Redruth’s poor pre-Christmas form continued into the New Year as they slipped to a fifth straight National League 2 South defeat to Worthing Raiders 28-17.

It was the first time the Sussex club had won in Redruth and they did so thanks to three tries from winger Curtis Barnes and the trusty boot of Matt Mclean.

Tom Notman scored a couple of tries for the Reds with Connor Gilbert getting a third, whilst Aaron Simmonds kicked a conversion.

In the wake of this defeat it was announced yesterday evening that former head coach Nigel Hambly would be returning to the club as Director of Rugby with immediate effect until the end of the current season.

Redruth are home again this Saturday to Guernsey with a 1 pm kick-off.

In the South West Premier, Camborne staged a great second half comeback against Newton Abbot. Trailing 20-5 at half-time with just an Alex Ducker try on the board, the cherry and whites scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to secure a bonus point win 26-20.

Second half tries came from Ducker, his second, Josh Semmens and Declan Matthews with Dave Mankee and Rhodri McAtee (2) adding the conversions.

In Tribute South West 1 West, Launceston were made to work hard at home to North Petherton before winning 37-27. Glen Coles, Martin Kneebone, Greg Thomas (2) and Adam Collings scored the tries with Coles converting three and kicking two penalties.

Launceston are at Okehampton this Saturday for a top-of-the-table clash,

St. Ives ran riot at Alexandra Road in their “away” fixture against Coney Hill 91-12 with Pete Mabbott scoring five of his side’s fifteen tries.

In London 1 South, London Cornish made a fine start to the New Year with a 27-17 over former National League side Westcombe Park. Twenty-four 2nd half points turned the London 1 South match with Westcombe Park on its head, the exiles running out deserving winners, the points courtesy of tries from Matt Hakes, Rich Stephens, and a penalty try, with full back Dan Phoenix landing 3 conversions and 2 penalties. This 4th win in 6 matches hoists Cornish up to 8^th in the table.

In Tribute Western Counties West, St Austell have opened up the promotion race with a 23-21 win at leaders Sidmouth. Ben Plummer, Hugh Noot and Chris Ashwin scored the tries with Cav Boyer kicking the other points.

Falmouth lost at home to Wellington 40-10. A J Geach with their sole try converted by Tom Edmonds who also landed a penalty.

Wadebridge Camels lost heavily at Kingsbridge 53-5, Jarred Wheatman with their unconverted try.

Truro also lost away to Paignton 23-17, Sam Rhodes and Matt Symons scored their tries with Owen Davey converting both, earlier on Justyn Irons had kicked a penalty for Truro.

Tiverton beat Saltash at Moorland 23-17. Phil Eastwell and Ryan Cruickshanks with the Ashes’ tries both converted by Kieran Down who also added a penalty.    

Report By Phil Westren, photo Brian Tempest – 30^th Dec 2018

Cornish Pirates 27   London Scottish 0

Under the glow of the Mennaye Field’s floodlights, on their return to Greene King IPA Championship action this result gave the Cornish Pirates deserved satisfaction. Indeed, it not only saw them end 2018 on a high with a bonus point victory, but they also ‘nilled’ their opponents and, in the process, climbed up to third in the league table.

As expected, this final fixture of the year delivered another atmospheric occasion, with the expected seasonal bumper crowd present. It also marked scrum-half Alex Day’s 100^th appearance for the club.

There was just one change in the Cornish Pirates starting line-up from the one that faced London Irish in the Cup before Christmas, with AJ Cant named on the wing. He had been used as a replacement in the game against ‘Irish’, following an injury suffered by Robin Wedlake.

The calm and mild weather conditions were far better than expected for the time of year, and there was a real buzz about a Mennaye Field that had also recovered well following the Pirates last outing.

Match underway, to their credit, London Scottish dominated possession for much of the first half but had nothing to show for it due to a miserly home defence.

With the Pirates line once again proving difficult to breach, it was also pleasing that they were able to create scoring chances. Two would be taken in the first half, an opener through full-back Kyle Moyle who, following some good inter-play, notched up his seventh Championship try of the season. Fly-half Will Cargill added the extras. Then, close to half-time, following a determined drive towards the Penzance posts the ball was swiftly released to the right, enabling wing Alex O’Meara to squeeze in at the clubhouse corner for try number two.

The crowd had been entertained well enough in the first period, as they were at the start of the second half when hooker Sam Matavesi tore down the right and in the process used his potent hand-off. It certainly raised added interest for supporters in the old Western National corner (nowadays often called Naughty Boys corner), as did a run from Cant who has quickly shown a level of ability that should see him do well at Championship level.

