As we enter the second half of the season I would like to share some of my experiences and thoughts during my visits to the Cornwall Clubs and Rugby in Cornwall.
CRFU President John Sumnall
Of the eleven Clubs that I have visited so far, I have been
impressed by the commitment that their volunteers give not only to their Club
but also to rugby and their community by many different methods. The successful
hosting of sponsors at pre match meals and buffets at Bude, Camborne.
Launceston and St Austell not only cater for their followers but it also brings
in welcome finance and occasionally new people to the game and the Club.
Liskeard-Looe provide a very welcome hot drinks cabin adjacent to the pitch and
Saltash, on the day that I visited, were selling home made cakes and goodies to
help with a mini/junior tour. At Wadebridge, I was impressed by the number of
helpers on their two pitches and in the Club House, all volunteers. The number
of ex players attending the matches at Newquay Hornets and Penryn state much
about the continual commitment and value of these guys and hopefully their
current players will follow their example. Deep down in the far south west that
great community Club, St Just, had just purchased adjacent land to extend their
camping facilities during the summer with the intention of providing even more
facilities at their Club.
However, there are unknown benefits to be gained when visiting
Clubs and these outcomes include discussing their requirements to enable the
CRFU to help to meet, as far as possible, their needs. At Lanner training
lights have been arranged. Stithians had ten registered players and two
committee members at the beginning of the season and have recently completed
all their fixtures well done Stithians. May I remind
Clubs that they do not have to wait for a visit. Just ask!
A very pleasant evening was spent at a Cornwall Rugby Referee’s Soceity meeting when a discussion was held entitled “Rugby in Cornwall” and the referees chose to discuss not refereeing but their concern for the state of the game. These included the loss of players between 16 and 18, the introduction of “Game On” and the reasons for the deduction of league points. Most enlightening. Monthly visits are made to the Cornwall Rugby Sages when an update is given on CRFU matters before they enjoy their pasty, pint and singing. These are always well attended by some great past players and stalwarts of Cornish rugby and I thoroughly recommend them to you.
A special highlight was to be invited to the England Women
v. France Women at Exeter and not only observe a great win for England but the
magnificent spectacle of some 150 girls ferried from Cornwall by our CDCs and
others. The Ladies and Girls game is certainly growing in Cornwall from this
interest and I wish them every success.
May I wish you all a prosperous New Year and I look forward
to visiting more Clubs in the second half of the season.
Redruth deservedly regained the Rodda’s Milk Cup with a
decisive win against old rivals Camborne in front of a four figure Boxing Day
crowd.
The Reds travelled down the road with a strong squad and had the luxury to include a few youngsters to give them a taste of this special occasion.
A Happy Redruth squad having regained the Milk Cup, photo Dan Barbary
Town, roared on by their supporters opened the scoring
with a Rhys Brownfield penalty, the lead proved short-lived as Redruth piled on
the pressure.
Connor Gilbert made good ground before slipping the
scoring pass to Dean Bonds who dived in for the opening try.
Matt Shepherd, having missed the conversion made no
mistake with a penalty kick to extend the lead.
Redruth maintained their foot on the throttle as they
continued to pound the Camborne line with Jack Hodge, Chris Fuca and Gilbert
all going close before Bonds sneaked over for his second try.
A second Brownfield penalty gave some relief to Camborne but the relentless pressure from the Reds continued as their pack mauled their way to a further two tries, both scored by Aden Brassington, and bettered by Shepherd for a 27-6 lead at the break.
Aden Brassington receives the TASC Tony Pill Memorial Cup for man-of-the-match from TASC Press Officer Bill Hooper. Photo Dan Barbary.
As the light faded badly in the second half Redruth
wrapped up their win scoring couple more tries through Jack Kessell and Ben
Priddey with Shepherd landing a conversion.
The final whistle brought huge cheers from the Redruth
supporters as they headed home to celebrate.
The Cornish 18’s
stick 8 tries on Bucks 18s to finish their campaign undefeated and on a high!
Starting XV Finishes
Matt Trehair (St Austell) 16. Harry Richardson (Saltash)
Tyler Dower (Camborne) 17. Dillon Newton (Newquay Hornets)
Declan Prowse (Pz&N & St Just) 18. Cameron Richards (Redruth)
Jack Hoskin (St. Austell) 19. Tom Jewell (Launceston)
Lewis Richards (Redruth) 20. Lewis Wills (Redruth)
Eli Williams (C) (Pz&N) 21. Kristian Davis (Saltash)
Jack Mills (Saltash) 22. Cal Grohmann (Camborne)
Oliver Minnis (W Camels) 23. Dom Tresidder (Camborne)
Huey Campbell (St. Austell)
Sam Walker (Falmouth)
George Hutchinson (St Austell)
Freddie Davies (Saltash)
Kit May (St. Austell)
Callum Preece (Saltash)
Eddie Pearce (Newquay Hornets)
Cornwall Try Scorers:
Sam Walker (Flyhalf), Kit May (Centre), George Hutchinson (Wing),
Jack Hoskin (Lock), Eddie Pearce (Fullback), Dillon Newton (Flanker), Dom
Tresidder (Wing), Declan Prowse (Tighthead Prop)
Match Report, by James Mills
Bucks 18s went into the match with a confidence boosting win
against Devon in their last encounter and were a much fancied team with the
selectors. True to form, Bucks had the better of the early exchanges, camping
in the Cornwall half for a solid 6 mins after a Cornish early mistake from the
kick off. The Bucks boys probed the Cornish defence who stood up well and was
not found wanting.
