So the twenty-one point advantage proved to be more than enough after the first leg of the semi-final as the Cornish Pirates, despite losing at the Memorial Ground 29-18 went through on aggregate 63-53 over favourites Bristol.

The Pirates exposed Bristol in open play scoring two cracking tries on the counter through full back Rob Cook and openside flanker Phil Burgess.

Bristol did their best to try and pull back the deficit, but as the game wore on they never had enough of a margin, their final try brought them to within seven, but Cook’s final penalty meant they needed to score twice as the minutes ticked away at the end of the game.

So the Pirates will now face London Welsh in the final with the first leg to be played at the Mennaye on Wednesday 23rd May kick-off 7-45 pm with the return to be played at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford a week later on the 30th May again at 7-45 pm.

In the Bill Beaumont Cup, Cornwall came close to upsetting Hertfordshire losing 29-27, a game they will feel that they should have won.

Despite the RFU tables showing Hertfordshire on 9 points, they actually have 10 points having scored four tries or more in both their wins so far.

Cornwall will have a tough finale on Saturday when they take on North Midlands, who beat Gloucestershire last Saturday.

Needless to say Cornwall could do with a good crowd to get behind the boys on Saturday, so get down to Camborne for the 3 pm kick-off.

For one day only………..! This Saturday the Olympic Flame will traverse the Duchy on its first leg on the journey around the United Kingdom having been flown in to RNAS Culdrose on Friday under immense, almost unprecedented security. I understand many of the roads around the base will be closed off just for the plane to land!

The flame will then be carried by various runners/torchbearers passing by Helston and Falmouth before heading East towards Plymouth via Truro. Yachtsman Ben Ainslie a triple Olympic gold medal winner who learned to sail in the Carrick Roads will be the first bearer to set off from Land’s End. There will be many worthy members of the public who will carry the torch through the towns and villages along the route, including the Cornish Pirate’s captain Gavin Cattle.

Much has been said about the legacy of the Olympics be it cultural, sporting, economic or facilities. Sadly, and not for the first time, Cornwall is set to miss out totally on any such legacy.

We failed to attract any of the nations competing at the Games to set up pre-Olympic training camps in Cornwall, simply because we totally lack in infrastructure. For too long we hid behind the myth that Redruth’s Recreation Ground had the biggest capacity outside of Twickenham. The modern game requirements and Health & Safety put paid to the myth.

Despite the chronic lack of investment in stadia in Cornwall for generations, when the time has come to put right that neglect, people navel gaze and drum up every excuse under the sun not to put money into a project which will in the long-term, and that is how it must be viewed, will bring untold benefits to the people of Cornwall, not just in terms of sporting achievement but economically and socially as well.

So in this the week when the world looks to Cornwall, what a message it could give by assisting in the cost of the delivery of a sporting arena that will serve the county for many, many years to come. That would be a true statement in the Olympic spirit!

HERTFORDSHIRE 29 – 27 CORNWALL

Cornwall’s hopes of reaching a first County Championship Final since 1999 rest out of their hands following this narrow defeat at Hertford.

It’s a game Cornwall will look back on and know they should have won as they lead 24 – 8 early in the second half.

They were rocked by three second half tries which gave Hertfordshire the advantage.

Cornwall had a chance to regain the lead but a late penalty from Dave Pascoe, which looked set to go through the posts, was caught by the wind and slammed into the upright and stayed out!

By such small margins are games won and lost.

Cornwall trailed to an early Liebenberg try after just five minutes as Hertfordshire dominated the early exchanges.

However, Cornwall soon found their feet with full back Brett Rule kicking a penalty.

Richard Gregg and Rule then swapped penalties before Cornwall got their opening try scored by centre Lewis Paterson for an 11-8 score-line to Cornwall.

Cornwall kept the pressure up getting a second try just before half-time with prop Darren Jacques claiming the score. Rule slotted the conversion for an 18-8 half-time advantage to the men in black and gold.

Rule kicked a penalty to extend Cornwall’s lead soon after half-time, but sadly the Redruth full-back had to retire injured soon after.

Dave Pascoe on for scrum-half Greg Goodfellow assumed goal kicking duties and stretched Cornwall’s lead with another penalty to 24-8.

