GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2

CORNWALL WOMEN 57 – 0 OXFORDSHIRE WOMEN

By Bill Hooper, at Polson Bridge

With Somerset Women having pulled out of the competition earlier this week, this game became a knock-out match with the winner guaranteed a place in the semi-finals.

Well Cornwall Women made sure it was they who are in the last four with this comprehensive win against Oxfordshire.

The visitors kicked off playing towards Devon and with less than a minute on the clock they were lining up under the posts. The ball was moved wide and when skipper Amy Bunt, pictured above receiving her county cap, got the ball there was simply no stopping her, she bounced off attempted tackles and surged imperiously to the try-line.

What a start, it really set the tone for the match. Fly-half Georgia Hall kicked the first of her six successful conversions.

Cornwall maintained pressure in the visitors half. From a kick to the corner the fired up pack drove Oxfordshire back with flanker Rosie Ninnis getting the unconverted try.

The mid-field of Jo Roberts and Megan Okey proved a constant threat, whilst in the forwards flanker Rhiannon Thomas and No.8 Katherine Wherry caught the eye.

A good break from wing Lydia Hawkins saw her hauled down near the line, Cornwall kept the ball alive and profited with a score from prop Josie Ninnis, to make it  family double.

Bunt again showed her strength and determination to bag her second try, before Okey sliced through the cover to put Cornwall 33-0 up at the break.

Cornwall Women again made an ideal start to the second half with a try from close-range from hard-working prop Mel Ruby.

With the game in the bag, Cornwall emptied the bench Bunt completed her hat-trick of tries before Lisa Allin came on to replace Amy Warman, another fine game from the Launceston 9,  at scrum-half and bag herself a brace of scores.

Oxfordshire to their credit never gave up and stuck to it and were a shade unlucky not to score, Cornwall Women did want their line crossed and they made sure of it. 

Cornwall coach Jo Holden was over the moon with her side’s performance. “You know what is the most satisfying is that they went through the plays we have been working on to the letter. It’s a great score today but there are some areas to work on ahead of our semi-final.

“The other pleasing aspect was when we brought on the bench, the level didn’t drop we maintained our physicality and our systems perfectly, great credit to the girls.” 

Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Lydia Hawkins (Falmouth), Jo Roberts (Plymstock AO), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Joey Sandercock (Launceston), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Amy Warman (Launceston); Mel Ruby (Launceston), Jenna Arnold (Launceston), Josie Ninnis (Penryn), Megan Arnold (Launceston), Sian Westgarth (Truro), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Rhiannon Thomas (Launceston), Katherine Wherry (Ivybridge).

Replacements: Kim Upcott (Launceston), Lara Wallace (Camborne), Caitlin Milliken  (Camborne), Roberta Smith Scotland (Plymstock AO), Lisa Allin (Bude), Rebecca Bennett (Truro), Bryher Freight (Truro).

Cornwall Scores: Tries Bunt 3, R Ninnis, J Ninnis, Okey, Ruby, Allin 2, Cons Hall 6

Oxfordshire Women: Grace Chandler (Chinnor), Chelsea Round (Banbury), Charlie Groves, Shannon Loney (both Oxford Quins), Lucy Hardman(Oxford Brookes), Emily Dwyer (Banbury), Nicolle Guiliani (Chinnor);  Aisling Dulson-Ormsby (Chinnor), Daisy Hopkins, Imogen Coker, Katie Geary (all Oxford Quins), Poppy Thompson (Banbury) Jessie Jordan (Witney), Chloe Black (Oxford Quins), Hannah Hawthorne (Didcot)

Replacements: Izzy Baker, Sophie Rawlings (both Witney), Mollie Bourke (Chinnor), Gemma Rosati, Becci Matthews (both Oxford Brookes), Amy Johnson (Didcot), Elly Scane (Witney) .

Ian Gordon made the match ball presentation to Cornwall skipper Fraser Honey ahead of the Somerset game.

BILL BEAUMONT CUP

CORNWALL 28 – 19 SOMERSET

By Bill Hooper, at the Recreation Ground.

Cornwall got their campaign off to a winning start but it was a far from convincing performance as they were pushed all the way by a gutsy Somerset side.

Cornwall were their own worse enemies at times, compounding errors with penalties which undid much of their good work.

Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s silence to remember the tragic events in Bodmin last weekend. The National Anthem was then sung to mark Coronation Day.

Somerset kicked off playing down the slope and Cornwall immediately miss-judged the ball in a nervy start.

Despite the early error Cornwall looked to play with scrum-half Mike Austin looking sharp as did wing Jack Kessell who put in some strong runs throughout.

Cornwall opened the scoring following a few phases near the Somerset line, the visitors infringed, quick thinking from Austin saw him tap and go to score near the posts. Skipper Fraser Honey added the extras.

Somerset again gave notice that they were not going to roll over. A kick into Hellfire corner gave the visitors the platform to launch a maul of their own which led to an unconverted try from prop Alec Chase.

There it remained, 7-5 to Cornwall at half-time.

Cornwall looked to the bench to freshen things up, with Ben Hilton adding his considerable experience to the fray. The pack sparked to life under Hilton’s impulse.

Good play saw Kessell feed Austin for his second try in front of the massed ranks in Hellfire corner. Honey made sure of his kick to put Cornwall 14-5 up.

Further great play from the forwards saw Somerset bring down the maul illegally and referee Boscawen award the penalty try.

Still Somerset would not lie down. Tries from Leo Valentino and Kieran Ward, both converted by Jamie Elswood brought them right back into the match.

Elsworth then saw a penalty attempt sail to the left of the posts as Cornwall looked a little rocky as the match entered it’s final moments.

Somerset had a scrum near their line, a tremendous Cornish push completely distabled their opponents allowing Sam Stevens to pick up and charge over for the winning score, Honey’s conversion completed the job.

After the game Cornwall skipper had this to say about the match. “That was a hard game. It was my first match back following injury and I did feel a little rusty. We made life hard for ourselves, we were lacking composure at times, trying to force the game which led to turnovers and then we compounded that on the penalty front.

“We will come together this week and look to put matters right and go into next Saturday’s match at Havant against Hampshire on the front foot.”

Cornwall: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell), Jack Kessell (Camborne), Jack Simmons (Redruth), Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddian), Sam Parsons (St. Austell), Fraser Honey (Redruth, Capt), Mike Austin (Cinderford); Luke Barnes, Richard Brown, Jess Tompsett (all Redruth), Jack Heazelton (Camborne), Freddie Stevenson (Bude), Edd Pascoe, Sam Stevens, Ben Fox (all Redruth).

Replacements: Tommy-Lee Southworth (Camborne), Craig Williams (Redruth), Ben Hilton (Barnstaple), Jordan Nicholls (Camborne), Sam Walker (Exeter Uni), Konnor Ewudzi (St. Austell), Josh Semmens (Pirates Ams). 

Cornwall scores: Tries, Austin 2, Pen-try, Stevens, Cons, Honey 3

Somerset: Charlie Carter (Hornets), Huw Morgan (Clifton), Cam Maslen (Weston), Connor Vickery (Hornets), Matt Carr (Keynsham), Jamie Elswood, Dec Dorrington; Alec Chase, Kieren Ward (all Hornets), Joe Wright (Keynsham), Tommy Bailey (Hornets), Ed Nixon (Castle Cary), Leo Valentino (Old Reds), Sam Taylor (Capt, both Old Reds), AJ Hussell (Weston).

Replacements: Callum Lane (Hornets), Brad Hebbard (St Bernadettes OB), Hayden Tuttiet (Hornets), Andy Butler (Old Reds). 

Somerset scores: Tries, Chase, Valentino, Ward, Cons, Elswood 2

Referee: Veryan Boscawen (RFU)

CORNWALL NAME SIDE FOR COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER

By Bill Hooper

The selectors have announced the Cornwall side to face Somerset on Saturday May 6^th at Redruth, kick-off 3 pm.

The side shows 13 players from last year’s Cup winning squad, amongst them new captain Fraser Honey.

As expected Redruth players make up the bulk of the side, with healthy contributions from both Camborne and St. Austell.

Chairman of Selectors Kevin Thomas said. “Training sessions have gone well, players have looked sharp and have all given the selectors and coaches a range of choice with most positions.

“It’s a big ask for players to commit to almost another full month of competitive rugby off the back of a long hard season.

