The Cornwall selectors have picked the following team to play Surrey in the first game of this season’s Bill Beaumont Cup at Esher RFC, kick-off 2 pm.

Saturday 18 May @ Esher RFC 1400 kick off

Cornwall Squad 

By Bill Hooper

Following the physical battle against Hampshire Women on Sunday Cornwall Women have been forced to make a few changes ahead of the game at Tabard RFC this Sunday, kick-off 2:30 pm.

In the backs, Joey Sandercock starts on the wing in place of the unavailable Beccy Bennett, whilst at scrum-half Amy Warman drops to the bench with Lisa Allin starting.

In the forwards Roberta Smith-Scotland moves to flanker in place of Elizabeth Langton, who picked up an injury, with Emily Kneale moving from the bench to No.8.

On the bench, prop Caitlin Eddy (Helston) gets a call up whilst the Penryn’s Georgia Hall and Launceston’s Rachel Hicks come onto the bench.

Coach Jo Holden reports that the squad were full of confidence and eager to go against Herts on Sunday following Tuesday’s squad training session.  “There is a huge buzz from last Sunday in the squad, we as leaders will manage that this week ,but our girls are keen to go again.

“A couple of enforced changes but I have confidence in the squad as whole to do their job and play to the patterns we have set out.”

Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Capt), Millie Chaston (both Ivybridge), Tia Larson (Bude), Lily Relton (Truro), Joey Sandercock (Launceston), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Lisa Allin (Bude); Jenna Arnold (Launceston), Emily Carbis (Devonport S), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (both Launceston), Caitlin Milliken (Ivybridge), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Emily Kneale (Launceston)

Replacements: Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Caitlin Eddy (Helston), Abigail Smith (Launceston), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Amy Warman, Rachel Hicks (both Launceston).

Travelling Reserve: Steph Nicholas (Camborne)

GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2

CORNWALL WOMEN 10 – 24 HAMPSHIRE WOMEN

By Bill Hooper at St Clements Hill Truro

Cornwall Women gave reigning Division 2 Champions Hampshire Women a far tougher game than perhaps they envisaged as they made their way down to Truro on the coach.

Against a side that was made up of players predominately from Havant and Trojans clubs, the Cornwall side played their hearts out.

Captain Amy Bunt proudly led her side out through a guard of honour made up of the children of past and current Cornwall Women players.

The early stages of the game saw both defences tested with Cornwall putting in some crunching tackles.

Eventually the visitors got a chance when Abi Pearson slipped a great pass to Becky Fenn who scored in the corner an unconverted try.

Hampshire looked to press home their advantage, but the Cornish defence was equal to them with Bunt putting in a crunching tackle typifying their spirit.

Despite losing a player to a yellow card Cornwall held out, clearing their lines and it remained 5-0 to Hampshire at half-time.

Early in the second half Cornwall slipped off a tackle allowing the speedy Pearson to dot down Hampshire’s second try, Rose Brown added the conversion.

To keep in the hunt Cornwall needed the next score and it came following great work from forwards and backs, notably Kim Upcott and Becky Bennett before Jenna Arnold cleverly scored an unconverted try to huge cheers from the crowd.

Cornwall backs were looking hungry, both centres Tia Larson and Lilly Relton put in some good breaks, but it was Hampshire who went further ahead when Kesha Drain went over from close range, Brown again adding the extras.

With the game now in the final 10 minutes Cornwall pressed for another score, Upcott was again involved in the build-up as were Relton and Joey Sandercock, the ball was fired out to Larson, her power beat the tackle to dot down Cornwall’s second try to even more rousing cheers.

With the final play of the game Hampshire, to their huge relief, scored a fourth try through Cerys Ralph to ensure the bonus point win, the drained look on their faces testimony they had been in a battle.

Coach Jo Holden was full of praise for her side’s performance. “We’ve come a long way from last season’s score line, 0-38. The girls have taken on board everything we asked of them. Hampshire were shall we say surprised by our play today, they didn’t expect that and it rattled them.

