Cornwall at Twickenham 2014

Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) confirmed this week the management structure for the senior representative rugby teams for the 2014-2015 season.

Senior Men’s XV
Coach – Graham Dawe
Coach – Ian Morgan
Strength & Condition Coach – James Earp
Team Manager – Ewart White
Assistant Team Manager – Trevor Spargo

Under 20 XV
Coach – Mike Rawlings
Coach – Brynn Jenkins
Coach – Tom Rawlings
Coach – Ian Morgan
Team Manager – Chris Lea
Assistant Team Manager – Colin Hatch

Senior Women’s XV
Coach – Paul Woodhead assisted by Andy Demaine,
Niall Devenish, David Roberts and Martin Rodea
Team Manager – Amy Collins
Assistant Team Manager – Maggie Notman

Cornwall Clubs’ XV
Coach / Team Manager – Stuart Hood & Robin Johns

County Selectors
Terry Carter, Graham Still, Alan Milliner, Trevor Spargo & Julian Wilce

CRFU President John Grindle said, “I am delighted that the CRFU have made an early decision on these very important appointments. This will enable the individuals to get on with the planning stage for the coming season. I am also delighted that there has been little change in the structure and this bodes well to enable them to build on the good work that has been put in over the past couple of years.”

The first representative game for Cornwall is in the County Championship Under 20 competition where Cornwall will be home to Gloucestershire on Sunday 30 November. Letters have been sent to all clubs within the County asking coaches to put forward names of suitable players by the 15 September to the manager Chris Lea or Colin Hatch. Preparation is already under way for training and selection sessions and to build a squad for the season. Eligible player must be under 20 by the first day of September 2014, and at least 17 years of age on the day of the match.

Team Manager Chris Lea said, “I am pleased that we have kept together the same management set up as last season and hope to build on the progress we made. We only lost a few players on age grounds but during the off season Tyler Gendall, Locryn Williams and Brad Howe have all joined the Cornish Pirates Player Development Squad. This is a loss to us but we offer them our congratulations and wish them every success in their aim of becoming professional rugby players. We are looking for new talent to join the section of Cornish rugby and I would urge all club’s to come forward and nominate suitable players for us to consider.”

Pic Simon Bryant Iktis photo – Tyler Gendall in action for the Cornish Pirates against Aberavon

The three players mentioned above plus Jack Innard from this season join Under 20 players from the previous season who entered the ranks of professional rugby, Max Bodilly, Tom Hendrickson, Matt Bolwell, Kyle Moyle, and Mike Roach. Having Ian Morgan assisting with the coaching also allows players to have a pathway into the Senior Men’s XV, last season Tyler Gendall and Neil Stanleick were both selected as travelling reserves in County Championship fixtures.

Cornwall Clubs’ XV give players in Cornwall 1 and 2 leagues the opportunity of pulling on the famous black and gold shirt. Stuart and Robin will be talking to those clubs and observing players at that level for selection. It is hoped that this season we will play a game against similar league level from Devon for the first time. If it is a success it could well become an annual event in the Club’s calendar.

The Senior Women’s XV compete in their own County Championship competition, players are drawn mainly from Liskeard Leopards, Newquay and Penryn. New players are always welcome and anyone interested in joining as a player or assisting should contact Ann Demaine in the first instance.

The RFU launched a new Women and Girls (WAG) strategy document on the September 3 at the Houses of Parliament which aims to bring rugby to an additional 100,000 women and girls on the back of the England Women’s World Cup success.

Cornwall Senior Women’s team manager Amy Collins said, “England already has the largest Women and Girls player base of 180,000 and in Cornwall we aim to do our bit at all levels to raise the numbers even further.”

The Senior Men’s XV have retained the services of Graham Dawe, Ian Morgan and James Earp, with Julian Wilce joining the team of selectors. Julian represented Cornwall on 17 occasions whilst playing for Launceston and Wadebridge Camels.

CRFU Chair Denis Preece said, “It’s good news that we retained these people to build on the work they started last season. I know we were all disappointed to lose a second Twickenham final but that is now history and we start the build up to the 2014 / 2015 season. I am also delighted to welcome Julian as one of our selectors; he brings with him experience both at club and county level.”

 Pic Simon Bryant Iktis photo – Greg Goodfellow Cornwall’s scrum-half  celebrating a try

Cornwall Coach Graham Dawe said, “I am pleased to have been asked to continue in my role as coach of Cornwall and work alongside Ian and Earpy again. We all saw the passion that rugby generates in the County, that’s with the players, back room staff and of course the supporters in fact everybody who is involved. We have held a debrief meeting and want to build on the good points but also improve on the areas where we were not quite as strong. The coaching staff and selectors have been out before the official season kicks off looking at existing and new players that come to our attention.”