To their credit London Scottish continued to be competitive, with play a little boisterous at times, however the mood of the Pirates was simply to give them ‘nowt’.

A Cargill penalty on 68 minutes made it 15-0, and after No. 8 Tom Duncan then scored a converted try the Pirates dug deep to secure a bonus point effort. Replacements had been made, including a debut for hooker Charlie Gibbings. Other fresh faces, namely fly-half Javier Rojas Alvarez and prop Jack Owlett then made telling contributions. The former posted his penalty kick perfectly down the left touchline, and it was the latter who was in position to apply the downward pressure for try number four.

The Cup win for the Pirates against London Irish two weeks earlier had delivered the perfect Christmas present, whilst this result was one to provide genuine optimism for the New Year. For sure, a lot of hard work is and has been undertaken by individuals, with the passion of Dicky Evans also still steering the plotted course.

Cornish Pirates:   15 Kyle Moyle, 14 Alex O’Meara (Matt Evans 68), 13 Rory Parata, 12 Callum Patterson, 11 AJ Cant, 10 Will Cargill (Javier Rojas Alvarez 74), 9 Alex Day (Jake Ashby 74); 1 Jack Andrew (Marlen Walker 58), 2 Sam Matavesi (Charlie Gibbings 74), 3 Tyler Gendall (Jack Owlett 74), 4 Toby Freeman, 5 Brett Beukeboom (c), 6 Josh Caulfield (Dan Lee 61), 7 John Stevens, 8 Tom Duncan.

London Scottish:   15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Miles Mantella, 13 Richie Vernon (Jacob Perry 57),12 Reuben Bird-Tulloch (Jacob Perry 22, Bird Tulloch 32) , 11 Rob Stevenson, 10 Rory Jennings, 9 Grayson Hart (Josh Barton 73); 1 Jordan Brodley (Jonny Harris 61), 2 Billy Harding (Ollie Adams 76), 3 James Litchfield (Phil Cringle 48) , 4 Theo Vukasinovic (Byron Hodge 68), 5 Tjiuee Uanivi, 6 James Tyas, 7 Lewis Wynne (Matt Marley 74), 8 Mark Bright (c).

Scorers:

Cornish Pirates – tries: Moyle, O’Meara, Duncan, Owlett; cons: Cargill (2); pen: Cargill.

Referee:   Dean Richards (RFU)       Attendance:   2,963

St. Austell Brewery’s Man-of-the-Match:   Tyler Gendall

RODDA’S MILK CUP

REDRUTH 14 – 17 CAMBORNE

By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground.

Dave Mankee’s penalty mid-way through the second half proved to be good enough for Camborne to re-gain the Rodda’s Milk Cup against old rivals Redruth.

It proved to be an absorbing game with defences generally on top played out before a crowd of over 1,500 in the winter sunshine. It was by and large a good-tempered game.

Camborne’s head coach Liam Chapple was delighted with his side’s performance. “We defended so well throughout the whole game and when chances came our way we took them. Getting to half-time all square at 14-all gave us a huge lift that we could go on and get a result here. All credit to the boys for digging in and playing their hearts out. I hope we can use this result as a launch pad for our league campaign in the New Year starting at home against Newton Abbot.”

Playing down the slope first half it was Redruth who had the early pressure roared on by their home support. Having gone close early on wing Tom Notman finished off a textbook move off a scrum after Pale Nonu made good ground before scrum-half Jack Oulton provided the scoring pass.

Full-back Ashley Hosking knocked over the conversion and the Reds so it seemed were up and running.

Redruth looked to build on their early score with Sam Parsons making a return for this fixture playing in the back row putting in some strong runs.

As the game reached the half-hour marked so the fortunes changed. Within the space of a couple of minutes Camborne profited from two interceptions from deep in their own twenty-two to score. The first from a mistake from Nonu saw lock Neil Stanlieck charge up-field like a raging buffalo only to be hauled down five metres short of the Redruth line. After a couple of phases flanker Cameron Bone squeezed over to the huge roar of the Camborne end. Mankee’s conversion looked wide but was given by the referee.

Moments later it was a case of déjà-vu as man-of-the-match and winner of the Tony Pill Cup, centre Declan Matthews picked off another speculative pass to sprint in from his own twenty-two under the Redruth posts, Mankee slotted the conversion to put Town 14-7 up in front of their delirious fans.