“Cornish rugby is special, that’s why our players are so keen to commit, they can add to the Cornish legacy and help write their own bit of history.

He went on to add. “It’s a bit of a challenge bringing together players from all over the Country. We have filmed the sessions and sent videos to some players that couldn’t get to all sessions.

“Representative rugby is very different to club rugby, a bunch of players selected from different clubs thrust together to play competition rugby. It’s about if you are willing to fit in as much as your raw talent.” 

Scrum-half Mike Austin, a product of Falmouth RFC, who scored the clinching try in last year’s final, makes the starting line up, whilst young Freddie Stevenson (Bude) comes in to partner Camborne’s Jack Heazelton in the second row.

Trelawny’s Army Player of the Year last season St. Austell’s Matt Shepherd, who has been in stellar form this season with the promotion winning Saints, starts at full-back.

The bench has experience; none more so than former captain Ben Hilton and Craig Williams. Sam Walker, another who began his playing with Falmouth and was pivotal in Cornwall Under 20’s Jason Leonard Cup win last season has a very good kicking game if required. Speed also from St. Austell wing Konnor Ewudzi, whilst Josh Semmens had a good outing in the Tamar Cup in March.

Ahead of Saturday’s game Honey had this to say. “Training has gone very well over the past couple of weeks and the boys are chomping to get out on the pitch and put into practice the moves we have been learning. Hopefully, that will put us in a great place going into the game.

“We don’t know too much about the Somerset side, that allows us to concentrate on our own game, if we implement that then we will be in a good place.

“The squad are buzzing to be playing at Redruth in front of our supporters; we hope there is a good crowd to give us that extra 16^th man to drive the boys on.”

Cornwall travel to Havant next week to play Hampshire before rounding off their group games at Camborne against Kent on May 20^th.

Entry on the gate is £10 with Under 16s free.

Cornwall: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell), Jack Kessell (Camborne), Jack Simmons (Redruth), Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddian), Sam Parsons (St. Austell), Fraser Honey (Redruth, Capt), Mike Austin (Cinderford); Luke Barnes, Richard Brown, Jess Tompsett (all Redruth), Jack Heazelton (Camborne), Freddie Stevenson (Bude), Edd Pascoe, Sam Stevens, Ben Fox (all Redruth).

Replacements: Tommy-Lee Southworth (Camborne), Craig Williams (Redruth), Ben Hilton (Barnstaple), Jordan Nicholls (Camborne), Sam Walker (Exeter Uni), Konnor Ewudzi (St. Austell), Josh Semmens (Pirates Ams). 

By Bill Hooper

As expected Cornwall Women have gone with a strong contingent from Launceston Ladies for their opening Gill Burns Division 2 game against Oxfordshire Women on Sunday May 7^th at Polson Bridge Launceston RC, kick-off 2 pm.

There are eight survivors from last season’s Gill Burns Division 3 final in Sunday’s match day squad, including Captain Amy Bunt.

Coach Jo Holden had this to say ahead of Sunday’s game. “After last year’s triumph, I am unbelievably proud to still be part of this amazing process. The buy in we have had from all the women this year has been incredible and they are constantly raising the bar. Our aim will always be to elevate women’s rugby and from the amount of women now involved across the county, I hope we are on the right track and can play this campaign with the same amount of passion we showed last year”.

Entry to the game at Polson Bridge on Sunday is £5 by programme, a first for a Cornwall Women’s match, a special souvenir in itself, with Under 16s free.

With Somerset Women having pulled out of this season’s competition, Sunday’s game is a straight knock-out for a semi-final tie, which will take place on Sunday 28th May.

Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Lydia Hawkins (Falmouth), Jo Roberts (Plymstock AO), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Joey Sandercock (Launceston), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Amy Warman (Launceston); Mel Ruby (Launceston), Jenna Arnold (Launceston), Josie Ninnis (Penryn), Megan Arnold (Launceston), Sian Westgarth (Truro), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Rhiannon Thomas (Launceston), Katherine Wherry (Ivybridge).

Replacements: Kim Upcott (Launceston), Lara Wallace (Camborne), Caitlin Milliken  (Camborne), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock AO), Lisa Allin (Bude), Rebecca Bennett (Truro), Bryher Freight (Truro).