 The senior XV dates and fixtures for the coming season have been released:

Saturday 9 May away to Gloucestershire
Saturday 16 May away to Kent – Gravesend RFC
Saturday 23 May home to Hertfordshire
Finals day Sunday 31 May @ Twickenham

National League 2 Cornish Derby lived up to it’s promises on Saturday, a game that was decided when Kieron Lewitt’s last-gasp penalty effort flew wide of the posts to leave the Redruth faithful in jubilation with a 14-13 win and two wins from as many games to start the season.

Redruth head-coach was happy with the win but less so with his side’s performance. Plenty to work on before the trip next Saturday to Cambridge.

Naturally Launceston’s Director of Rugby Neil Bayliss was less happy following a second defeat for his side by a single point.

Both tries were conceded when the All Blacks were down to fourteen men, which tells it’s own story. He hopes his side will be able to get that elusive first win at Polson next week against Shelford.

You can read my report from the West Briton site in the link.

On Sunday the Cornish Pirates lost for the second time this season in the Greene King IPA Championship 30-19 to London Scottish.

Plenty of faces in the crowd from Redruth to see old favourites mark Bright and PJ Gidlow, whilst former Pirates Ben Prescott and Max Maidment were also in the exiles line-up.

Sadly for PJ a heavy collision with Rheon James in mid-field saw the centre stretched off, happily he made a full recovery after the match.

As for Brighty, another five star performance as he again helped himself to a hat-trick of tries for the second game running and then had a big hand in Miles Mantella’s bonus point 4^th try for the Scottish.

The Cornish Pirates scored a couple of tries of their own with Tom Riley’s great run setting up winger Kyle Moyle for a great finish in the Newlyn gate corner, whilst scrum-half Tom Kessell’s quick thinking got a try near the end.

Cornish Pirates’ Director of Rugby Ian Davies described Bright as the best forward in the Championship

“It was a better performance from us from last week, though the final result is a fair the margin of victory probably not, but we will move on.

“Our work rate was right up there and we showed some good attacking intent we moved the ball around and our defence was a lot better than last week and we kept going until the end. We competed well and nullified much of what they wanted to do, it was an attritional game you saw that with the number of injuries coming off but you can’t give a powerful pack like that field position and we did that on too many occasions.

“We were in the game until be gifted them two scores within a couple of minutes, the first from a penalty which they drove over and then the next from an up and under with the bounce of the ball going their way, twelve points conceded in quick time.

Injury worries again surfaced for the Pirates, with the influential flanker Alex Cheesman going off and seen on crutches after the game.

There are already muttering in some quarters as the Pirates have lost two from two with the prospect of a trip next Sunday to face Bristol at Ashton Gate. I say keep the faith, the Pirates are battling on two fronts both on and off the pitch, though their next home game against Moseley will be a big one as far as their season is concerned. Now is the time for supporters to get behind the team and the club.

Bill Sobey’s match report can be found in the link 

In the Tribute regional leagues; in Tribute South West 1 West after two opening day wins for Camborne and St. Austell at home last week both tasted defeat on the road this.

Camborne travelled to Cleve and lost 15-12. Camborne took a 5-0 lead with a try from flanker George Hall but things went awry for the Cherry and Whites as big lock Ben Kemp was red carded for punching!

Despite this handicap Camborne re-took the lead with a try and conversion from Dave Mankee to lead 12-10, but a yellow card for winger Scott Murray saw Town down to thirteen allowing Cleve to score a winning try.

St. Austell went down heavily at North Petherton 32-6 with just a couple of Andy Ashwins penalties to show for their efforts.

In Tribute Western Counties West, Penryn made it two wins on the trot with 50-12 win over St. Ives. Borough scored tries through Josh Chambers (2), Matt Horton Ollie Evans, Andy Seviour, Adam Hughes, Grant Randlesome and a penalty-try.

Nathan strick’s boot added the other points. For the Hakes Ben Taylor and Tom Chandler scored tries with Jake Ninnes adding a conversion, it’s worrying times at the Hakes having lost so many players during the summer.

A late penalty gave Okehampton a 26-23 win over visitors Truro, a game that saw the lead change hands five times. Chizzy Gilbert, Ieuan Boon and Carl Ranscombe scored tries for Truro with Jake Champion kicking a conversion and two penalties.

A second loss for Wadebridge Camels as they went down 63-7 at Kingsbridge, it’s a result that will hurt coach Mike Rawlings and will be a blow to the Camels’ hopes of bouncing back after relegation last season. Still early days.