“They put their bodies on the line tackling everything that moved, then showing tremendous guts to fight back and get those two scores, never say die attitude. I couldn’t be prouder of them all.

“We will build on today going into next Sunday’s game against Hertfordshire.”

Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Capt), Millie Chaston (both Ivybridge), Tia Larson (Bude), Lily Relton (Truro), Rebecca Bennett (Ivybridge), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Amy Warman; Jenna Arnold (both Launceston), Emily Carbis (Devonport S), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (both Launceston),Caitlin Milliken (Ivybridge), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock)

Replacements: Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Vicki Doidge (Launceston), Paige Clarke (Penryn), Lisa Allin (Bude), Joey Sandercock, Abigail Smith (both Launceston)

Hampshire Women: Abi Pearson, Nina Hoadley (both Havant), Rose Brown (Trojans), Jay Sime (Havant), Rebecca Fenn, Hannah Wilson (both Trojans), Lauren Gillingham (Havant); Kesha Drain, Thea Kilby, Ashleigh Robertson (all Trojans), Carol Tennant, Tessa Gale, Eloise Shrimpton (all Havant), Hannah Blount (Trojans) Natasha Bullock (Havant).

Replacements: Katie Casey, Lucy King (both Havant), Ciera Forry, Georgie Harris (both Portsmouth), Cerys Ralph (Havant), Jenna Berretta (Trojans), Ella Spacey (Winchester)

Referee: James Milliner-Woodcock

TASC committee member and CRFU official Bill Hooper made the presentation of the match ball to both Amy Bunt and Megan Arnold ahead of their opening Gill Burns Cup match against Hampshire Women at Truro RFC.

7 players earn their county caps and county ties!

Following the game v Gloucestershire, Alan Milliner MBE, Cornwall RFU Council rep made presentations of ties and caps to Cornwall players.

Players making their first U20 appearance are awarded their U20 tie. 3 recipients were presented with their ties: –

Idris Logan – Helston

Alex Watkins – Camborne School of Mines

Robbie Paul – Redruth

Making 7 county championship appearances earns the player a county cap. 4 players joined Falmouth’s Rowan Lawerence in being awarded their cap this season. The players are: —

Harvey Penhallurick – Falmouth

Wes Eddy – Pirates Ams

Vice-Captain Jack Statton – Launceston

Captain – Will Perkin St Ives

2 other players narrowly missed out on having caps, having only paid 6 games over the last 2 seasons, Peter Harris St Austell, and Fin Deavin Falmouth.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating all the players on their achievements this season.

Colin Hatch

Cornwall U20 Team Manager

CORNWALL WOMEN’S SIDE TO PLAY HAMPSHIRE WOMEN

By Bill Hooper

Cornwall Women’s selectors have announced their side for Sunday’s Gill Burns Division 2 pool match against reigning Division 2 champions Hampshire Women at Truro RFC this Sunday kick-off 2:30 pm.

Last season Hampshire Women defeated their Cornish opponents in the semi-finals 38-0 at Polson Bridge Launceston before defeating Eastern Counties 53-8 in the final at Ealing Trailfinders ground.

Nine women from the Cornwall team that played Hampshire last season remain in the match day squad for Sunday’s game.

There are seven players from Ivybridge Women who play at the same level as both Havant and Trojans from Hampshire. Cornwall’s captain Amy Bunt (pictured above) having faced both sides knows what to expect. “It will be tough against the Division 2 Champions but we are improving all the time and I believe we can give them a good game. I am excited to see what our team can produce against the defending champions at this level.”

It’s also good to see Tia Larson back in the black and gold following a long term injury that kept her out of the game for a long period. This will be her first game back for Cornwall since the Division 3 title win in 2022.

Coach Jo Holden added. “This is set to be an exciting season, probably our most challenging yet in terms of the counties we are up against. But with the talent coming through we are seeing improvements in all areas of the pitch and we are hoping to showcase at our first game.”

Entry will be £5, with under 16s free.

