TAKEN FROM THE WEST BRITON WEB SITE

Youth rugby

Cornwall U18 22, Berkshire 13

After a below par display in their opening SW Championship fixture, resulting
in a 32-17 defeat to Buckinghamshire, Cornwall travelled to Bristol for their
second fixture.

Playing against a strong wind an early penalty was conceded to give their
opponents a 3-0 lead before a turnover inside their own 22 saw the quick
Berkshire backs spread the ball and good support play saw them open their try
account and a further penalty eased them into 13-0 lead before a penalty from
Danny Thomas brought the score back to 13-3.

Right on half time a driving maul set up from a lineout close to their line
saw the Cornish pack crash over with skipper Mike Wright claiming the score.

In the second half powerful pack play laid the basis of a more dominant
display with several powerful surges only being stopped by illegal Berkshire
play, resulting finally in a yellow card, before Aaron Bennetts finally crashed
over with Danny Thomas converting.

There was no stopping the black and golds’ pack again and Luke Tidball
finished off good sustained pressure with a try which Thomas converted to secure
a well merited victory 22-13.

For Cornwall forwards Mike Wright, Neil Broadbank and Jack house all thrived
in the tight while Brandon Roth, who came off the bench along with Luke Tidball
and Robin Wedlake looked threatening in the three quarters and ensured Cornwall
will travel to Okehampton this Sunday for the crunch local derby against Devon
(2.30pm) in fine spirits.

By Bill Hooper, at the Memorial Ground, Penryn.

Penryn drive forward into the Clevedon half

ith almost the final play of the game, as the gloom
started to shroud the Memorial Ground, flanker Phil Hinchley grabbed Penryn’s
fourth try at the college end to claim all five points in a well deserved 32-13
win against a plucky Clevedon side.

Despite falling behind to a try scored by the visitor’s
flanker Harvey Russell after just ten minutes. Penryn didn’t panic and calmly
worked their way back to wrest control.

Goal kicking was to prove a lottery in the tricky
conditions, luckily full back Rob Banks had his kicking boots on as he kicked
two first half penalties along with a drop-goal from fly-half Mike Creeden to add to the three tries Penryn ran in to establish a commanding 24-8 lead at the break.

Having opened his account with a penalty on seventeen
minutes, Banks couldn’t better right winger Josh Chamber’s score as Borough nudged
ahead 8-5 after twenty-seven minutes.

Centre Mike Taylor levelled matters with a penalty
shortly after, before Penryn pulled away before half-time, Banks grabbed
Penryn’s second try as well as adding two further penalties. Penryn’s third try
came again from left wing James Martin just prior to half-time.

The Borough pack get the nudge

The second half was a much scrappier affair with referee
Ryan Cook frequently penalizing the home side much to the frustration of the
vociferous home supporters.

Clevedon eventually capitalised scoring a second try with
Russell getting his second  of the game for the visitors.

Penryn’s pack, despite losing skipper Sam Harrison early
in the game due to a dislocated finger were rampant, with James Mann at No.8 punching
big holes along with fellow back rowers Hinchley and Jordan Rose. Kevin Hughes
again rolling back the years, with a solid performance, alongside George Jones
in the boiler house.

Borough nudged their lead with Banks’ third penalty after sixty minutes when Clevedon were down to fourteen men

before Hinchley grabbed the fourth try bonus point try near the end.

Penryn 32 pts

Tries- Chambers, Banks, Martin, Hinchley, Penalties –
Banks (3), Drop-goal- Creeden

Clevedon 13pts

Tries – Russell (2), Penalty – Taylor

Penryn: Banks, Chambers, Vague, Paine, Martin, Creeden,
Peacock; Williams, Harrison (capt), Pattison, Jones, Hughes, Rose, Hinchley,
Mann

Replacements (all used): James-Mills, Ashwin, Kirk

Clevedon: Perry, Carpenter, Ashfield, Taylor, Johns, Thie
(capt), Towers; Smith, Williams, Dauncey, Giltrow, Hunt, Biggins, Russell,
Rawle

Replacements (all used): Jones, Shopland, James

Referee: Ryan Cook (CRRS)

Star man James Mann always busy and at the heart of the Borough’s attacks

Esher made the Cornish Pirates work hard for their 34-18 win at the Mennaye yesterday afternoon in the RFU Championship.

