CORNWALL CONFIDENT AHEAD OF HERTS CLASH

BY BILL HOOPER TASC PRESS OFFICER

CORNWALL despite lacking players from the Cornish All Blacks go into their opening County Championship clash on Saturday at Redruth full of confidence.
Redruth club captain prop Darren Jacques is set to lead the side in Cornwall’s only home game of the season against Hertfordshire, before two away fixtures at Cinderford v Gloucestershire on May 14th and Kent at Canterbury on May 21st.

Former TASC player of the year Sam Hocking is set to return to the county side whilst James Goldsworthy from Tribute Cornwall Cup Holders Camborne will partner Damien Cook in the second row.

Ever green fly-half Ian Morgan (St. Ives) is once more drafted in for his experience and goal-kicking as the tournament again features rolling replacements.
Players who play in this season’s County Championship will also be looking for places on England Counties three match tour to Spain in June.

CORNWALL SQUAD

BACKS: A WINNAN (PENRYN), T NOTMAN (REDRUTH), S JOHNS (PLYMOUTH ALBION), S PARSONS (REDRUTH), M BOWDEN (REDRUTH), I MORGAN (ST. IVES), N SIMMONS (REDRUTH), B RULE (REDRUTH), S HAWKEY (WADEBRIDGE CAMELS), S KENWARD (REDRUTH).

FORWARDS: D JACQUES (REDRUTH, CAPT), R BROWN (REDRUTH), P JOYCE (REDRUTH), D COOK (REDRUTH), J GOLDSWORTHY (CAMBORNE), C FUCA (REDRUTH), O HAMBLY (REDRUTH) S HOCKING (PLYMOUTH ALBION), C WILLIAMS (ST. IVES), D CLACKWORTHY (REDRUTH), S MATAVESI (CAMBORNE), G GYNN (WADEBRIDGE CAMELS), S WOODS (REDRUTH)

The first leg final of the RFU Championship between the Cornish Pirates and Worcester Warriors will be played at the Mennaye Field, Penzance, on Wednesday 11th May (ko 7.45pm).

For tickets please contact the club’s ticket office 01736-331961, open 9am – 4pm Monday-Friday (up to and including Tuesday 10th May). Also, as usual, tickets can be purchased on-line at www.cornish-pirates.com, and from various Warrens bakers outlets about the county.

With reference to the second leg game to be played at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium on Wednesday 18th May (ko 7.45pm) the best advice at present is to visit the tickets section at www.warriors.co.uk or call the Warriors Box Office on 01905-454183 during office hours.

IT WAS TENSE down at the Mennaye yesterday evening, with just over 10 minutes of proper time left on the clock and trailing to an excellent London Welsh side 10-3, the Cornish Pirates dug deep to turn the result around in dramatic fashion with a little bit of Welsh wizardry from their skipper scrum-half Gavin Cattle. A blind-side break saw the scrum-half scuttle in at the “Old Western National Corner”, following a good run from replacement centre Drew Locke. Full-back Rob Cook converted the score to tie it up at 10 apiece.

The crowd then played their part roaring the Pirates on to victory, Cook kicked a second penalty to nudge the Pirates into a slender lead but then it was Cattle again, this time turning provider for fellow Welshman Rhodri McAtee to dive in at the Newlyn Gate Corner, as the clock ticked into time added on. It was a body blow to the valiant Exiles who had given their all in a gripping encounter. They certainly rocked the Pirates with a storming start that saw them lead with a Gordon Ross penalty, as the Pirates lost flanker Sam Betty to the bin. Although Cook tied the scores with his first penalty success it was Welsh who had the better of the first half with lock Matt Corker crashing over at the Newlyn End to re-gain the lead, Ross’s conversion giving Welsh a 10-3 lead at the break.

Despite having a man advantage at the start of the second half with Exiles’ prop Shawn Pittman shown the yellow card for foul play just on half-time, the Pirates were denied by a robust Welsh defence until Cattle’s telling blows.

The Championship final first leg between the Pirates and the Warriors takes place on Wednesday, May 11 (7.45pm) at Mennaye Field, with the second leg coming a week later at Sixways (also 7.45pm).

TICKETS FOR THE 1ST LEG OF THE FINAL ARE AVAILABLE NOW FROM THE USUAL OUTLETS.