Cornwall with 3 U17s playing, none of whom looked out of place and none more so than flyhalf Sam Walker from Falmouth RFC. The 16 year old with great composure and a useful canon of a left boot used the wind well to push Buckinghamshire back into their own half.
Cornwall making good ground
The Cornish front row at scrum dominated their opposition in
the first half and this put the Bucks backs under a lot of pressure which
resulted in a well read intercepted try for Sam Walker to scamper in from 20m
out.
Buckinghamshire replied quickly and well with a lively scrum
half spotting space in the tight 5m left channel on the blindside. With quick
thinking the 9 looked to go open but switched to the blind and created a 2 on 1
which was well taken for a fine score of their own from distance. This was on
the 14min mark and then the next 26 mins was all about the Cornwall forward
pack creating space and possession, winning collisions and scrums for the direct
running and off loading game of the Cornish backs. Cornwall ran in 4 more
scores in the first half through Kit May (St Austell Centre), George Hutchinson
(St Austell Wing) Jack Hoskin (St Austell Lock) and finally Eddie Pearce
(Newquay Fullback) The half finished with Buckinghamshire on the attack but
getting held up on the Cornish line by Jack Mills (Saltash Openside Flanker)
and Jack Hoskin and then losing possession with the ball to be kicked out for
half time with Cornwall leading 25-5.
A very good half but a few areas for development around how
we started and how our lineout functioned but overall it was about maintaining
our focus and intensity with the coaching team very pleased at running in 5
scores.
In the second half Cornwall emptied the bench which lost some of our continuity and forward dominance. Buckinghamshire for their part were able to a degree of parity and momentum up front which made for a tighter contest.
Eddie Pearce takes a perfect pass
The Newquay flanker Dillon Newton now on after missing the
last match through injury was keen to make an impact, however he took a knock
early in a clash with the Bucks right wing, which needed to be assessed,
however the robust forward was back in action shortly afterwards with rampaging
runs and ultimately with Newton crossing the white wash with an outstretched
arm to open the second half score 30-5.
Cornwall continued to keep the score board ticking with our
forwards sucking in the defenders resulting in Bucks having to commit more
players to the break down in order to halt the black and gold tide. This
created space out wide and centre Kristian Davis (Saltash RFC) with a neatly
executed 15m pass found Dom Tresidder (Camborne RFC) to go over on the right.
35-5
The last Cornish score was a forwards try through talisman
tighthead prop Declan Prowse having come fresh from representing Chiefs U18s at
Allianz park on Friday night against Sarries. Our lad from St Just from 3m out
was not going to be stopped. 40-5
Buckinghamshire to their credit rallied and with 2mins on
the clock benefited from a wayward cross field clearing kick to run in from 50m
out unopposed. Bucks finished the match in the Cornwall half which showed their
quality and determination and if it was not for another Eddie Pearce fullback
last ditch tackle they were sure to score again, as it was, It was the Cornish forwards
who denied their opponents winning the ball off a Bucks maul 3m off the Cornish
line to end the match.
Sam Walker the 16 year old flyhalf was awarded the man of
the match from our gracious opponents Buckinghamshire but notable mentions need
to go the Cornish forward pack who did the business up front for our backs to
take the glory.
I shall end with a quote from Dave Saunter CRFU Chairman:
“That was as good a game of rugby as I’ve seen from the Under 18s in many a
year”
We wish both teams and players all the very best with the SW
divisional selection process and we are hopeful that we will have a healthy
showing from Cornwall.
CRFU Chairman Dave Saunter pictured with Cornwall Under 18s at Weston Hornets RFC
Cornwall RFU Chairman Dave Saunter, couldn’t have been happier after U18s won their last game of season 40-10 against top seeds Buckinghamshire. Congrats should go to all the boys and Andy Hawken’s coaching staff. It’s been a very good season for the boys and I’m sure a number will be heading to the final south west trial in January. A big thanks should also go to all the parents who made the trip up to Weston Hornets.
TASC Ball presentation at Penryn RFC l-r, Steve Long, Andy Seviour, Marina Trevarton, Grant Randlesome & Phil Trevarton
Phil & Marina Trevarton attended Penryn’s home game against Kingsbridge today to present the “Borough” with a couple of match balls to acknowelege their success last season.
Other presentations have taken place at Launceston, St. Agnes, St. Just and Veor.
Also cufflinks have been presented to the players and officials from last season’s Cornwall squad, with Penryn’s Grant Randlesome, George Jones and Marek Churcher receving theirs at the Kingsbridge game.
Ian & Trixie Gordon and family making a presentation at Launceston RC
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