An entertaining game saw seven tries scored with the Pirates getting five. Winger Dave Doherty again showed his prowess with a brace, whilst

other tries came from lock Mike Myerscough, hooker Rob Elloway and replacement scrum-half Tom Kessell. Full back Rob Cook  did well to kick three conversions

and a penalty in very windy conditions.

I thought Myerscough had a good game amongst the forwards, in the backs apart from “The Doc’s” finishing, Drew Locke showed another side to

his game with some crunching tackles. USA RWC star Andrew Suniula came off the bench to make his debut for the Pirates showing promise.

You can read Bill Sobey’s match report from the Western Morning News in the link  

In National 2 South, a good day for both our Cornish clubs as Redruth bounced back from their heavy defeat last week at Richmond by defeating another London

side Barnes 56-22 at the Rec. The star of the show was the half-back partnership of Greg Goodfellow and Aaron Penberthy. Goodfellow scored two great tries, whilst Penberthy

converted all eight tries. Penberthy will probably remember the game for another reason, going off for a cut that never was. Penberthy left the field with what looked

like blood, but he couldn’t feel where it was coming from. The medics quickly cleaned him up but they too couldn’t find any cut! All the player can remember is being

slapped on the side of the face and the next thing being covered in what appears to be a red dye!

You can read Bill Sobey’s match report from the Western Morning News in the link 

The Cornish All Blacks got only their second win of the season when they defeated Henley Hawks 28-12 at Polson. Good to see our TASC Player of the Year Ben Hilton

grabbing two of the All Blacks four tries. Dick Benson-Gyles WMN report can be found in the link.

In Tribute South West 1 West, the Cornish derby up at the Molesworth field went the way of visitors Penryn who defeated Wadebridge Camels 18-11. Whilst Camborne

found Brixham and former player Ian Morgan too hot to handle as they lost 30-20 at the Fishermen.

I have deliberatly steered clear from RWC 2011, but now that the final has been played and the medals and cup awarded I will make one or two comments.

First and foremost warmest congratulations to New Zealand on their 8 – 7 win over France in the final and for hosting a brilliant tournament.

Unquestionably the best team won the cup.

England will have a tough act to follow in 2015 if they manage to sort themselves out in time from their present mess both on and off the field.

France in the end showed us that they can play and put in the big performance, on another day the result in the final could have gone their way.

A lot of rubbish was written about this French team in the build up and during the knock out stages, hopefully a lesson will have been learn’t by those who wrote it!

Wales were magnificent, we now wait to see a confirmation of the promise during the RBS 6 Nations in 2012.

I loved Phil Vickery’s commentary, his passion for the game just came through, a bright spark in an otherwise dull ITV effort,

though I do like Martin Gillingham having got used to his commentary on ESPN for the Orange Top 14.

An eight try win over London side Barnes was just the tonic
required by Redruth to help erase memories of last Saturday’s National League 2
South defeat in the capital to Richmond, reports Bill Hooper at the Recreation
Ground.

Aaron Penberthy marked his starting return following
injury at fly-half with an impressive eight conversions in a faultless kicking
display coupled with excellent marshalling of the game from the pivotal
position. His partnership with man-of-the-match scrum-half Greg Goodfellow left
the Redruth crowd purring with admiration with the promise of more to come from
this exciting combination as the season unfurls.

It was Penberthy’s long kick up-field that set up the
Reds’ opening try after just 2 minutes, the ball bouncing into the arms of full
back Brett Rule who almost made the line only to be brought down short,
thankfully centre Jamie Semmens was on hand to finish the move.

Barnes had a golden opportunity to score a try moments
after but the chance went begging as winger David Butler dropped the ball with
the line at his mercy. The visitors did get on the scoreboard from a penalty
shortly after from full back James Clark.