WAIT AND SEE! That is the Red’s fate this week as they did their bit by winning at Wharfedale by 33-22. The result lifts them 2 points clear of Sedgley Park who play Macclesfield next Saturday in their final game.

Mark Bright scored a hat-trick of tries to round off his season as he returns to New Zealand tomorrow to play for Tasman Makos this summer. Tom Notman and Steve Woods got the other tries with Aaron Penberthy adding four conversions.

Penberthy will now look forward to playing for England Counties U.20’s next Friday at West Park Leeds when they play Scotland U.20’s.

The Cornish All Blacks lost their penultimate game at Polson going down 28-21 to Rosslyn Park despite centre Ryan Westren crossing for a brace of tries amongst all the points scored by the centre for his club. Westren’s second try set a new try-scoring record for the Cornish All Blacks in a season.

With Westren set for the Cornish Pirates next season, Mal Roberts is the next player who will move away from Polson at the end of the season as his Army career takes him back up country.

The Cornish All Blacks will complete their season this Saturday at home to Stourbridge kick-off will be at 1-30pm.

REDRUTH 26 – 25 BLAYDON

Redruth live to fight another day following this narrow win in their final league match at the Recreation Ground this season, reports Bill Hooper.

A seesaw match with the lead changed seven times, not recommended for those of a nervous disposition, finally settled in the Reds favour six minutes from time as fly-half Aaron Penberthy slotted home his fourth penalty of the game. The young Redruth fly-half kicked six from six adding the conversions of both Redruth’s tries in a faultless kicking display.

Redruth got off to a good start with Penberthy kicking his first penalty on 4 minutes as Blaydon failed to roll away. However the visitors soon showed they hadn’t travelled the virtually length of England just to make up the numbers. A sustained period of pressure saw them score their opening try after 18 minutes as lock Chris Wearmouth exploited a gap in the Reds’ cover down in Hell Fire Corner to crash over.

With the visitors again pressing near the Redruth line lock Luke Collins ripped the ball off the Blaydon forwards to set up centre Sean Hawkey who ran powerfully to the Blaydon 22, winger Tom Notman and inspirational skipper Mark Bright took the move on up to the visitor’s line forcing Blaydon to infringe with No.8 Gavin Jones shown a yellow card for killing the ball.

Redruth opted for the scrum with scrum-half Nick Simmons darting in from 5 meters to score the Reds opening try on 26 minutes, Penberthy adding the extras for a 10-5 lead.

Frustratingly for the Reds they too soon found themselves down to fourteen men as Hawkey was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball on as Blaydon once again pressed in the Redruth 22, Andrew Baggett slotting home a simple penalty from in front of the posts.

Blaydon finished the half the stronger adding a second try with full back Ed Yarnton finishing off a good move that had stretched the Reds’ defence in the Piggy Lane corner, Baggett adding the conversion for a useful 15-10 lead for the visitors.

Redruth started the second half strongly with Bright scoring a second try for the Reds on 46 minutes, Penberthy was on cue with the conversion as he was with a penalty just four minutes later to put Redruth 20-15 up.

Blaydon wouldn’t lie down and a fine move involving backs and forwards saw winger Fraser Wilson come off his wing to score a fine try under the posts on 55 minutes and with Baggett’s conversion Blaydon were once again in the lead 22-20.

Penberthy and Baggett swapped penalties as the game entered it’s final 10 minutes. The Redruth crowd held its breath as they knew nothing less than a win would keep the Reds alive to fight again next week in their final game at Wharfedale.

Blaydon infringed as Redruth pressed allowing Penberthy to kick his fourth penalty and secure a vital win for the Reds to the relief of the Redruth faithful.

Redruth will take their fight to stay in National League 1 to the Yorkshire Dales next weekend but they also know that they will need other results to go their way if they are to survive. It will no doubt prove to be a gripping finale to the season.

Redruth 26 pts
Tries – Simmons, Bright, Conversions – Penberthy (2), Penalties – Penberthy (4)
Yellow Card – Hawkey (28)

Blaydon 25 pts
Tries – Wearmouth, Yarnton, Wilson, Conversion – Baggett (2), Penalties – Baggett (2)
Yellow Card – Jones (25)

Referee: Terry Hall (RFU)
Crowd: 1,157

Despite scoring four tries at London Scottish the Cornish All Blacks suffered a 47 – 29 defeat on their travels to London. Ryan Westren, Ben Turner, Liam Dwyer and Jack Andrew all crossed the whitewash for the All Blacks to at least claim a try-scoring bonus point. Westren and Jake Murphy added the other points with the boot.