Travelling Reserves: Oz Brazier (Truro), Laura Outten (Camborne)

Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship campaign 2023 continues as we enter the knock-out stages of this seasons Jason Leonard Cup. Cornwall travel to North Dorset RFC this Sunday to take on Dorset and Wilts who were SW regional pool 1 winners.

CRFU President John Sumnall said “This is an opportunity for these guys to progress within this year’s competition. Last week the table showed us second after a fantastic victory over Somerset which meant that we were out of this season’s competition however, with several counties being deducted points included our neighbours Devon, it means Cornwall top Southwest pool 2”.

Cornwall narrowly lost their first game away to Devon 35 – 29 but came away with 2 losing bonus points. The second game Cornwall earned maximum points with a 38 – 28 victory over Gloucestershire whilst denying them a losing bonus point. Cornwall won handsomely in their last pool game 79 – 19 over Somerset.

Coach Rich Kevern said .“We asked for a massive performance against Somerset and the boys certainly put in a great shift and produced a superb win. We now must travel to Dorset and Wilts who topped Southwest pool 1 on Sunday and need another big performance. We are now into knock-out rugby, win and we progress or lose and end of season”.

The game will be played at North Dorset RFC with a 1400 kick off time.

Cornwall Captain Joss Pascoe said. “Every game we play now is crucial and we will not get another second chance. For several players including myself this is our last season with the U20 and so we must perform on the day. I know the boys are up for the challenge, but we also know some face a club v county dilemma. At the end of the day we will put out the best team available to us and give 110% whilst wearing the black and gold shirt”.

Cornwall make one change with Joss Pascoe moving to the bench and Jack Statton who had a powerful performance from the bench on the last outing earning the starting 13 shirt. Will Perkin takes over the captaincy role whilst Matt Pritchard at hooker takes up the vice captains’ role for this game. The winner of this game will face the winner of the Essex v Hampshire game and will be played on Sunday 21 May.

CRFU Chair Dave Saunter said. ” Logistically this causes all teams some headaches, with the senior men playing on the Saturday the senior women and the U20’s playing on the Sunday and of course this is the same day as the Papa John’s finals, which several Cornish could be involved in! A big thank you to all our supporters and sponsors, the players, coaches, and backroom staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support all our teams”.

Cornwall U.20: H Penhallurick (Falmouth), L Bostock (Truro), J Statton (Launceston), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), N Dart (Camborne), J Walker (Falmouth); M Cardwell (Pirates Ams), M Pritchard (Falmouth), M Boothby, J Maunder (both St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives, Capt), W Eddy (Pirates Ams), B Jones (Perranporth), C Triggs (Truro).

Replacements: P Harris (St. Austell), A Harris (St. Just), R Lawrence, J Peck, B Rosevear, F Deavin (all Falmouth), J Pascoe (Truro).  

Nat Dart Cornwall Under 20’s Player

Nat Dart is the current U20’s flyhalf and has featured in 2 of the 3 pool games this season. He missed the game v Gloucestershire as he was selected to represent England deaf 7’s in the World cup in Argentina.

Nat was born deaf and has had to learn how to play and adapt with the condition. He wears hearing aids and lip reads to assist him in his game play, and a scrum cap to protect the hearing aids.Nat started his career in his home town of St Agnes with their Under 5’s. He then played at Falmouth colts, Truro College and is currently register with Camborne RFC.

Nat had a call to go for the trials and travelled to Moulton College in Northamptonshire along with several others hoping to make the final 12 players selected to travel to Argentina. His skills and personality shone through, and he was selected in the final 12 to represent England. He was also the youngest member of the squad so as is tradition he had the honour of carrying and guarding the team mascot throughout his time away!

Argentina was a great experience being played in its second city Córdoba, with a population of about 1.4 million and is the capital of Cordoba province. Nat said the weather was hot, the steaks fantastic and he managed to find some liquid refreshments to keep himself hydrated.

England came third in the competition losing in the semi-final to the eventual winners Wales. He did receive a trophy but more importantly an England shirt and Cap.This is his first season playing with the U20’s and several other players he has played with in different age groups, Joe Walker, Wes Eddy, and Jack Statton, and it is great to be able to play with them competitively in the Jason Leonard Cup this season.