Hertfordshire’s Rob Schillaci scored a try, which fly-half James Shanahan converted.

Pascoe kicked a second penalty for Cornwall to keep them ahead 27-15

Sadly Cornwall then conceded two quick tries which put Hertfordshire back into the lead 29-27.

Tom Jubb got the first of the two tries and then replacement winger Mike Allen scorched in out wide to leave a tough touchline conversion for Tom Newton who kicked a superb kick.

Cornwall looked to comeback but their final chance from Pascoe’s penalty kick which struck the post left them empty handed.

Hertfordshire:Richard Gregg (Old Albanian); Kameli Ratouvou (Saracens), Joel Tomkins (Saracens), Chris Lombaard (Old Albanian), Ben Ransom (Saracens); James Shanahan (Old Albanian), Stefan Liebenberg (Old Albanian); Jared Saunders (Saracens), Brett MacNamee (Hertford) (Capt), Rob Schillaci (Hertford), Craig South (Hertford), Tom Mowbray (Chinnor), Ollie Cooper-Miller (Old Albanian), Rod Fahrenheim (Old Albanian), Billy Johnson (Bedford).

Replacements: Stuart Bailey (Old Albanian), Michael Cade (Old Albanian), Jim Remfry (Barnes), Tom Jubb (Cambridge), Laurence Wright (Old Albanian), Tom Newton (Tring), Michael Allen (Hertford)

Cornwall (Cornish All Blacks unless otherwise): B Rule (Redruth), R Bright, S Johns (Plymouth Albion), L Paterson, R McAtee (Cornish Pirates), L Webb, G Goodfellow (Redruth); D Jacques (Redruth), J Salter, C Williams (Redruth), B Hilton (Capt), B Jenkins (Cambridge), M Rawlings, T Rawlings, S Hocking (Plymouth Albion).

Replacements: R Brown (Redruth), P Joyce (Redruth), C Fuca (Redruth), T Duncan (Redruth), D Pascoe (Penryn & Royal Navy), J Murphy, T Notman (Redruth).

Referee: Terry Hall (RFU)

McATEE SET TO BOOST CORNWALL’S ATTACKING OPTIONS

By Bill Hooper, at the Recreation Ground.

Cornwall went through their final preparations for Saturday’s vital Bill Beaumont Cup match against Hertfordshire at Hertford RFC kick-off 2 pm at a damp and dismal Redruth on Wednesday evening under the watchful eye of Cornwall’s head coach Dave “Benji” Thomas.

However, on the pitch running around with his usual enthusiasm and looking to get involved with the ball was Cornish Pirates’ winger Rhodri McAtee who is set to leave the Mennaye at the end of the season and could very well end up at Redruth next season where he played a few games on loan this season.

After training Benji gave us his thoughts starting with team selection. He said. “The forwards will be the same as started last Saturday against Gloucestershire. In the backs sadly Ryan Westren (London Scottish) still hasn’t recovered from his groin injury, so Steve Johns (Plymouth Albion) moves from the wing to the centre with Lewis Paterson, and we have brought Rhodri in on the wing.

Benji was delighted to be able to have McAtee in his side. “The strength of the Hertfordshire side is in their backs hopefully we are going to be able to match pace with pace especially on the wings with both McAtee and Richard Bright.

“Hopefully we can get enough possession to get the ball wide to our wingers and they will show their paces on Saturday.

“Hertfordshire are going to be a very tough side to beat on Saturday. They have got a few players from Saracens in their side and they are going to be an unknown quantity, but at the end of the day we’ve just got to get on and deal with the opposition on the day, no matter who they play for we’ve got to stick to our game plan and go through our structure and shape and hope to come out with a win which will put us in a good place prior to the final group match against North Midlands on Saturday week at Camborne.

He agreed that the Cornish boys would be travelling with confidence after last Saturday’s great win over Gloucestershire at Redruth. “That Gloucestershire side was as big as we have ever played and I think our boys showed terrific passion and pride against them.

Benji has also had a detailed report of Hertfordshire’s win over North Midlands compiled by London Cornish Director of Rugby Dickon Moon. “I’ve had some long conversations with Dickon he has given me a lot of information which I have passed on to the boys along with a video of their game. So it’s very much a case of “One and All” coming together for Cornwall.