Josh Matavesi’s first interview with Racing Metro’s website translates from French original.

A little over three weeks since his arrival as a medical joker to cover the absence of Juan Hernandez , Josh Matavesi has been called into the sky blues and white’s match day squad for the first time for Saturday’s clash at Colombes against Agen. A prospect which delights the Fijian, who confided his delight to have joined the Hauts-de-Seine club.

Josh can you tell us a little about your rugby career so far?

JM – I started playing in England where I was born and brought up. I come from Cornwall in the south west of the country. I come from a rugby mad family I started playing when I was four years old.

You always wanted to play rugby?

JM – Oh yes always, my father and mother were so passionate about the game it just seemed natural to follow and play too. I’ve never imagined doing anything else. I remember when young a teacher asking us what we wanted to do when we grew up, I instinctively replied “Professional rugby player”. Yes but after she insisted “Nothing…. I want to play rugby” (laughs).

So after you graduated through school?

JM – Yes I played for Camborne School first team, then at around 15-16 Mr Robin Cowling visited asking if I wanted to join College, Truro College specialised in rugby. So I went along and the regime was very professional, the training, matches … everything revolved around rugby. Then at 18 I followed Robin when he went up to the Exeter Chiefs Academy.

You were at Exeter for two years, did you hesitate when Racing contacted you?

JM – Not really. I wanted to move on as I wasn’t really getting much game time. On the other hand I had made some good friends there and you don’t really think that you’ll part from them, but sometimes things don’t work out as you hoped. But I’ve no regret in coming to Paris. On the contrary. I’ve only been here a few weeks but it seems like I’ve been here months even years already!

Did you know any of the Racing players before your arrival?

JM – I knew the Fijians Albert Vulivuli, Sireli Bobo and Jone Quo Nailiko with whom I’d played with for Fiji (ndlr Josh has 6 caps for Fiji). They helped me settle in and as I already said it’s gone really well acclimatising to my new club. I still can’t believe I am training with guys like Francois Steyn , a player I have followed since I was 16, and today he’s giving me little tips during training..Unbelievable!

You can play fly-half, centre and full-back. Do you have a preference?

JM- I enjoy playing in any of these positions. I like playing at fly-half as I can dictate play. You see a lot of the ball and have to tackle, you take the ball up to the opponent’s defence looking to off-load, the same at centre. At full back you’ve got a bit more freedom especially on the counter. For me it doesn’t really matter which position I play as I just love to play.

Having only just arrived you are already in the match day squad. You must be pleased?

JM- Oh yes and I am super impatient to play. I am pleased that Pierre Berbizier and Simon Mannix are already showing confidence in me. I am still learning the combinations but no problems once on the pitch it should all click. I am pleased to be starting at home (Stade Colombes) with the home support, that will be great. Roll on Saturday, I don’t want to wait any longer (laughs).

SIX WINS out of six for the Cornish Pirates as they top Pool B of the RFU Championship play-offs to earn a home semi-final against the runners up in Pool A London Welsh.

That game will take place at the Mennaye on Sunday 1st May with a 5-45pm kick-off.

The match is bound to be a sell out with the limited capacity at the Mennaye. Once again as the Pirates continue to ride the wave of success the lack of a proper modern facility that is a stadium appears more acute with each passing week.

The Pirates’ continued successes on the field can only enhance their position and decry their detractors.

In two days time it will be 20 years since Cornwall triumphed at Twickenham against Yorkshire in front of some 40,000 Cornish folk in the County Championship. That was a great triumph, but in another era, rugby has moved on but sadly some Cornish thinking with regards to rugby has not in certain quarters. For the good of One & All that needs to change. It is changing, but not as quickly as some more visionary people would like.

The Cornish Pirates are today’s heros, they are today’s chance of glory for Cornwall in a sport that has become professional and no manner of wishful thinking by some can ever hope of turning the tide against it’s irresistable flow. Wake up, smell the coffee and live with it.