It is an enjoyable learning environment and a great way to finish the season says Nat.Nat is studying Sports and Exercise Science at Cardiff Met University which is a 3-year course, and he hopes to put to good use in his future career. Nat would like to play rugby at the highest level his skills will allow and of course one day add a senior Cornwall tie to his collection.Nat would like to put a big thanks out to both St Agnes and Perranporth rugby clubs who raised money to fund his trip to represent the England deaf squad.In total he had to raise £1500 which is a considerable amount of money in these current times and from one of the poorest areas in the country.

The thanks must also go to all the people who assisted Nat during his career and encouraging him to go for it, that starts from at home to all the teams mentioned above.It just shows how from humble beginnings with a disability it is no bar to what you can achieve if you believe, make sacrifices, and are prepared to put in the work. Nat has certainly proved he has all those attributes and joins a long list of Cornwall players who have earned international honours.The whole Cornwall U20 squad and the wider rugby community salute Nat for his achievements.

Colin Hatch Cornwall U20 Team Manager

JASON LEONARD CUP

CORNWALL U.20, 79 – 19 SOMERSET U.20

By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground Camborne

Despite Cornwall running in an impressive 13 tries in this big win, Devon’s single point victory against Gloucestershire in Cheltenham confirmed them as pool winners and it they who now advance to a South-West play-off against Dorset & Wilts on May 7^th.

One interested spectator at the game was the recently appointed Cornwall Women’s captain Amy Bunt.

Knowing that their fate was not totally in their hands, Cornwall set about the job in-hand, to win and by as many points as they could score.

It did not take long for Cornwall to put the Camborne scorer to work. Good play from No.8 Connor Triggs put his wing Lewis Bostock clear, the Truro flyer finished in style, fly-half Nat Dart kicking the first of his six successful conversions.

Bostock then turned provider for Dart just 2 minutes later with some good play from forwards and backs in the build up.

Ollie Lamb made a good break for Somerset, but flanker Ben Jones did remarkably to cover for Cornwall.

Hooker Matt Pritchard and Bostock were involved in the build up to scrum-half Joe Walker’s try, before Pritchard secured the bonus point score with aplomb under the posts.

Cornwall’s free-flowing rugby saw further tries before half-time from skipper Joss Pascoe, from a quickly taken tap and impressive St. Ives lock Will Perkin.

Somerset finally troubled the scoreboard on half-time with a good try from their No.8 Kieran Leach bettered by Lamb to leave the score 38-7 to Cornwall at half-time.

Cornwall began the second period strongly with the impressive Jones scoring after several phases.

3 pm arrived with a cacophony of mobile phones sounding the national alert, to the great amusement of the crowd.

Triggs was the next to get his name on score-sheet following a powerful break from Perkin.

Zach Driscoll-Pike pulled a try back for the visitors with Lamb again on the money with the extras.

Both sides turned to their benches; some close quarter work near the Somerset line was finished off strongly by prop Rowan Lawrence.

Further Cornish tries came from Harvey Penhallurick, Peter Harris,Fin Deavin and finally Jack Statton, with Ben Rosevear adding a conversion.

After the game coach Richie Kevern was pleased with his side’s performance. He said. “It was a great way to finish, we went out to do a number today, we knew we had to run up a big score and hope Gloucestershire could do us a favour, we did our part but Devon scored a late try to win their game and it is they who go forward. I think we saw today the fruits of the hard work put in by the lads, some of their play was simply breath-taking. I am sure some will be looking to Divisional representation going forward.”

Cornwall U.20: H Penhallurick (Falmouth), L Bostock (Truro), J Pascoe (Truro, Capt), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), N Dart (Camborne), J Walker (Falmouth); M Cardwell (Pirates Ams), M Pritchard (Falmouth), M Boothby, J Maunder (both St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives), W Eddy (Pirates Ams), B Jones (Perranporth), C Triggs (Truro).

Replacements: P Harris (St. Austell), A Harris (St. Just), R Lawrence, J Peck, B Rosevear, F Deavin (all Falmouth), J Statton (Launceston).  

Cornwall scores: Tries, Bostock, Dart, Walker, Pritchard, Pascoe, Perkin, Jones, Triggs, Lawrence, Penhallurick, P. Harris, Deavin, Statton, Cons, Dart 6, Rosevear.