Cornwall (Cornish All Blacks unless otherwise): B Rule (Redruth), R Bright, S Johns (Plymouth Albion), L Paterson, R McAtee (Cornish Pirates), L Webb, G Goodfellow (Redruth); D Jacques (Redruth), J Salter, C Williams (Redruth), B Hilton (Capt), B Jenkins (Cambridge), M Rawlings, T Rawlings, S Hocking (Plymouth Albion).

Replacements: R Brown (Redruth), P Joyce (Redruth), C Fuca (Redruth), T Duncan (Redruth), D Pascoe (Penryn & Royal Navy), J Murphy, T Notman (Redruth) .

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL 1ST LEG

CORNISH PIRATES 45 – 24 BRISTOL RUGBY

By Bill Hooper at the Mennaye Field Penzance

Twenty-six unanswered points in the final twenty minutes left promotion favourites Bristol bewildered and bemused at the final whistle at the Mennaye Field on May Bank Holiday Monday.

With a 12-05 pm kick-off, little did the crowd suspect of the “high noon” drama that was about to unfold before them in a match, which early on Bristol looked to have a stranglehold on.

Two early converted tries during the first ten minutes for Bristol scored by flanker James Merriman and winger William Helu gave the visitors the perfect start they would have hoped for in the first-leg of this RFU Championship semi-final.

The Cornish Pirates had to dig deep to play their way back into the game after such a disappointing start.

Pirates’ full-back Rob Cook cut the deficit with a penalty on 15 minutes, but that was soon cancelled out as Bristol’s fly-half Matt Jones replied in kind to add to the two conversions he had kicked earlier.

Cook though struck twice more before half-time to leave the Pirates trailing at the break 17-9.

The Pirates had shown plenty of promise during the first half with some big carries from locks Ian Nimmo and Laurie McGlone.

The man who always stands out in the Pirates’ shirt and who will be sorely missed next season when he moves to Harlequins hooker Dave Ward had his usual immense game.

It was vital that the Pirates got the first score in the second period. It came following a period of Pirate’s pressure with a pass thrown out by centre Andrew Suniula was take at pace by Cook who weaved his way through a pretty ordinary Bristol defence to score the Pirates first try of the afternoon on 49 minutes.

Cook’s conversion left the Pirates just a point adrift of the visitors, you could sense the home side’s spirits lifted by the score.

Flanker Phil Burgees put in a tremendous run before fly-half Cieron Thomas’ kick to the clubhouse corner put Bristol under huge pressure. Pirates managed to disrupt the lineout and almost got the try only for referee JP Doyle to penalise the visitors giving Cook the opportunity to put the Pirates in the lead for the first time during the game, his fourth penalty making it 19-17.

Bristol still had some gas in the tank at this stage and played their way into the Pirates’ twenty-two, fine play saw them create a try scoring chance with scrum-half Tipuna Te Ruki providing the scoring pass to winger Helu who ran in his second try at the Newlyn End. Jones’ conversion gave Bristol a five point lead with 22 minutes to play.

Just five minutes later the Pirates’ forwards created a try for prop Carl Rimmer who powered over, Cook’s conversion swinging the game back in the Pirates’ favour 26-24.

Bristol looked to be dead on their feet as the game ticked into the final 10 minutes, the Pirates’ sensed it and took their chance in some style scoring three more tries.

A penalty kicked towards the scoreboard corner saw Nimmo soar to claim the lineout ball, the forwards then drove towards the line before the ball was moved inside for winger Dave Doherty to streak in at the corner, Cook was once again on the money with his conversion taking his points tally past the 1,000 mark in just three seasons at the club.

Then winger Grant Pointer got in on the action breaking a tackle he ran in at the clubhouse corner for the Pirates’ fourth try. Cook kept up his strike rate with another good kick for the extras.

With time almost up the Pirate’s drove another nail into Bristol’s hopes as Rimmer crashed over for his second try of the game, Cook’s final conversion clipped the upright and stayed out.

The final whistle came when replacement scrum-half Tom Kessell kicked a penalty out to the unreserved cheers of the Mennaye faithful.