In London 2 SW, London Cornish defeated Weybridge Vandals 36-0, see my previous blog entry for a report by Ben Gilbey.

In the Tribute Cornwall and Devon League, Bude had a tough game at home to newly promoted Bodmin eventually winning 35-18 thanks in part to four tries scored by young Bradley Janes with Jason Bolt and Mark Parsons also dotting down. Olly Denford kicked a conversion and Alex Rakhashani a penalty to complete the seasiders’ haul.

For Bodmin Lee Taylor and Paul Carter scored tries with James Taylor kicking the rest of the points.

Pirates Amateurs won at Falmouth 21-18 Craig Stephens (2) and Steve Evans scored tries for the Ams with Evans adding all three conversions.

Simon Bailey and Nick Caine scored the Eagle’s tries with Justyn Irons kicking the rest of the points.

Hayle won their opening game of the season defeating visitors Paignton 22-12. Scott Harvey scored the only try with Dan Magee kicking the rest of the points.

Withycombe accounted for Liskeard-Looe 67-0 with the omens already looking bleak for the East Cornwall Lions.

Saltash bounced back from an opening day defeat to win at Exeter Saracens 35-10. Saltash tries were scored by wing Will Morton, prop Simon Nance, centre Sean Crawford, fly-half Ollie Mulberry and full-back Max Venables, who also kicked five conversions.

In the RFU Junior Vase Cornwall Qualifying semi-finals, Veor defeated Illogan Park 28-5 and St. Agnes won at Roseland 30-10.

LONDON CORNISH 36-0 WEYBRIDGE VANDALS    

By Ben Gilby, Press Officer LCRFC       

The Exiles opened their London Two South-West league season with a comfortable win over Weybridge Vandals at The REMPF.

On a mild afternoon with an occasional stiff breeze, it was Cornish who started the strongest, earning a penalty within the opening forty seconds of the game. Luke Spells kick was good, and The Exiles had their first points of 2014/15. Vandals hit back and earned a penalty, and James Parker got excellent distance on his kick to find touch just five metres out, but Cornish’s defence drove hard and forced a penalty to clear their lines.

It became obvious early on that the Black & Golds’ pack had the advantage, and with seven minutes gone, a giant rolling maul made over twenty metres, with Ciaran Acford grounding the ball. Spells’ conversion was good and it was 10-0. Just three minutes later, Cornish launched a dazzling attack; Tim Homan found Craig Chatley on the left. His ball inside found Mark Osei-Tutu who reached for the line, but Vandals’ scrum-half Dave Parker stole the ball to clear.

Weybridge earned a period of possession, but a combination of handling errors and choosing the wrong option prevented them from getting on the scoreboard. Cornish came into it once more as the game neared the twenty minute mark as Spells made a break, and offloaded to Bond, who in turn found Harry Somers. Vandals were penalised, but Spells kick at goal missed. Another chance was lost shortly afterwards when Heymann found Hakes. The ball then came to Joe Skinnard, but the move ended when the ball was knocked on.

The final ten minutes of the half was generally error-strewn with typical opening day handling errors. Cornish had one further chance before the half-time break when Nigel Johnston’s injection of pace carved through the Vandals defence. Homan and Bond combined, but the ball ended in touch. At half-time, the score was 10-0 to Cornish.

Pic Ben Gilby Mark Osei-Tutu makes a break

 The second half was just two minutes old when The Exiles increased their lead. Mark Osei-Tutu picked up the ball from the back of the scrum and made fifteen metres on a storming run. From the resulting ruck, Weybridge turned over the ball, but another Vandals error saw them lose possession immediately to Matt Hakes, who sprinted down the left hand side to ground the ball. Spells’ conversion attempt missed.

The following period of the match was punctuated by constant penalising of both teams, but it was now becoming abundantly clear that Cornish had more in the tank, and with 57 minutes played, Matt Hakes intercepted a Vandals pass and cut in from the left to dot the ball down under the posts. Luke Spells’ conversion extended the home side’s lead to 22-0. The Exiles now had the bit between their teeth and were threatening constantly. A great move at pace between Johnston and Heymann, saw the ball fed to Dave Theobald, but play was stopped due to an injury to Weybridge’s Craig Decoteau.

Cornish kept going, and it was only a matter of time before the bonus point try arrived. Just three minutes later, Joe Skinnard fed Luke Spells, who put in Matt Hakes who secured his third try of the afternoon. Luke Spells landed a superb conversion from wide out on the left hand touchline for 29-0. The Black and Golds scented blood, and from the re-start, mounted another attack with Robin Heymann tackled into touch just two metres from the try line. From the resulting line-out, the ball was gathered and a huge rolling maul sent Cornish forward at a rapid rate of knots, the move ended with Mark Osei-Tutu grounding the ball for the home side’s fifth try of the afternoon. Spells’ conversion was successful.

