Following Redruth’s first league win of the season last Saturday against Rosslyn Park, more good news for the Reds as two of their players picked up the Trelawny’s Army Cornwall Senior and U.20 Player of the Year Awards at the clubs AGM held at the St. Austell Brewrey Visitor Centre last evening.

BBC Radio Cornwall’s sports presenter Ross Ellis was on hand to make the awards, whilst Club President John Treglown of St. Austell Brewery was on hand to make a presentation to both players of Tribute beer, which of course sponsors the regional leagues in the south west.

The Cornwall Senior Player award the Bill Osborne Memorial Shield went to No.8 Mark Bright, well-deserved recognition for Brighty’s fine performances in a Cornwall shirt in a testing 2010 County Championship campaign during which he scored tries (5) in all Cornwall’s matches. It wasn’t just his try-scoring exploits that won him the award but his fine all-round displays all over the pitch which showed him to be Cornwall’s stand out player.

Runner-up in the poll, and a player who deserves a special mention, Ian Morgan, who’s goal kicking proved vital during Cornwall’s campaign. Ian has now retired from playing to concentrate on his coaching with St. Ives RFC.

The Tony Mead Memorial Shield for the Cornwall U.20 Player of the Year went to Adam Lewarne, the young second row forward made his mark during a challenging U.20 County Championship campaign for Cornwall, similar to the seniors they won just one of their group matches. Adam also went on to gain his full county cap playing against Devon in this year’s Tamar Cup at St. Ives. He is tipped for higher honours in the game.

Both players were delighted with their awards, and they both expressed their pride and passion in wearing the Cornwall shirt.

Trailing 24-23 a dramatic drop-goal from Aaron Penberthy with the final kick of the match gave Redruth a deserved first win in National League 1 this season, reports Bill Hooper from the Recreation Ground.

It looked like the Reds were heading for another defeat as Rosslyn Park’s centre Chris Lewis scored his side’s third try on 79 minutes to take a one point lead with time almost up. Redruth to their great credit stormed straight back at their visitors with the forwards eventually working the chance for Penberthy’s late strike, which the home crowd greeted with joy and relief!

Both sides traded early penalties from Penberthy and Richard Davies for Rosslyn Park, before the first try of the game went to Redruth.
Full-back Jack Nowell enhanced his growing reputation with strong run out of defence before putting in a fine kick towards Hell Fire Corner behind the visitors defence. Lewis Vinnicombe chased well to force an error from the defender, which allowed Nowell to finish off the move he started.

Rosslyn Park then capitalised on a Redruth error to draw level with a try from full-back Olly Lindsay-Hague.

A tight struggle tipped back in the Reds’ favour with a second try scored by No. 8 Mark Bright, with Penberthy adding the extras.

Davies pegged back three points with a second penalty before half-time to leave the Reds 15-11 up.

At the beginning of the second half Rosslyn Park put Redruth under tremendous pressure with Lindsay-Hague grabbing his second try of the match.

A second penalty from Penberthy re-gained his side the lead, which they extended when Bright stormed in for his second try following good work from Nathan Pedley and hooker Matt Gidlow for a 23-16 advantage after 64 minutes.

Redruth looked for the try-scoring bonus point, however Davies with his third penalty and Lewis’ try looked to have snatched the spoils for the visitors, until Penberthy’s last gasp strike.

Redruth 26 pts
Tries – Nowell, Bright (2), Conversion – Penberthy, Penalties – Penberthy (2), Drop-Goal – Penberthy

Rosslyn Park 24 pts
Tries – Lindsay-Hague (2), Lewis, Penalties – Davies (3)

The Cornish All Blacks picked up a losing bonus point in their defeat at Stourbridge 17-10. Despite scoring a try from centre Ryan Western with Mal Roberts adding a conversion and a penalty, the All Blacks were undone by two late tries, which swung the game in the home side’s favour.

NO – I didn’t travel up to Bristol on Sunday to watch the Cornish Pirates go down to their first defeat of the season by 21-7. Instead I took the much shorter trip (for me) to watch a Cornish Derby in Western Counties West between PENRYN & TRURO.

The old ground evokes many happy memories stretching back to the early seventies when Penryn were the force in Cornwall and Exeter didn’t fancy their chances against the Borough either!