Redruth responded in the best fashion with a second try following
forward pressure with Chris Fuca getting the score.

Barnes had a good spell as Redruth were again guilty of
some poor tackling, however Redruth had a third try on the board after 21
minutes as a quickly taken tap penalty by Owen Hambly saw the ball moved wide
with Fuca’s level pass setting up winger Lewis Vinnicombe.

Penberthy’s ribs were sorely tested as he got under
Barnes’ Kiwi No.8 Sam Harding to prevent a certain try. Sadly his effort was in
vain as from the scrum Harding moved the ball wide with winger Luke Sayer
squeezing in at the scoreboard corner, Clark’s conversion from wide out bringing
his side back to 21-10.

The final ten minutes of the half was all Redruth as they
ran in a further two tries. First it was Goodfellow showing some deft footwork
who sprinted in for the bonus point try. Then just before half-time Tom Notman
scored Redruth’s fifth try as the ball was moved along the line with the winger
crossing in the Piggy lane corner for a 35-10 score at the break.

Barnes made a couple of changes at half-time and began
the second half more purposefully culminating in the first of two second half
tries for Butler.

Redruth responded almost immediately with Goodfellow
again showing a good step to score his second try at the posts.

Craig Bonds on for Sam Parsons in the centre followed up
with try number seven latching on to kick from Notman on 63 minutes.

Barnes hadn’t given up and they scored a third try through
Butler from a quick tap penalty near the posts to give them hope of possibly
salvaging a try bonus point of their own.

It was as near as they would get, instead Redruth piled
on the misery with try number eight scored three minutes from time as No.8 Tom
Duncan was driven over for his seventh try of the season. Penberthy completed
the scoring with his final well-struck conversion.

Redruth 56 pts

Tries – Semmens, Fuca, Vinnicombe, Goodfellow (2),
Notman, Bonds, Duncan, Conversions – Penberthy (8)

Barnes 22 pts

Tries – Sayer, Butler (2), Conversions – Clark, Williams-Davies,
Penalty – Clark

Referee: Robert Warburton (RFU)

BY PHIL WESTREN CORNISH PIRATES’
MEDIA OFFICER

A week and half after winning 20-16 at Plymouth Albion in the RFU
Championship, it’s a return for the Cornish Pirates to the Brickfields on
Wednesday evening for a British Irish cup encounter.

The match kicks off at 7.45pm.

Graham Dawe’s side lost narrowly 29-25 away to Moseley in their
cup opener, whilst the Pirates beat Bristol Rugby 50-22 back at the Mennaye
Field.

As ever, Wednesday evening’s game is expected to be closely fought
affair, and one when both teams will likely give welcome game time to various
squad members, including for the Pirates young fly-half Aaron Penberthy, who
will make his debut for the club as he returns from injury.

Also, with Championship clubs able to play up to 10 players in
this season’s British & Irish Cup who are registered for league rugby with
clubs at Level 3 or below, two players from the Cornish All Blacks and one from
St. Austell have been named in the Cornish Pirates squad for this match.

From the Cornish All Blacks, Mike Rawlings who was an ‘Academy’
player at the Pirates a few seasons back, is selected at open-side flanker, and
another former ‘Pirate’ and back-rower, Josh Lord, is named among the
replacements.

St. Austell scrum-half Matt Shepherd is also on the bench and
flanker Kyle Marriott will captain the side against his former club.

Cornish Pirates: R. Cook, R.
McAtee, R. Westren, S. Hill, W. Davies, A. Penberthy, T. Kessell,B. Maidment,
M. Rawlings, K. Marriott (capt), M. Smith, M.Myerscough, C. Rimmer, T. Cowan-Dickie, R.
Storer.

Replacements: P. Andrew, D. Ward, R. Brits, I.
Nimmo, J. Lord, M. Shepherd, D. Doherty.

Referee: Philip
Davies (RFU)

RESULT

PLYMOUTH ALBION 0 – 38 CORNISH PIRATES

A disappointing result for the faithful at the Mennaye on Sunday afternoon as the Cornish Pirates slipped to their first defeat of the RFU Championship campaign going down 34-24 to old foes Bedford Blues.