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, G. Pointer (M. Evans 76), S. Hill, A. Suniula, D. Doherty, C. Thomas, G. Cattle (capt, T. Kessell 79), B. Maidment (K. Marriott 44), P. Burgess (D. Ewers 76), C. Morgan, I. Nimmo, L. McGlone, A. Paver (R. Brits 79), D. Ward (R. Elloway 75), C. Rimmer (R. Storer 76).

Bristol Rugby: J. Goodridge, J. Tovey, O. Fautua, L. Eves, W. Helu, M. Jones (M. James 60), R. Tipuna, D. Montagu, J. Merriman, I. Grieve (H. Vanderglas), R. Winters, G. Townson (B. Glynn 5), J. Hobson (W. Thompson 27), J. Harris-Wright, M. Irish (M. Lilley 76).

Replacements (not used): T. Slater, T. Channon.

Scorers:- Cornish Pirates – tries: Rimmer (2), Cook, Doherty, Pointer; cons: Cook (4); pens: Cook (4) Bristol Rugby – tries: Helu (2), Merriman, cons: Jones (3); pen: Jones.

Referee: J. P. Doyle (RFU)

Attendance: 2,983

After the match a delighted Cornish Pirates skipper scrum-half Gavin Cattle gave his reaction tom his side’s tremendous win. Asked how he felt when his side found themselves 14-0 down early on. “I wasn’t too concerned as it happened early doors, I knew we could recover. I think half-time was the turning point for us. We said we needed to keep possession more rather than try to force the pass, we were perhaps trying to score too early in phase play, so we kept hold of the ball made them tackle us and then reaped the rewards as we were making positive gains, especially with the like of Laurie McGlone carrying. The forwards got us on the front foot and it went from there really, retaining the possession was the key for us.

“We realised that their forwards were blowing a bit towards the end, but I think we had the greater hunger for the game, we had that edge at the breakdown again giving us some good quality ball to attack with.

“I am really chuffed with the boys effort today, we kicked well used the space and played a really sensible game plan.

Cattle has no doubts that despite his side’s cushion it will be a tough game at the Memorial Ground next Sunday. “In the Championship game up there we had a nineteen point half-time lead and lost, we can’t afford to sit on our laurels and I know we won’t. In the group circle after the game we realised we had to calm down a bit as the job is only half done. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground building up to Sunday.

You could win tomorrow’s match ball signed by the Cornwall squad.

That’s the prize for the lucky bidder as Trelawny’s Army looks to raise funds for BBC Radio Cornwall’s Phoenix Stroke Appeal at the game tomorrow.

You can make a bid for what will be a much prized memento either by telephone to our Hon.Sec Ian Gordon on 01579 320670 (answer phone will take bids).

Bids need to be in by 6 pm on Sunday 6th May.

or

at our merchandising stand at the game please see our Chairman Phil Trevarton on the stand.

It is hoped to announce the winner of the match ball during commentary of the Cornish Pirates v Bristol game on Bank Holiday Monday 7th May.

National League 1 side Cinderford provide the bulk of Gloucestershire’s squad for Saturday’s opening Bill Beaumont Cup encounter against Cornwall at Redruth RFC kick-off 3 pm.

Team Manager Paul Morris (Cinderford) said: “We may not have had a warm up game like our opponents but all of our squad know each other and the majority play together in national one at Cinderford each week, so we feel motivated and confident in our ability to tackle Cornwall, another strong, traditional rugby county like ourselves.”

“I wish the boys well under the captaincy of Will Foden and thanks also to the team’s great coaches Matt Salter (Clifton, Bristol University) and John Barnes (Hartpury Academy) who have galvanised the side. Good luck.”

Gloucestershire (Cinderford unless stated): M Wilcox, N Codlin, R Winchle, S Rodwell (Hartpury). R Haile (Taunton), R Teague, S Arnott (Southend); J Smart, S Wilkes, N Selway (Lydney), D Wright (Rugby Lions), E King, L Allen, W Foden (Capt), B Walker (Hartpury).

Replacements: C Thompson (Old Patesians), C Meddick (Dings Crusaders) B Sparks, H Tovey (Clifton), S Plummer (Dings Crusaders), G Lewis (Hartpury), J Hannam (Lydney)

We are putting on a coach to Hertford for next Saturday (12th May) match against Hertfordshire kick-off 2 pm.

Cost of transport is £42 per person.