Redruth hit back but their chances all came to nothing as the error count piled up, eventually in time added on at the end of the first half they scored a second try through centre Connor Gilbert from short-range. Aaron Simmonds on as replacement added the extras to tie it up at 14-all at half-time.

The second half proved a cagey affair both sides had chances but wasted them. Mankee was short with a penalty attempt from near half-way but some twelve minutes later he was on the money with another attempt that put his side ahead.

With time running out Redruth tried everything, however the game was held up following a neck injury to Camborne player Oakley Smitherham which necessitated in the player being stretched off to warm applause.

Redruth had a period of pressure on the Camborne line at the end but a knock-on saw Camborne re-gain the churn, despite defending for the final moments with just thirteen men, to the huge delight of their fans at that end.   

Redruth: Hosking, Notman, Gilbert, Whitworth, Bonds, Kevern, Oulton; Hodge, Brown (capt), Salt, Heazelton, Hattam, Parsons, Stevens, Nonu.

Replacements: Joyce, Barnes, Clemson, Tucker, Hosking A, Simmonds

Camborne: Long, Thomas, Semmens, Matthews, Blee, Mankee, Bawden; Hearn, Southworth, Drew (capt), Cook, Steinlieck, Bone, Nicholls, Rose.

Replacements: Trewhella, Zacharovas, Riches, Hendra, Smitherham, Brownfield.

Referee: Bradley Bignall (RFU)

Crowd: 1586

Trelawny’s Army Tony Pill Cup man-of-the-match: Declan Matthews (Camborne). A fine game from the centre who looked sharp in attack and tackled ha

BOXING DAY FIXTURES 2018

CHECK WITH CLUBS RE KICK-OFF TIMES

RODDA’S MILK CUP               

REDRUTH – CAMBORNE 2 PM

FRIENDLIES

FALMOUTH – PENRYN 2 PM

PENRYN SARACENS – FALMOUTH ONE & ALL 11 AM

CAMBORNE FESTIVE XV – REDRUTH II 11 AM

LANKELLY-FOWEY – ST. AUSTELL SINNERS 11 AM

ROSELAND – TRURO XV 12:30 PM

BUDE – PRESIDENT’S XV 11 AM

NEWQUAY HORNETS – CHAIRMAN’S XV

PIRATES AMATEURS XV – GEOFF COCK XV 2 PM

HELSTON – EXILES 11 AM

SALTASH – ST. BONIFACE OLD BOYS 11 AM

LAUNCESTON – PAST PLAYERS 11 AM

PERRANPORTH – PRESIDENT’S XV

Bedford Blues 27   Cornish Pirates 17

By Phil Westren

Playing their penultimate Pool 3 game in the new Championship Cup competition, despite this loss the Cornish Pirates will still ultimately progress to the quarter-finals stage – either as one of the two best third-placed teams across the three pools or as the runner-up in their pool.

The Pirates won 22-20 at home against the Blues in their Championship Cup opener and expected it to be nothing less than tough and likely close once more. Tough, it was, however but for a spirited late resurgence, it was anything but close.

One change in the backs from the side that started at Hartpury last weekend saw Alex Day selected at scrum-half, whilst in the forwards there were returns for hooker Tom Cowan-Dickie, prop Jack Owlett, the second-row pairing of Toby Freeman and skipper Brett Beukeboom, plus back-rowers Matt Bolwell and Tom Duncan.

With a festive feel about Goldington Road, after flanker Josh Buggea led the Blues out on his 100^th appearance both sides went close to scoring in the opening exchanges, the Pirates following a charge down by centre Dan Koster and then Bedford who built the phases only to give a penalty away just five metres out from the Pirates line. However, in the 13th minute the home side, playing with the advantage of their renowned slope, got the scoring underway thanks toa penalty slotted by Will Hooley, a former England under 20s and present-day USA international fly-half.

 The Pirates were in general guilty of giving too many penalties away and their cause not helped when Beukeboom was shown a yellow-card for making a deliberate knock-on. It was also not long before the Blues took due advantage, when wing Pat Tapley scored a converted try between the posts.

 Having suffered something of a set-back, two minutes later the14-man Pirates fell further behind. Stretched defensively, Bedford’s replacement wing Ed Coulson was the man to ultimately make them pay with another converted try. Coulson’s early cameo then came to an end, the return to play of wing Dean Adamson following a head injury assessment, seeing Coulson take his place back on the bench.

 The penalty count against the Pirates would continue to climb, at the same time gifting Bedford opportunities to gain advantage, which they did once more before the break thanks to a try now scored by Adamson. Hooley was this time luckless with his conversion attempt, as it rebounded off the woodwork.