No doubt Bedford will be happy to have earned a small measure of revenge for their semi-final defeat at the hands of the Pirates last spring.

For the Pirates’ management concerns in the backline with fly-half Ceiron Thomas  going off injured with barely ten minutes on the clock and defensive frailties in the mid-field.

If the backline is cause for concern then the pack gave a solid display with lock Ian Nimmo having another big game especially in the lineout. Great to see No. 8 Blair Cowangetting back to near his best. Skipper Gavin Cattle as always inspirational and a constant catalyst for all things good from the Pirates. Rob Cook opened the scoring with a penalty,he added a second just before half-time, but that was all the home side were to get during a difficult first period.

It was Cattle’s opposite number Stef Liebenberg, the former Cambridge srum-half, who caused the Pirates problems. His quick thinking on the half hour mark led to the Blues first try.

Then centre  Josh Bassett won the race into the scorboard corner, following a kick ahead from centre Tom Bedford for the Blues second try. Fly-half Jamie Lennard landed both conversions as well as a couple of penalties to leave the visitors 20-6 up at half-time.

After half-time Cook chipped away at the Blues lead with a couple of penalties, but the visitors scored a telling blow when replacement No. 8 Don Barrell picked up and crashed over for the Blues third try, Lennard’s extras putting the visitors 27-12 up.

Cowan finally got a try for the Pirates and Cook’s conversion cut the deficit to just eight points. However just five minutes later the Blues had secured the try-scoring bonus point as centre Duncan Taylor was put away by replacement lock Mike Howard. Lennard making it four from four conversions.

With time fast running out and little more than pride left to play for winger Wes Davies grabbed a second try for the Pirates, but it was all too little too late and the Pirates had nothing to show for the first time this season.

So elsewhere, you can read my report below on the Redruth game in National League 2 South. Now what about the poor old Cornish All Blacks! Yet another defeat this time up at Southend 29-20. Two yellow cards for Josh Lord and skipper Tom Rawlings can’t have helped and the first half scoreboard reflected that at 19-3 to the home side.

Despite Kieron Lewitt kicking a second penalty, Southend scored a third try putting them 26-6 up. Launceston to their credit made a game of it when Jamie Salter scored a good try and Lewitt adding the extras. Southend, though kicked another penalty, before Josh Lord back grabbed a second try for the All Blacks with Lewitt again adding the extras.

A playing record of played seven and lost six will make for worrying reading up at Polson.

In Tribute South West 1 West. A fine win for Wadebridge Camels who defeated Paignton 33-0. Camels ran in five tries through Jack Scott, Jamie Grubb, Sam Stone and Matt Ballard (2). Grubb added the other points with the boot.

Penryn overcame Cullompton at the Memorial Ground 10 – 3  with a couple tries from James Martin and Mike Creedon.

Camborne lost on the road at Avonmouth OB’s. Trailing 17-9 at half-time, Grant Thirlby had kept them in it with three penalties, they got to within three points after Richie Kevern had scored an unconverted try. The Old Boys pulled away again and despite a second try scored by James Goldsworthy, Avonmouth ran out 29-19 winners.

REDRUTH 18 – 17 HARTPURY COLLEGE

Another nail-biter went down to the wire at the Rec on
Saturday as Redruth for the second home match running had a late penalty to win
the game.

Two weeks ago the penalty effort failed, this time centre
Jamie Semmens, who was forced into goal kicking duties as fly-half Brett Rule
had just limped off, calmly slotted his kick between the posts to put Redruth
18-17 up.

The drama didn’t end there as a further passage of play
saw Hartpury College’s winger Ian Clarke red-carded for striking Redruth
scrum-half Greg Goodfellow.

Semmens kicked the resulting penalty out and referee Tom
Davies blew the final whistle to end a dramatic finale.

It certainly was an entertaining match between two sides
who had never met before.

Hartpury took an early lead through fly-half’s Tim
Stevenson’s 2^nd minute penalty.