On the field success and failure for the season is now coming to a head.

In National League 1, the Cornish All Blacks’ fate has now been sealed following their loss on Saturday at home to Blackheath. They will now look the re-build next season in National League 2 South.

It was always going to be a tall order following their 20 point deduction earlier in the season when the club was forced into administration. In a season when National League 1 has produced some of the most exciting rugby in country and the most even, there were no easy points to pick up. The Cornish All Blacks ably led by skipper Tom Rawlings battled to the last and never let their heads drop. Ryan Westren at centre was once again an outstanding player for them and will no doubt be courted by sides from the Championship or even the Premiership as his stock continues to rise.

It could well be a Duchy au-revoir to National League 1 as Redruth are also still in the relegation zone with just two more matches to play, their fate is still to be played out, they did their prospects a power of good last Saturday with a great win at Coventry with Aaron Penberthy kicking an injury time drop-goal to secure five much needed points.

With RFU funding being cut to clubs in level 3 it makes competing at a National level that much harder for all clubs especially those at the extremities such as Redruth or Blaydon. What a pity when the fare and competitiveness served up at this level this season has been excellent arguably the best in the country!

Further down the league structure there are promotions this season for Penryn, champions of Tribute Western Counties West. Next season they will be in Tribute South West 1 West with Camborne, Wadebridge Camels and possibly St. Ives if they can keep their place.

Newquay Hornets drop down from Tribute Western Counties West to the Tribute Cornwall & Devon League with St. Austell taking their place.

Veor are Champions of the Tribute Cornwall League and will play in the Tribute Cornwall & Devon League next season. Pirates Amateurs are in the play-off for the remaining spot against the runners up from the Tribute Devon League 1, Wessex RFC, that game takes place at the Mennaye on Easter Saturday kick-off 3pm.

Roseland, Stithians and Saltash all drop down to the Cornwall League next season.

To those who have achieved success this season- Congratulations and well done. To those that didn’t – There is always next season!

Having thrashed Rotherham 67-14 at the Mennaye Field on Sunday, the Cornish Pirates, who will need no reminding that they lost 19-18 away to the Titans in January, know they can expect a totally different encounter when they travel to the Yorkshire team’s Clifton Lane ground this Saturday (ko 3pm).

At the midway point after three games played in the RFU Championship play-offs, the Pirates sit proudly at the top of the Pool B table on 16 points. Bedford Blues are second on 12, Doncaster Knights third on 7, and Rotherham Titans are fourth on 1.

Worcester Warriors are presently top of Pool A on 17 points, followed by London Welsh (12), Nottingham (8) and Bristol (1).

After six pool matches have been completed the top two teams from Pools A and B will progress to the semi-final and then the winners to the final. The semi-finals are to be played on the weekend 30th April/1st May, involving 1st Pool A versus 2nd Pool B and 1st Pool B versus 2nd Pool A. This year’s two-legged final is scheduled for Wednesdays 11th and 18th May.

In the relegation play-offs (Pool C) Esher are on 16 points, Plymouth Albion have 15, Moseley are on 12, and the Bees of Birmingham & Solihull have 9. In Pool C, after each team has played their six pool matches, the lowest ranked team will be relegated to National Division One.

Besides this Saturday’s clash at Clifton Lane, the Pirates are at home to Bedford on Sunday week (ko 3pm) and away to Doncaster on Saturday 16th April (ko 3pm). All three games present tough challenges.

The 20th April 1991 is a date indelibly lodged in the minds of every Cornish rugby supporter – the day 40,000 Cornwall supporters descended on Twickenham to witness their team secure the County Championship for the first time in over 80 years. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this historic event Redruth RFC are issuing invitations to the living members of that Cornwall squad (sadly Tony Mead is no longer with us) to join us at the home of Cornish rugby. The 1991 squad are being invited to attend a buffet lunch after which they will be introduced to the crowd, prior to the Reds’ match with Blaydon. Before the match a DVD of the historic 1991 game at Twickenham will be shown in the Clubhouse.

You too, could attend this prestigious event, tickets are now on sale at £25 each, the cost includes, buffet lunch at 1pm, ground, grandstand and car parking for Redruth’s National League 1 match against Blaydon, kick-off 3pm on Saturday 23rd April, Easter Saturday. You could even get to sit at the same table as some of your heroes from that fantastic day.