The last ten minutes saw the game going to uncontested scrums with Weybridge not able to produce another front rower. This nullified Cornish’s dominance and there was no further scoring.

BILL HOOPER’S CORNISH ROUND UP

Here we go again, the season is up and running as most clubs return to the their league programs, with the Cornwall 1 & 2 clubs battling it out for places in the RFU Junior Vase competition proper.

I took in the games at Camborne and the Cornish Pirates this weekend, plenty of talking points from both games, more of that later.

Top of the bill has to be Redruth’s great start to their National League 2 South campaign with a good win 36 – 31 and five league points at Southend, never an easy place to get a result.

Despite leading 15-6 at half-time and then 22-9 early in the second half, the Reds found themselves behind 28-22 with just 10 minutes to go.

Tries from Rhodri McAtee and Tom Simmons both converted by Ashley Hosking swung the game back finally in the Reds’ favour.

You can read Ed Bawden’s match report from Sunday’s Western Morning News in the link.

The Cornish All Blacks could only salvage a losing bonus point at Polson Bridge losing 18-19 against a Bishop’s Stortford side that many pundits are tipping to be there or thereabouts come April in the promotion stakes.

Trailing 15-6 at the break the All Blacks stormed back during the second half but the visitors managed to score a third try to put the game safe.

Pale Nonu scored a try on his return to Polson as did debutant Matt Shepherd.

Match report by Suzanne Cleve from Sunday’s Western Morning News in the link.

All roads will lead to the Recreation Ground next Saturday when Redruth take on the Cornish All Blacks in the first of this season’s Cornish Derbies.

On Sunday at the Mennaye the Cornish Pirates got their season off to a disappointing start going down to Yorkshire Carnegie by 29-18.

Head coach Ian Davies was disappointed with the result and more than a little perplexed that his side were penalised so often by the referee especially at scrum time. In a game of some 41 penalties it was surprising that no yellow cards were shown!

He also felt that a missed penalty by Kieran Hallett just before half-time coupled with Yorkshire Carnegie scoring an early second half try through flanker Chris Jones effectively took the game away from the Pirates.

Former International Jones had a big game for the Yorkshire side showing his class throughout.

On the plus side the Pirates showed plenty of endeavour and worked hard playing to the end to score a couple of tries through their Canadian Internationals Matt Evans and Aaron Carpenter, also a lot of the boys were playing their first Championship game having made some big steps up from lower levels, it is inevitable that it will be a learning curve for many as the season progresses. Flanker Alex Cheesman again showed his undoubted class in the Pirate’s back row, though they did miss club skipper Chris Morgan out following his injury against the Reds.

For a full report you can read Bill Sobey’s from today’s Western Morning News in the link.

In the regional leagues; Tribute South West 1 West, there were winning starts for both Cornish clubs. Camborne needed a last gasp penalty-try to defeat North Petherton 40-34, in a roller-coaster of game that Camborne at one stage looked set to run away with.

You can read my report from the West Briton site in the link.

Post match reaction from Head Coach Liam Chapple will be in this Thursday’s West Briton.

St. Austell defeated Bridgwater & Albion 25-17 at Tregorrick Park. Saints pulled away in the final ten minutes to secure the win thanks to a Jack Grigg try. Other tries came from Paul Winterbottom and Sam Tank with Andy Ashwin kicking the points.

In Tribute Western Counties West Truro got the better of Kingsbridge 29-21 at St Clements. Truro scored tries through Ieuan Boon, Jake Champion, Will Booth and Ollie Dell with Champion adding three conversions and a penalty.

Penryn also had an opening day win against Sidmouth 25-10.

Wadebridge Camels had an opening day loss to the much-fancied Exeter University side 23-21. It was a last gasp drop-goal that gave the students the spoils at the Molesworth Field.

Camels fought back with tries from Dom Hawkey and Ben Miskey with their other points coming from the boot of Sam Fox and Dan Thomas but were pipped at the death.

St. Ives lost at home to Devonport Services 27-17.

In the Tribute Cornwall & Devon League; there were good wins for Bude 49-36 at South Molton and Pirates Amateurs 50-0 at the Mennaye against Exeter Saracens. Saltash lost at Moorlands 27-24 to Crediton, Bodmin, their first game at this level, 26-15 to Withycombe, Falmouth at Paignton 34-5 and Liskeard-Looe at Lux Park to Honiton 8-37. Hayle’s game against OPM’s was postponed due to a wedding.