Redruth stormed back taking play into the Hartpury
twenty-two, a sustained period of pressure saw the Redruth pack drive the
visitors back over their own try-line, as Hartpury kicked the ball out of the
scrum, referee Davies had no hesitation in awarding a penalty-try, which Brett
Rule converted.

Redruth increased their lead soon after withRule adding a
penalty, as Hartpury went offside.

Hartpury had shown signs that they were no pushovers,
after 21 minutes they levelled the scores as Stevenson went in for a try which
he also converted.

Stevenson and Rule both missed with penalty chances to
increase the score. Redruth also came close to scoring a try through winger Tom
Notman.

Up to half-time it stayed at 10-10.

Rule was unlucky with a penalty attempt just after the
break which struck the post.

Redruth finally got reward for their possession with a
fine try scored in the Piggy lane corner by Notman following good work from
Lewis Vinnicombe, who had replaced winger Nathan Pedley, and flanker Chris
Fuca.

Rule couldn’t add the extras from the difficult touchline
conversion.

With just a five point advantage Redruth were in danger
of a Hartpury reaction and it duly arrived following a big forward drive by the
pack which saw prop Richard Barrington driven over, Stevenson’s conversion
giving the visitors a 17-15 advantage.

Redruth dug deep and threw everything at Hartpury. A
great kick out of defence by Vinnicombe helped set up the position from which
Semmens kicked the winning points.

Redruth 18 pts

Tries – Penalty-try, Notman, Penalties – Rule, Semmens,
Conversion – Rule

Hartpury College 17 pts

Tries – Stevenson, Barrington, Penalty – Stevenson,
Conversions – Stevenson (2)

Red Card – Clarke (80)

Referee: Tom Davis (RFU)

Trelawny’s Army are pleased to announce that Cornish All
Blacks second row BEN HILTON has been named our player of the year for 2010/11,
becoming the latest recipient of the Bill Osborne Memorial Shield.

Ben’s sterling performances in the boiler house in no
small measure helped maintain Cornwall’s place in the Bill Beaumont Cup top
tier for 2012.

Ben’s outstanding endeavours for Cornwall led to him being
selected to represent England Counties during their three match tour to Spain last
summer, culminating in playing the test match and scoring a try against Spain in
a 55-6 win in Valladolid.

The U.20 Tony Mead Memorial Shield goes to Aaron
Penberthy, who has just been signed by the Cornish Pirates and is one of
Cornish rugby’s most promising prospects.

Aaron, despite being sidelined at present, recovering
from a broken rib sustained playing at Worthing for Redruth, enjoyed a
fantastic season with the Reds during 2010/11, earning him honours at U.20 and
senior levels for both Cornwall & England Counties, a remarkable feat – just
reward for this young man’s enthusiasm and hard work.

The presentation of the Shields was made by Cornwall RFU
President, Dave Martin at our annual general meeting held at St. Austell
Brewery Visitor centre on Wednesday 5^th October.

TASC also announced at the meeting details of their
sponsorship for 2012, which will once again see match balls donated to the
promoted clubs in Cornwall from last season, Penryn, St. Austell, Veor and
Pirates Amateurs. Also to Camelford who have entered the league set up this
season in Tribute Cornwall League 2.

Having approached the Cornwall RFU we are delighted to
announce that we will also be sponsoring the match balls for Cornwall’s Bill
Beaumont Cup matches at home against Gloucestershire and North Midlands.

With the blessing of the CRFU, a match ball from each of
the games will be signed by the Cornwall squad and then be auctioned at a date
and venue to be announced with the proceeds going towards BBC Radio Cornwall’s
Phoenix Stroke Appeal.

Ben Hilton (Left) & Aaron Penberthy with their awards on Wednesday evening

After last Saturday’s televised 52-10 dismantaling of Leeds Carnegie at fortress Mennaye, the Cornish Pirates crossed the Tamar to take on local rivals Plymouth Albion at the Brickfields.And on a scorching October day that would not have looked out of place on the set of the Pirates of the Carribean the Pirates maintained top spot in the RFU Championship with a solid 20-16 win on Devonian soil.