Trelawny’s Army will be present with their merchandise stand.

Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Capt), Millie Chaston (both Ivybridge), Tia Larson (Bude), Lily Relton (Truro), Rebecca Bennett (Ivybridge), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Amy Warman; Jenna Arnold (both Launceston), Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Kim Upcott (Launceston), Caitlin Milliken (Ivybridge), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock)

Replacements: Emily Carbis (Devonport S), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Vicki Doidge (Launceston), Paige Clarke (Penryn), Lisa Allin (Bude), Joey Sandercock, Abigail Smith (both Launceston).

JASON LEONARD CUP

GLOUCESTERSHIRE U.20, 33 – 27 CORNWALL U.20

By Bill Hooper

Defeat at Stow on the Wold brought an end to Cornwall Under 20’s Leonard Cup campaign for this season.

It was a bitter pill to swallow as the young black and golds led 27-19 with less than 7 minutes to play, two late converted tries by the home side turned the game to leave Cornwall deflated.

Cornwall can certainly take plenty of positives from their display with some outstanding play from many in the side who may yet get a call up for the South West trials.

Play was scrappy early on with both sides making multiple errors, however it was Gloucestershire who got on the scoreboard with a converted try after 5 minutes.

Cornwall began to assert their game, scrum-half Jacob Chapple probed with menace making good ground and constantly feeding out some great ball to his backs.

Cornwall also turned over a lot of Gloucestershire ball at the breakdown with great work form the forwards. 

A break by centre Fin Deavin set up prop Angus Williams before hooker Pete Harris (pictured above) powered over of the first of his tries, Jack Statton adding the extras.

Having been held up over the line, Cornwall eventually got their second try courtesy of Harris from a quickly taken tap penalty which caught Gloucestershire napping.

Statton’s late penalty at the end of the half gave Cornwall a 15-7 advantage.

Gloucestershire again started strongly with a converted try to bring the gap back to just one point.

Cornwall responded with an unconverted try scored in the corner by wing Jack Keogh following a quick tap.

Gloucestershire replied moments later when their winger went in at the corner.

Cornish pressure eventually paid off when skipper Will Perkin took a quick tap 5 meters out to send Harris over for his third try of the game, which Statton converted.

Despite being reduced to fourteen men through a yellow card, Cornwall held out until the final moments and Gloucestershire’s late double score.

In the other game in the group, Devon U.20s sealed top place and a South West play-off with 50-7 win at Somerset U.20s.

Cornwall U.20: Macdonald (Exeter Saracens), Penhallurick, Deavin (both Falmouth), Statton (Launceston), Keogh (St. Just), Walsh-Newton (Falmouth), Chapple (Redruth); Williams (Penryn) Harris (St. Austell), Derry (Wadebridge Camels), Lister (Penryn), Perkin (St. Ives, Capt), Smith (Redruth), Eddy (Pirates Ams), Ellery (Newquay Hornets).

Replacements: Pope (Camborne School of Mines), Holt (Redruth), Knight (Saltash), Watkins (Camborne School of Mines), Matanatabu, Logan (both Helston), Paul (Redruth).

Cornwall U.20 scores: Tries, Harris 14, 32, 57, Keogh 45, Cons, Statton 15, 58, Pen, 40

Having announced Ben Priddey as Cornwall captain this morning, the selectors have this evening announced a 41 man squad for this season’s Bill Beaumont Cup campaign.

There are a few old favourites returning to the squad, notably Mark Bright (Richmond), Aaron Penberthy (Jersey), Josh Matavesi (Camborne) and Tom Cowan-Dickie (Plymouth Albion).

As expected the bulk of the squad comes from Camborne and Redruth, with a number of youngsters who have been brought in by both clubs this season making their debuts in the squad. There are a number to look out for Jago Sheppard and Harry Larkins (both Camborne), Jack King and Sam James (both Redruth) just four, whilst there are also a number of Launceston and St. Austell players in the squad, with Truro and Pirates Amateurs also having their players selected.