Good report from the North Devon Journal on Bude’s win in the link

In the quarter-finals of the qualifying competition for the RFU Junior Vase, Veor beat Lanner 19-8, St.Agnes defeated Lankelly-Fowey 68-12, Roseland beat Camelford 31-0 and Illogan Park won at St. Just 69-7.

By Ben Gilby Press Officer London Cornish RFC

After the finishing the previous season on the crest of a wave, London Cornish are aiming to build on this with more success in 2014/15. First team head coach Tom Sincock has been speaking to club press officer Ben Gilby about his views ahead of the new league season in London Two South-West.

Sincock, the former Redruth and Cornwall county player, has no doubts whatsoever as to the reasons behind last season’s success story which saw the club win ten of their last twelve matches, securing ten bonus points in the process to finish in their highest ever league position of third: “After the relegation battle we faced in the previous season there was a lot of soul searching amongst the players. I think that drove a lot of individuals to improve their overall commitment to the club.  This was key for us to improve our game and ensure continuity in selection. The boys will tell you we worked very hard at our fitness during pre-season and in season and this really paid off later in the campaign. Finally, thanks to a great recruitment drive by the coaches and players, we added some very talented individuals to our squad, the likes of Harry Somers, Ben Devonport, Cieran Acford, Andy Eustace, Luke Bridges, Jamie Macdonald, Rob Healey, Phil Dale, Craig Chatley, Joe Skinnard and Rich Skinnard all added a huge amount to our game.”

TONY SINCOCK – PHOTO BY BEN GILBY

As Sincock alludes to, the travails of 2012/13, when Cornish needed to secure four try bonus point wins in their last two games to avoid relegation, changed so many elements of the club:  “We have gone from having two coaches to five, with a dedicated 2nd team coach. We are training twice a week as opposed to once which has had an immediate impact. There has been a massive change in player personnel, which could always cause problems, but luckily the boys have gelled well as a team on and off the pitch. Yes there are things that need to be changed, such as training on a full sized pitch but these are things that can be dealt with in time and not rushed as our location is key to us attracting players to the club.” Another aim for the club this season will be to have more players available more often; “We need our 1st team squad of 25 to 30 players available for every game. That is it really, we have the players to do very well in this league, we just need them on the pitch every Saturday to do the job.”

A strong period of pre-season training is always vital to ensure any team hits the ground running. “It went really well this year with excellent numbers,” Sincock states. “I think the spectators will enjoy a very fast game of rugby this season. Coach Marc Sweeney has just completed an elite athletics course, funded by the club, and has started to introduce some very cutting edge techniques. There were noises coming from the players I have never heard before during the last session!” I next asked Tom about player movement during the close season.  “There have been a few new players join and I’m actively looking at a couple of new players but will only invite those players who are going to be fully committed to club and whose character and personality fits. We have a young team and we’re still developing. If we can keep this squad together for another 3 or 4 seasons who knows where could be.”

This aura of positivity which seems to be surrounding the club is reflected in Sincock’s clear aims for the coming season: “I want us to improve on last season’s final position (third), and for the team to play a style of rugby that the players and spectators will enjoy. As for who I expect to be challenging at the top of the table this time round, the league is always very open. I think our old friends Tottonians and maybe the new boys Farnham will be up there. I’d like to think we will challenge too, but we shall see.”

Finally, I asked Tom what he believes makes London Cornish such a great club to be connected with -“Being an amateur club the players play for the love of the game, the shirt and for each other – things that are very rare in today’s game

Following last weekend’s 1st Round ties  the Quarter-Final draw is as follows;

ST. AUSTELL VS. WADEBRIDGE CAMELS

BUDE VS. PENRYN

BODMIN VS. CAMBORNE

TRURO VS. PIRATES AMATEURS

Ties to be played on or before 8th November 2014.

Camborne rounded off their pre-season games going down by just a solitary point to a very useful Cornish Pirates side 21-20 at the Rec on Wednesday evening.

With a little more luck the Cherry and Whites could have caused a major upset as they led 20- 7 as the game went into it’s closing stages. Two pushover tries from canny player-coach and replacement scrum-half Gavin Cattle diving in for the vital touches, plus a couple of good conversions from fly-half Bertie Hopkin saved the Championship side’s blushes.

Having gone behind to a try scored and converted by Hopkin, Camborne stormed back with converted tries scored by scrum-half Taron Peacock following a good mid-field break from winger Ben Drew, and flanker Neil Stanlieck as Camborne capitalised on an error from Cornish Pirates’ replacement full back Sam Marland, fly-half Dave Mankee added both conversions as well as a couple of penalties for a shock 20-7 lead until the Pirates’ late show.