A welcome back in Pirates’ colours for fly-half Jonny Bentley making his first appearence of the season. No Alan Paver in the front row for the Pirates as he has gone on loan to the Exeter Chiefs, coming on at Sandy Park in the 17-13 defeat to Champions Saracens. Good on you Paves.

Skipper Gavin Cattle and full back David Doherty scored the Pirates’ two tries whilist the kicked points were shared by Grant Pointer and Cieron Thomas, who replaced Bentley just after the half-hour mark, with a penalty and conversion each.

England U.18 player Henry Slade scored Albion’s try with full back James Love adding the conversion and three penalties.

Always a satisfying win at the Brickfields and no doubt both teams will have a much changed line up when they meet again at the Brickfields on Wednesday week in the British & Irish Cup. You can read Dick Straughan’s WMN match report in the link here.

Next Sunday the Pirates have a tasty looking encounter at the Mennaye against Bedford Blues with a 3pm kick-off.

National League 2 South saw mixed fortunes for our two Cornish clubs. After the agony of their 14-13 defeat last week at home to Henley Hawks, Redruth travelled to the Forest of Dean to take on Lydney. Never an easy place to get a result, Redruth travelled home with all five league points after a 27-21 win. Redruth scored five tries at Regentsholme. Try scorers were Owen Hambly, Tom Duncan (yet again!), Chris Fuca, Greg Goodfellow and Tom Notman. Brett Rule adding a conversion.

You can read Ed Bawden’s WMN match report in the link here.

Redruth will look to carry on their fine performance at home next Saturday against Hartpury College.

The Cornish All Blacks lost at home to Worthing by 25-24. A fifth defeat out of six starts is not what the Polson faithful would have hoped for this season, and once again it was by a narrow margin. Jake Murphy, Lewis Paterson  and Josh Lord scored the All Blacks’ tries with Kieron Lewitt kicking all three conversions and a penalty.

You can read Dick Benson-Gyles WMN match report in the link here.

Next week the Cornish All Blacks travel to Southend who are just ahead of them in the league table.

In Tribute South West 1 West, Camborne enjoyed a fine win at the Rec defeating Thornbury 35-21, scoring five tries through wingers Rob Floyd (2), prop forward John Court, flanker Sam Matavesi and full back Joe Parma. Grant Thirlby kicked the remaining points with two conversions a drop-goal and a penalty.

A tough afternoon for Wadebridge Camels at Astley Park as they went down to Brixham 55-20. Matt Diamond and Sam Stone scored the Camel’s two tries with James Taylor adding both conversions and a couple of penalties, as the Camels turned around 38-20 down. But it was Brixham who kicked on during the second half.

Penryn couldn’t make it two wins on the trot as they also lost in South Devon 32-22 at Sidmouth. Phil Hinchley, Lewis Vague and James Mann scored the Borough’s three tries with Adryan Winnan adding a couple of conversions and a penalty.

In Tribute Western Counties West, St. Austell, who this week welcomed back Matt Shepherd from his brief spell at Redruth, defeated St. Ives 31-8 at Tregorrick. Shepherd was on hand with the boot to convert all four of St. Austell’s tries and a penalty. The tries came from James Earp, Hugh Noott, Paul Winterbottom and Ian Venner. For the Hakes Neil Corin scored a try and Jamie Prisk a penalty.

In the other games involving Cornish clubs Truro lost at Ivybridge 12-0, whilst Bude went down at Wellington 45-29.

Up in London 2 SW, London Cornish enjoyed a fine win over Teddington 23-20. Dickon Moon’s report can be found here.

Pirates Amateurs and Hayle are both setting the pace in Tribute Cornwall & Devon League with five wins from five. The Amateurs latest success came at the Mennaye when they beat Totnes 64-0 scoring ten tries under the hot sun.

Hayle defeated Withycombe 49-10 to maintain second spot just behind the Amateurs on points difference.

Elsewhere in this league, Falmouth lost at Honiton 26-15. Liskeard / Looe lost at Lux Park to Crediton 24-15, whilst Newquay Hornets won the derby game against Veor 32-10.