kelly (Plymouth Albion), Tom Putt (Unattached), Ben Watts; Matt
Dowrick (Newton Abbot), Dean Avery (Unattached), Charlie Tribble (Exmouth),
Adam Thomas (Brixham), Jamie Tripcony, Tom McGratton (Okehampton), Sam Thomas
(Brixham), Wayne Sprangle (Bridgwater & Albion, Capt).
Replacements: Ashlee
Crouch (Plymouth Albion),Shane Cooper (Exmouth), Ben King, Olly Schuster-Wood
(Cullompton), George Wilson, Mitch Pinkus (Brixham), Jamie Hext (Brixham).
CORNWALL (Redruth
unless stated): Richie Kevern, Dean Bonds, Jack Simmons, Jon Dawe (Plymouth
Albion), Alex Ducker (Camborne), Fraser Honey (Plymouth Albion), Jack Oulton;
Dan Job (Lanner), Rob Elloway (St. Ives), Jess Tompsett, Tony Whittle
(Camborne), Ben Hilton (Barnstaple, Capt), Edd Pascoe, Grant Randlesome
(Penryn), Brad Howe.
Replacements: Matt
Ballard (Wadebridge Camels), Craig Williams, Dan Sanderson (Falmouth), George
Jones (Penryn), Seti Raumakita (Plymouth Albion), Kyle Speare (Bude), Taron
Peacock (Camborne).
The Black & Golds ran in eight tries in a 50-20 win to book a return to rugby HQ in early June.
Cornwall ran riot in the second half scoring five tries to demolish a brave Devon effort.
Ducker, Outlton and Job scored tries in the first half with Honey kicking all three conversions, to a couple of Putt penalties for the hosts.
Despite an early second half score by Watts for Devon, Cornwall kept their foot on the metal with tries from Howe, Tompsett, Speare, Dawe and Peacock with Honey adding another couple of conversions.
Devon had the final say when Avery crashed over but it was too little for the green and whites.
Cornwall will now face Cheshire in the final, after they defeated Durham today and Lancashire lost the Roses match to Yorkshire.
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