Head coach Liam Chapple was very happy with his team performance. He said. “I am delighted with the effort and commitment from the Camborne lads tonight. The boys all piled into the ground having done a day’s work and went toe to toe with them for at least 70 minutes. The massive plus for me was the physicality of our boys, we’ve been building over the past six weeks, the boys stuck together as a team and their defensive effort was massive.

“I am not going to be too down hearted at losing the game at the end, Pirates sent on their two player coaches Gavin Cattle and Alan Paver and their experience got them over the line. We knew we were probably a stone a man lighter than them at scrum time, but I felt we more than held our own in the scrums and that our lineout went well, which could be down to Pirates head coach Ian Davies’ help. I cannot speak highly enough of him for all the help he has given me over the past two years.

Chapple however is making sure his players keep their feet firmly on the ground and don’t have any grand ideas. “All this will be for nothing if we don’t make the start we need when the league campaign gets under way. We have set our stall out and what really matters is where we are come the end of April. We have the players to do the job hopefully we can keep everyone injury free, but already we have picked a couple of injuries with Adam Lewarne and Tom Murray who will be out for a couple of weeks.

Camborne will train internally next week as they prepare for the visit of North Petherton on September 6^th for their opening Tribute South West 1 West league fixture.

CORNISH PIRATES 46 – 14 REDRUTH

By Bill Hooper at the Mennaye Field.

Redruth will take plenty of positives from their game at the Greene King Championship side, it was a performance that pleased head coach Steve Larkins as the Reds look to build for next Saturday’s opening National League 2 South fixture at Southend. Larkins said after the match. “I thought we played very well and I think for the first hour you would have been hard pushed to tell the sides apart. We showed great enthusiasm during the game and showed up well both in attack and defence, you couldn’t fault us.

“We took our tries very well and I think our second try was the best of the game. We said to the lads if it’s on give it a go and I think Rhodri saw the opportunity to set the move in motion, great hands from Fucs and Browner slipped the tackle and got over the line put us in the lead at that stage.

“Despite the lack of game time I think to hold our own against a Championship side for a good hour and go toe to toe physically with them for the entire game was tremendous and I think we are in a good place prior to Southend. Yes we’ve only had the two games but they have been hard games and will stand us in good stead.

Redruth’s back row of Kyle Marriott, Chris Fuca and Owen Hambly got through a lot of work with locks Chis Bailey and Todd Prisk competing well at the lineout.

The combination of Rhodri McAtee and Greg Goodfellow at half back will cause the opposition plenty of headaches this season, whilst in mid-field Nielson Webber and Sam Parsons will pack a hefty punch going forward.

Despite a few knocks to players Larkins was happy it was nothing too serious. “One or two of the lads had a knocks so we took them off as a precaution but there was nothing serious and they should be fit for next week.”

Prior to the kick-off there was a minute’s silence in respect of Pirate’s supporter and volunteer Peter Cogbill and for Redruth’ s legendary player “Bonzo” Johns.

The first points scoring chance went the way of the Reds after just 3 minutes but full-back Murray Westren saw his effort sale wide of the posts.

The Pirates lost their skipper Chris Morgan very early in the game with a cut which required some twenty stitches, however fly-half Kieran Hallett gave the hosts the lead with a penalty soon after.

Having weathered the early pressure Redruth got back into the game with a series of penalties down in the clubhouse corner, which Westren kicked to touch. The Reds looked to set up a driving maul finally succeeding at the fourth attempt when the Pirates were down fourteen men after lock Will Graulich was yellow carded having taken Red’s skipper Chris Fuca out in the lineout, scrumhalf Greg Goodfellow getting the score.

Westren added the extras for a 7-3 lead. Goodfellow was at his incisive best making some good breaks and bouncing off tackles.

The Pirates soon re-gained the lead with a good try from Canadian full-back Matt Evans from a Luke Jones’ pass. Hallett slotted the conversion for a 10-7 advantage.

Brown’s try again converted by Westren saw the advantage swing back to the Reds as the game went over the half-hour mark.

Scrum-half Tom Kessell made a good break which led to a penalty for the Pirates, which was kicked to the corner, eventually prop Paul Andrew burrowed over for an un-converted try.

Then just on half-time Evans scored his second try of the game with Hallett adding the conversion for a 22-14 lead to the Cornish Pirates.

Kessell took a quick tap penalty in the Reds’ twenty-two early in the second half to run in the Pirate’s fourth try in the scoreboard corner with Hallett again on the money with the extras.