For further information please contact Redruth Rugby’s General Manager, Gerry Reilly, at geraldreilly31@btinternet.com or on 07748 695971.

Of the two hastily assembled squads for this annual fixture played this season at Brixham’s Astley Park ground Devon gelled the better to run out comfortable winners against Cornwall by 59-8.

Despite being under the cosh from the start Cornwall were still in the game as they trailed by just 3-0 after 20 minutes. However shortly after Devon pressure finally told as Exmouth’s Jack Downie crossed for the hosts’ opening try.

Cornwall did immediately pull back three points thanks to a penalty from Redruth’s Grant Thirlby, but when Cornwall next troubled the scoreboard thanks to a try from Reds’ Tom Duncan, Devon were out of sight having already notched up thirty-thee points.

Cullompton’s Marcus Bushe went on the score three tries, with other scores coming from fellow Cully team-mate Jemba Bull, Barnstaple’s Josh Squire and Ivybridge’s Cam Setter (2). Ross Toms (Cullompton) kept the scoreboard ticking with his boot as did Squire later in the game.

For Cornwall Tom Duncan had a good game and there were also some good runs from Truro’s Mark Lea. But it was St. Austell’s scrum-half Matt Shepherd a late call up on Saturday night to the squad who though only on the field for the last 15 minutes made such an impact when he came on that he was named man-of-the-match by the Army and picked up the inaugural Paul Bawden Memorial Trophy.

It capped a fine weekend for the scrum-half as St. Austell had secured promotion to Tribute Western Counties West after defeating Teignmouth 40-6 at Tregorrick Park.

Obviously not the result Cornwall were looking for and with the County Championship matches fast approaching it’s back to the drawing board!

Cornwall: J Parma (Camborne), M Lea (Truro), R Kevern (Camborne), S Kenward (Redruth), S Rhodes (St Austell), G Thirlby (Redruth), D Mankee (Camborne); N Endean (Camborne), S Milliner (Worcester Univ), S MacDonald (Camborne), W Penney (Redruth), C Bailey (Redruth), M Woolcock (Camborne, capt), S Matavesi (Plymouth Albion), T Duncan (Redruth).

Replacements: Nicholas (St Ives),M Williams (Penryn), D Bramwell (St Ives), A Lewarne (Redruth), J Wilson (Bude),H Noott (St Ives), M Shepherd (St Austell).

Devon: Tries: Downie, Bushe (3), Squire, Bull, Setter (2); Cons: Toms (2), Squire (3); Pens: Toms (3).

Cornwall: Try: Duncan; Pen: Thirlby.

Cornwall Man-of-the-Match: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell)

TOMORROW,Sunday sees Cornwall take on old rivals Devon in the St. Austell Brewery sponsored Tamar Cup at Brixham kick-off 3pm.

Squads for tomorrow’s match;

Cornwall (squad): J Parma (Camborne), M Lea (Truro), R Kevern (Camborne), S Kenward (Redruth), G Thirlby (Redruth), D Mankee (Camborrne), N Endean (Camborne), S Milliner (Worcester Uni), S MacDonald (Camborne), A Skiner (St Ives), W Penny (Redruth), S Matavesi (unattached), T Duncan (Redruth), K Martin (Truro), M Williams (Penryn), D Bramwell (St Ives), A Lewarne (Redruth), J Wilson (Bude), B Jenkins (St Ives).

Devon: S Cooper (Exmouth), D Avery, D Flashman, V Chirita (all Brixham), J Westlake, J Downie (both Exmouth), S Persey (Cullompton), R Morshead (Exmouth), P Mortimore (Paignton), C Setter (Ivybridge), N Giddy (Barnstaple), M Bushe (Cullompton), J Squires (Barnstaple), J Bull (Cullompton), R Toms (Cullompton).

Replacements (from): S Roberts (Barnstaple), A Isaac (Cullompton), S Richardson (Sidmouth), O Mulberry (Plymouth), A Goldman (Crediton), M Galliford (Barnstaple), T Channon (Newton Abbot), P Creek (Tavistock) A Thomas, S Thomas (both Brixham), A Sandercock, M Jackson (both Paignton).