 In first half time remaining, further pressure applied by the Blues saw prop JackOwlett become the second Pirates player of the afternoon to be sent to the sinbin. Thankfully, the Pirates leaked no further points for the interval to arrive with the score reading 22-0.

After a truly disappointing first half, the second forty would be a real test of character for the Cornish team, the first nine minutes of which they would have to play a man short. However, there was at least initial credit due them for displaying extra energy to provide a glimmer of hope for points.

As the half progressed, and replacements were made, it would be Bedford who would score again, when midway through the period Adamson crossed for his second try of the afternoon. It was also one that secured the bonus point for the home side.

Under the glow of the Goldington Road floodlights, faithful visiting supporters could be forgiven for looking somewhat forlorn, despite an effort from full-back Kyle Moyle that saw him go close.

In general, the Pirates certainly had a little more of the play in the second halfbut there were no points to show for it until, after Coulson was yellow-cardedfor him to now assess the comfort of the sin bin seat, they made numericaladvantage count. Two fine tries were scored by wingers Alex O’Meara and RobinWedlake, the latter’s well converted by replacement Harvey Skinner. Then, deepin injury time, there was also a try out wide for centre Koster, adding to thetwo he scored the previous week. Yes, it was an admirable resurgence, but sadlyit was all just too late.

At the final whistle, with one pool game remaining it was time to sketch all the various permutations. In short, as previously mentioned, the Pirates will compete in the quarter-finals stage, their aim now to ideally secure the runners-up spot in their pool by beating London Irish at home next Saturday. It is a game now with added significance, and although a tough ask against a team they are yet to beat, the focus will be on doing just that. It will also be one of those occasions when a big home crowd can help play their part, to at the same time witness what promises to be a real Christmas cracker.

At the end of the game against Bedford Blues, Cornish Pirates co-coach Gavin Cattle said. “The penalty account against us was astronomical and ultimately if you want to win games you can’t give 20 penalties away.

“We obviously struggled at the set piece, where you need ball to play with, and in the first half we gave up the ball too easily at the attack breakdown.

“As coaches and players, we are disappointed, because there are areas of the game that we pride ourselves on that didn’t function. Injuries in certain positions haven’t helped and we’re aware there are areas of our game to work on.

“Yes, the boys are hurting from the performance today, however I’m proud that they stuck in there and showed resilience and will now want to put things right next week.”

Bedford Blues:   15 Rich Lane (22 Ed Coulson, 62), 14 Pat Tapley, 13 Lewis Robling, 12 Chris Czekaj, 11 Dean Adamson (22 Ed Coulson 17; 11 Dean Adamson, 25), 10 Will Hooley, 9 Lee Dickson (c; 21 Alex Gliksten 59); 1 Sean McCarthy (17 Toby Trinder 62), 2 Charlie Clare (16 Tadgh McElroy, 64), 3 Alex Penny (18 Ben Cooper, 62; 3 Alex Penny, 67; 18 Ben Cooper, 77), 4 Ed Taylor, 5 Mark Flanagan, 6 Justin Blanchet (19 Oli Curry, 52), 7 Josh Buggea, 8 Jarad Williams.

Replacement (not used):   20 Huw Worthington.

Yellow card:   22 Ed Coulson (71).

Cornish Pirates:   15 Kyle Moyle, 14 Alex O’Meara (17 Tom Concu, 43; 14 Alex O’Meara, 51), 13 Dan Koster, 12 Javier Rojas Alvarez (22 Callum Patterson, 49), 11 Robin Wedlake, 10 Will Cargill (21 Harvey Skinner, 57), 9 Alex Day (20 Alex Schwarz, 57); 1 Jack Owlett, 2 Tom Cowan-Dickie (16 Sam Matavesi, 33), 3 Jack Andrew 4 Toby Freeman (18 Nodar Cheishvili, 64), 5 Brett Beukeboom (c), 6 Matt Bolwell, 7 John Stevens (19 Josh Caulfield, 57), 8 Tom Duncan.

Yellow cards:   5 Brett Beukeboom (17), 1 Jack Owlett (40).

Scorers:

Bedford Blues – tries: 14 Pat Tapley (22), 22 Ed Coulson (24), 11 Dean Adamson (39, 11); cons: 10 Will Hooley (22, 25); pen: 10 Will Hooley (13).

Cornish Pirates – tries: 14 Alex O’Meara (75), 11 Robin Wedlake (77); 13 Dan Koster (80); con: 21 Harvey Skinner 77).

Referee:   Alexander Thomas

Attendance:   1986