The game that stands out is that famous RFU Knock Out Cup Quarter-Final tie played between Penryn and mighty Coventry on 4th March 1972. Hard to belive that some 5,000 squeezed into the famous old ground. “One of the most partisan crowds I have experienced” remarked Coventry’s England International…….David Duckham. Although Penryn lost the match 28-4 on a pitch that resembled a mud-bath – I still have the mud-splattered program with David Duckham’s autograph on it – I remember well standing on the banking, which would be just behind the stand a Penryn on the old configeration of the pitch, with showers of mud and beer cans raining down mostly in the direction of a Cornishman, Barry Ninnes from St. Ives who was playing for Coventry and had changed county allegence from Cornwall to Warwickshire. It hadn’t gone down well locally!

So much for memory lane, back to the present and a win for the Borough as they defeated Truro 18-12. A close game with not much to seperate the sides, though Adryan Winnan’s sublime cross-field kick created the opening try for winger Darren Pellow, fellow winger Dan Booth got the other try with the boot of Navy skipper Dave Pascoe kicking the points. Karl Martin kicked four penalties for Truro, for whom wingers Luke Trescothick and Mark Lea stood out as did Richard Tucker in the pack.

The win keeps Penryn up near the top of Tribute Western Counties West with fellow un-beaten side Wellington, who were promtied from the Cornwall & Devon League last season.

Elsewhere in the league Newquay Hornets lost heavily at home 55-0 to leaders Wellington, whilst Bude lost an entertaining game at Exeter Saracens 58-32.

In the Tribute Cornwall & Devon League, St. Austell lost their un-beaten record as they slipped up at home to Bideford 14-10. Sam Tank getting both Saints tries.

Falmouth had another good win this time against Crediton 33-15 at the Rec. Falmouth’s five tries came from Clayton Meeks (2), Phil Wells, Ashley Searle and Josh Chambers, with Matt Horton kicking four conversions. Saltash beat Stithians 39-19 at Moorlands Morton and Skinnard both grabbed a brace with Arndell and Hurrell also crossing. Ashwin, Keay and Creeden scored tries for Stithians. Hayle won 41-7 at Philleigh against Roseland. Tom Outram scord a couple of tries in the Lions six-try win. Liskeard & Looe had a thumping win at Lux Park against Torrington 72-3.

In National League 1, the Cornish All Blacks drew 24-24 with Tynedale at Polson Bridge, both sides scored three tries with Lanson’s tries comming from a penalty-try and a brace for centre Ryan Westren who is showing great form at present.

Redruth lost for the fourth time this season going down 34-15 at London Scottish. Nic Simmons and Steve Kenward got the Reds’ tries with Aaron Penberthy adding a conversion and a penalty.

Up in London London Cornish maintained their fine start to the season with a 15-10 win over Twickenham in London 2 SW

In Tribute South West 1 West, Camborne won the derby at St. Ives 23-18, whilst Wadebridge Camels won at Ivybridge 30-13.

Three weeks into the league season, four if you follow the Cornish Pirates in the Championship, it’s already been eventful!
Our leading club side the Cornish Pirates have made a useful start to their Championship campaign with three wins and a draw. The three wins have all come from home wins back at the Mennaye the latest a 32-15 win over Birmingham & Solihull. However it wasn’t all plain sailing as the Pirates found themselves trailing 15-7 until the 65th minute when Tom Luke added a second try to Tyrone Holmes first half score. Rob Cook’s second conversion brought them back to within a point, before the full-back kicked two penalties to ease his side back into the lead.

Two late tries for the Pirates sealed the win and the bonus point with Rhodri McAtee, the man for all seasons, getting the first and centre Nick Jackson the second. Cook added a conversion to complete the scoring.

There has been some discussion in the press in recent weeks about the Stadium for Cornwall project with one or two unhelpful comments about this vital project for Cornwall being made by people who really should know better.

It’s disappointing to think that there are still some people with a voice on Cornwall Council who fail to grasp the impact this major project will have for the benefit of Cornwall. One can hope that their eyes can be opened sooner rather than later. Of course when the time comes they will have to answer their actions to their electorate when/if they wish to stand for re-election!

Launceston’s Ryan Westren deservedly took the man-of-the match award for the home club with a superb hat-trick of tries and polished all-round performance as the All Blacks took the honours in the first of this season’s Cornish Derbies.

Redruth indiscipline contributed greatly to their own downfall in a display that will have left Redruth’s Director of Rugby David Penberthy fuming with frustration over his player’s performance. Three times during the first half referee Mr. Hall brandished a yellow card in the direction of a Reds’ player!

Owen Hambly was the first to depart after 20 minutes after repeated indiscretions on the deck, then crucially just before half-time Redruth lost both locks Luke Collins and Damien Cook within a minute. The Cornish All Blacks took full advantage during both periods to build up a comfortable lead.