Both sides brought on a raft of replacements during the second half to give players much needed game time, among them last season’s Cornwall 18 group skipper Locryn Williams from the Pirates guesting for the Reds as replacement hooker.

Redruth went down to fourteen men after replacement fly-half Ashley Hosking was yellow carded.

The Pirates greater fitness began to tell as they ran in further tries from Hallett replacement scrum-half Mike Pope and replacement hooker Tom Channon with Hallett adding another couple of conversions.

Cornish Pirates: M Evans, L Jones, T Riley, R James, K Moyle, K Hallett, T Kessell; P Andrew, A Carpenter, A Jamieson, W Graulich, D Barry, C Morgan (capt), A Cheesman, L McGlone

Replacements – T Channon, J Ford-Robinson, T Gendall, W Carrick-Smith, B Howe, J Atkinson, C Pope, L May, T Hendrickson, M Bodilly, M Bolwell

Tries – Evans 27, 40+4; Andrew 35, Kessell 42, Hallett 59, Pope 67, Channon 77

Cons – Hallett 35, 40+4, 42, 59

Pens – Hallett 15

Yellow Card – Graulich 22-32

Redruth: M Westren, R Wedlake, N Webber, S Parsons, J.Kessell, R McAtee, G Goodfellow; J Tompsett, R Brown, C Williams, T Prisk, C Bailey, C Fuca (capt), O Hambly, K Marriott

Replacements – B Drew, L.Williams, T Phillips, J Lamsin, P Joyce, A Hosking, D Rutter, L Thomas D Bonds. T Notman

Tries – Goodfellow 23, Brown 31

Cons – Westren 23, 31

Yellow Card – Hosking 55-65

Referee – D.Proctor (RFU)

Attendance – 843

A true colossus of Cornish rugby Charles Robert “Bonzo” Johns has passed away at the age of 80.

He was a player revered not only by those he played with, but also and perhaps just important, those he played against.

Picture- Cornwall’s 1958 County Championship side, Bonzo middle of back row

This was so well epitomised the last time he played against Gloucestershire in 1970 when at the final whistle the whole of the Gloucestershire pack, which at that time included many International players, hoisted Bonzo on their shoulders and chaired him off the field in recognition of their great battles over the years. He was also a firm favourite with the crowd wherever he played, Bonzo loved the crowd and the crowd loved Bonzo. In the 1950’s and 60’s there wasn’t a household in Cornwall that didn’t know who was Bonzo.

Working on a Saturday morning as a coalman would see him cycle to Redruth from Portreath on his bicycle. Later on many will remember him on his milk round in the Redruth area always with his chirpy smile and chat.

It was his engaging personality and a huge smile that made him so popular with fellow players and the public.

I can well remember prior to the County Final in 1969, Cornish supporters parading a large mascot around the pitch at Redruth to huge cheers; needless to say the mascot was named Bonzo.

He was a player who possessed huge strength; once he had the ball you had a job to get it off him. He was a renowned srummager and powerful in the loose and driving with the ball from the front of the lineout. In those days if a player was driven into touch with the ball his side would retain possession when play re-started. “Driven into touch ref” Bonzo would plead to the official; invariably the decision went his way.

Picture Bonzo Johns in possession at the front of a Cornwall lineout vs Devon at Redruth.

Bonzo played all his career 21 years with Redruth and made his debut for the club at the age of sixteen. At that time he played mostly in the second row.

It wasn’t long before he caught the eye of the county selectors earning the first of his eighty-eight county caps, which stood as a record for well over twenty years, against the British Police at Camborne in September 1954.

He scored the only try in the Championship game against Somerset in October of the same year at Redruth as Cornwall topped the South West group in a run that saw them lose the semi-final against Middlesex at Redruth, however it was Bonzo who caught the eye with a tremendous performance winning lineout after lineout and driving down the pitch with the whole of Middlesex hanging on his back!

His performances saw him earn the first of many England trials but to the dismay of everyone in Cornwall and many beyond the Tamar he never got his England cap.

Moving up into the front row Bonzo would play for Cornwall in two County Championship Finals against Warwickshire in 1958 and Lancashire in 1969, both were to end in disappointment.

Despite not earning international recognition Bonzo was invited by the Barbarians to play in their prestigious Easter tour of Wales in 1962.

He faced the might of the Southern Hemisphere Nations playing for Cornwall & Devon against the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies. His final appearance for Cornwall was in Clermont-Ferrand when Cornwall drew 11-11 with a powerful French Selection side boasting many future Internationals.