The price DOES NOT include ground entry at Hertford RFC.

There will be details at our stall at Redruth on Saturday.

In 2009 our coaches to Twickenham were fully booked. Supporters who travel with us to Hertfordshire guarantee themselves a seat for the finals on Sunday 27th May 2012.

To book you seat for Saturday 12th May contact Bryan Llewellyn 01209 619646 mobile 07895089890 or e-mail transport.secretary@trelawnysarmy.org

Cornwall have picked an exciting side to face Gloucestershire in this Saturday’s opening County Championship fixture at Redruth kick-off 3 pm.

Apart from skipper Ben Hilton our current player of the year, there are two former TASC player of the year recipients in the team, centre Ryan Westren and No.8 Sam Hocking.

In addition there is Bryn Jenkins (Cambridge) who has won our U.20 award in the past as has indeed Westren.

There will be added incentive too for prop Darren Jacques who’s wife presented him with a daughter on May Day. A win against old foes Gloucestershire would cap a fine week for the Redruth forward.

The back line shows three changes from the side that recently defeated Devon in the Tamar Cup at Launceston. In at outside centre comes Westren who has been in sparkling form at London Scottish since signing from the Cornish Pirates. On the wing comes Steve Johns from Plymouth Albion, whilst at scrum-half fit again Greg Goodfellow (Redruth) starts and partners Lewis Webb (Cornish All Blacks) at fly-half. Webb is going travelling so this will be one of his last games in Cornwall for a while.

In the pack Jenkins partners skipper Ben Hilton in the second row, whilst at No.8 Hocking (Plymouth Albion) comes in for Tom Duncan (Redruth) who drops to the bench.

The bench also sees Damien Cook (Redruth) return as second row cover and Dave Pascoe who last Saturday skippered the Royal Navy in their defeat against the Army in the Babcock Trophy at Twickenham as one of just two back replacements the other being Jake Murphy (Cornish All Blacks).

There is a late change Ryan Westren has been forced to pull-out due to a groin injury, Steve Johns switches from the wing to centre, Tom Notman (Redruth) comes in on the wing.

Cornwall: B Rule (Redruth), R Bright (Cornish All Blacks), L Paterson (Cornish All Blacks), S Johns (Plymouth Albion), T Notman (Redruth), L Webb (Cornish All Blacks), G Goodfellow (Redruth); D Jacques (Redruth), J Salter (Cornish All Blacks), C Williams (Redruth), B Hilton (Cornish All Blacks, Capt), B Jenkins (Cambridge), M Rawlings (Cornish All Blacks), T Rawlings (Cornish All Blacks), S Hocking (Plymouth Albion)

Replacements: D Pascoe (Penryn & Royal Navy), J Murphy (Cornish All Blacks), T Duncan (Redruth), R Brown (Redruth), P Joyce (Redruth), D Cook (Redruth), C Fuca (Redruth)

Just two league matches involving Cornish Clubs on the final Saturday of the league season, both in National League 2 South.

The Cornish All Blacks had the satisfaction of defeating the league winners Old Albanians 19-18.

It was Richard Bright who got the All Blacks’ try with Kieron Lewitt’s boot kicking the other points.

For Redruth a difficult finale up at Shelford with a few regulars missing for DoR Dave Penberthy’s final game in charge. A final score of 37-24 saw them finish in 6th place. Tom Duncan, Chris Fuca and Tom Notman got Redruth’s tries with Brett Rule kicking the other points.

Reds finished a point ahead of their local rivals Launceston who were 7th.

All eyes now turn to Redruth on Saturday when Cornwall will be looking to get their Bill Beaumont Cup campaign off to a great start when they take on Gloucestershire.

The Cornwall squad will be bouyed following their Tamar Cup win over Devon last Tuesday evening.

Skipper Ben Hilton has issued a call to the black and gold faithful. He said. “I urge all Cornwall doubters that have decided not to come to matches over the last couple of years to please come back, bring your children with you and have a family day out at Redruth.

“Launceston and Redruth have been through the mill over the last couple of years so let’s show the RFU how passionate we are about rugby down here.

“Games against Gloucestershire have been tough in the past, but hopefully this year will be our year.

“We will give it our best shot, so please come and support us and make Redruth a tough place for other teams to come to.”