Aaron Penberthy gave Redruth the lead after 17 minutes, but it was short-lived as Launceston’s Mal Roberts landed a penalty following Hambly’s departure and then a conversion to Westren’s first try after 29 minutes.

Roberts then extended his side’s lead following Collins trip to the sin-bin for a high tackle on winger Ben Turner. Cook’s yellow card right on half-time gave the Cornish All Blacks a tremendous advantage at the start of the second half and they made full use of it.

Roberts stretched his side’s lead with an early penalty then converted Westren’s second try which came from a Redruth error as they chased the game. At 23-3 Redruth faced a mountain to climb to get anything from the game. Any hopes were quickly extinguished as Steve Perry kicked out of defence for Launceston, Nathan Pedley mis-judged the ball, which fell kindly for winger Richard Bright who ran in unopposed. Roberts surprisingly failed with the conversion.

The Cornish All Blacks sensed the try bonus point, however they suddenly found themselves down to fourteen men as scrum-half Lewis Webb became the fourth player to see yellow. Collins made the most of a drive in the clubhouse corner to score a try for Redruth, Penberthy’s conversion got the Reds’ into double figures.

Launceston were not to be denied, fittingly it was Westren who got the fourth try to complete his hat-trick following up a kick through from Perry. Roberts added the extras. Moments later salt was rubbed into the Reds’ raw wounds as replacement winger Kerion Lewitt scored Launceston’s fifth try, Westren this time turning provider.
Redruth did salvage a consolation score near the end when replacement winger Sean Hawkey scored a fine un-converted try in the clubhouse corner. At the final whistle Redruth were a well-beaten side and the Polson crowd savoured another derby day victory.

Cornish All Blacks 40 pts
Tries – Westren (3), Bright, Lewitt, Conversions- Roberts (3), Penalties – Roberts (3)
Yellow Card – Webb

Redruth 15 pts
Tries – Collins, Hawkey, Conversion – Penberthy, Penalty – Penberthy
Yellow Cards – Hambly, Collins, Cook

Referee: Mr. T Hall (RFU)
Man-of –the-Match: Ryan Westren (Cornish All Blacks)

JUST when you thought nothing major was likely to happen as the weeks slowly passed to the first of the pre-season matches next month, than the “fat hit the fire” on Friday afternoon as the Cornish Pirates announced that they were abandoning the Recreation Ground at Camborne and returning to play next season at their own ground at the Mennaye.

As was to be expected such an unexpected announcement as this caused all manner of reaction far and wide, the term seismic would not be inappropiate as the ramifications reverbarated from Pendeen to Saltash and all points in between!!!

On the face of it appears to be a disagreement between the Cornish Pirates and Camborne RFC over the use of a Marquee on non-match days. Further statements are expected from both parties during next week, perhaps then we shall have a better understanding of “wasson”.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this sorry affair, it’s the rugby public who sadly will be the ones to suffer over this contretemps!

This is the statement realised by the Cornish Pirates on Friday;

“With a month to go before the first game the Cornish Pirates have abandoned plans to continue playing at Camborne.

The Clubs have been unable to agree on the use on non match days of the new events marquee currently being installed at Camborne so rather than continue in this state of flux and incur further cost without knowing the outcome the decision has been made to up sticks and undertake the work and installation at the Mennaye where we have unfettered access.

Supporters and members are advised that every effort will be made to make the Mennaye experience as comfortable as possible in the short time left with new stands and the 200 seater marquee sited near the existing stand, which we hope to upgrade.

The club is very grateful to Camborne RFC for the use of its ground over the last few years where some terrific rugby has been on show – not least the last game played there in the Cup Final against Munster.

We don’t believe this will have a negative impact upon our ambitions, but how this move affects the financial health and future of the Pirates is unknown at this stage, however the club will reimburse any new season ticket holders who cannot see themselves supporting the club at the Mennaye in the forthcoming season.”

Both parties were asked to comment by BBC Radio Cornwall on Saturday’s sports program hosted by Ross Ellis but neither party were willing to comment further until next week, although Camborne RFC did not challenge the official statement from the Cornish Pirates!

What effect this will have on BOTH clubs remains to be seen but for the Cornish Pirates and it’s ever expanding fanbase this cannot be a welcome move, the only postive is that it makes the calls for a Stadium for Cornwall even greater than they were before. The Mennaye is a fine old ground but it is limited and it is not fit for purpose in the modern day Championship. I am sure every effort will be made by the club – and the wonderful supporters who are already rallying around – in the short time that remains to get things as far up to scratch as is possible. Penzance will be charming and welcoming to one and all, but when the big games come and the ground starts creaking over the 2,000 mark the limitations will sadly be exposed.