After his playing days Bonzo turned to rugby administration both at Redruth and for Cornwall. He was Chairman of Selectors when Cornwall triumphed at Twickenham in 1991 against Yorkshire. There would not have been many happier, nor broader smiles that Cornwall had after 83 years finally won another County Championship.

In 2000, Bonzo was made a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh with the bardic name Gwarier du Hag Owr, which translates to Black and Gold player, he was a true son of Cornwall.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday 2 September 2014 at Treswithian Downs Crematorium at 3pm.

Trelawnys Army Supporters Club wishes to extend its condolences to family and friends.

There is bound to be added interest this season in the fortunes of Cornwall’s premier rugby club from the Penryn club as two of their own are set to help the Cornish Pirates campaign in both the Championship and the British & Irish Cup.

Head coach Ian Davies knows a thing or two about checking out rugby talent both near and far and whilst he had his eye on prop Jamal Ford-Robinson for a while, many were surprised when he signed up Penryn’s promising lock Ben Trevaskis this summer.

However, Ben, son of former Penryn player and coach Paul Trevaskis, has been catching the eye with his performances for Penryn that led to his opportunity to sign for the Pirates.

The chance to go down to the Pirates was one that his home town club and his employers, Blue Flame, urged him to grasp with their blessings and backing.

Just prior to the Pirates’ first home pre-season game with Rosslyn Park I managed to catch up with Ben to see how he’d settled in to life a professional player. He said. “I feel that I’ve settled in well down here, it’s a big step up from Penryn and from training just two evenings a week to training every day but everyone has made me feel welcome down here and I feel I’ve fitted in well.

“The daily training has taken a bit of getting used to, the physicality of the sessions and pace is big step up from at Penryn, and to start with I felt spent but as I get more used to it I am finding it more comfortable to cope with.

Ben’s keen to see how far he can go this season and having got his first pre-season game under his belt at St. Austell last week he’s keen to progress further. “I hope to get myself in the mix for some of the Championship games as well as the British and Irish Cup matches, it’s a constant learning curve here which makes it all the more exciting but the aim this season is to learn and improve myself as best I can.

Ben hopes that his progression to the Pirates can be a beacon for other youngsters in the Falmouth/Penryn area, that they to, with hard work can catch the eye and get a chance.

There’s a bit of a Borough corner down the Mennaye this season with Jamal Ford-Robinson, Alex Ducker and Ben
“I played minis and juniors with Jamal at Penryn and he was in my tutor group at Penryn College and he’s a good mate and of course Alex was with us down at Penryn before returning to Camborne last season so it’s been good to have people I know being down here to help me fit in.

And when Ben gets home he conceded that father was waiting for a de-brief on the day’s events. “When I get home Dad want’s to know what I’ve been doing in fine detail, he’s proud of what I’ve managed to achieve and with him not coaching at the moment he’s got time to take plenty of interest.

Talking of Jamal I managed to speak to him after him after his home debut for the Cornish Pirates in the pre-season win over Rosslyn Park on Saturday.

Jamal came on as a replacement at half-time for Adam Jamieson and had a good forty minutes on the Mennaye pitch.

It was a great breakthrough season for the young prop last season which saw him capped for England Counties at both senior and Under 20 level as well as being one of the stars of Cornwall’s run in the County Championship and scoring a memorable try in the final at Twickenham.

On life down at the Mennaye. “I am loving it down here, I’ve been here since the beginning of July and settled in really well, the boys are a real good bunch and I’ve been made to feel really welcome. Looks like I am having some good banter with the crowd down on the “Naughty Boy’s Corner” so it’s all good.

Having been through Leicester Tiger’s Academy Jamal is used to the pressurised environment of professional rugby. “I was used to the training at the Academy but obviously it’s step up from last season at Cambridge and the physicality of the training here, it’s a massive step up from National League 2 South to the Championship but I will give it my best.

“Pre-season’s been good and we all enjoyed our trip to the Isles of Scilly and then last week to Guernsey where we a good game against the local side.

“I think the benefits of that showed in the game today, especially during the first half when we played some good rugby, but I think the second half showed that we still have some areas to work on but that’s what pre-season is all about.

And Jamal is keen to learn all he can from Ian Davies and Alan Paver about the art of scrummaging. “It’s one of the main reasons I came down here, I had a week with Paves out in Georgia with England Counties in June and I think they can help school me in the “dark arts” and it’s something I am really looking forward to.

“I just hope the preparation goes well so that I can be in the mix for the opening games of the Championship season we’ve got some great lads here and with Paul Andrew back at the club after his stint in the Premiership with Worcester places in the match day twenty-two are going to be tough to nail down.”