I for one will do my utmost to get to as many games as I can, it won’t be easy having to work on a Sunday, and when the clocks go back and kick-off reverts to 2pm then I will probably be forced to listen to the games on radio or tune in to Pirates TV, others too from further a-field will find it difficult, if not impossible, so I have no doubt that there will be an adverse effect on gates this season. I would be happy to be proved wrong.

And what of Camborne, I should think that many businesses are up in arms over this and it won’t help the coffers of Camborne RFC either! On the other hand in Penzance they will be rubbing their hands gleefully. Not a happy time for Camborne in this difficult economic climate.

The decision is made and we must all come to terms with it as best we can. We can but hope that the Cornish Pirates brand doesn’t suffer too much from it in the short to medium term.

The end of another rugby season with a fantastic weekend of rugby finals.

Congratulations to Exeter Chiefs on their promotion next season to the Guinness Premiership. What a thrill to have Premiership Rugby just a couple of hours up the A.30 also Amlin Cup rugby too.

Let’s hope that the Chiefs success will have a galvanising effect on rugby in Cornwall non more so than with regards to the Stadium for Cornwall campaign.

I am delighted that we seem to have an enlightened Cornwall Council who are persuing the idea and have commissioned a feasability study with experts who have been involved in such projects before. It is to be hoped that our elected councillors are as similarily enlightened as the council’s officers!!!!

The project is getting good publicity with BBC Radio Cornwall giving it good profile. Debate is good and keeps the project to the fore of people’s minds.

Cornwall’s County Championship campaign ended in disappointing fashion with a second loss, the only saving grace was that we rallied to avoid relegation. The players gave their all after a long hard season, but the level of performance was disappointing. I am delighted that Luke Collins has been selected for the England Counties tour of Canada. Luke departs today Monday for Canada. I understand that both Peter Joyce and Owen Hambly were invited to tour but had to decline due to personal circumstances.

What a great finale to the Guinness Premiership Final between Leicester Tigers and Saracens. Tigers won again having been pushed all the way by Saracens. Great to see Hugh Vyvyan have an outstanding game for Sarries.

In France Clermont finally won the title at their eleventh attempt in a final defeating Perpignan last season’s champions in the Stade de France on Saturday night 23-9.

BILL BEAUMONT CUP

CORNWALL 27 – 31 GLOUCESTERSHIRE

By Bill Hooper, at the Recreation Ground, Redruth

Cornwall showed character and resilience to almost claw back an opening quarter disaster – which saw them leak three converted tries – before eventually going down to old foes Gloucestershire who will once again advance to Twickenham next Sunday to contest the final of the Bill Beaumont Cup against Lancashire in a repeat of last season’s final won by the men from the red rose county.

With the match seemingly lost so early on the main focus turned to damage limitation and with the news filtering through from Hertfordshire that Devon were on the wrong end of a heavy defeat Cornwall knew they had a chance to stave off relegation if they could narrow the margin of defeat.

In glorious conditions, but a bone hard pitch, Cornwall began brightly with an early penalty success from fly-half Ian Morgan after just 2 minutes. Play was held up for eight minutes when Gloucestershire flanker Jack Preece was stretchered off in a neck brace.

Upon resumption it was Gloucestershire who took charge with fly-half Tim Stevenson running the show. The Cinderford fly-half used the following wind to pin Cornwall back deep in their own 22 time and again. Cornwall didn’t help themselves with some less than average tackling allowing centre John Gadd to score after 14 minutes. Stevenson added the conversion as he did for his side’s next two scores. Gadd once again making the most of some poor tackling before full-back Martin Knight gathered his own chip ahead escaped the clutches of the Cornish defenders to go in unopposed at the posts. At 3-21 Cornwall had a mountain to climb and you wondered what the final score could be!

Morgan chipped away with a second penalty, but Gloucestershire hit-back with a fourth try following a great run from winger Chris Holder set up his fellow winger Nev Codlin in the Strawberry Lane corner. Stevenson missed the conversion but Cornwall were staring down the barrel at 6-26.

Cornwall were desperate for a score before half-time, it came thanks to some fine work from No. 8 Mark Bright – who gave another towering performance in adversity – the Redruth player breaking from the scrum and powering over near the posts. Josh Matavesi slotted the conversion to leave Cornwall trailing 13-26 at the break.

Cornwall needed an early score, but instead it was Gloucestershire who got it as Codlin collected his brace as he again profited from poor tacking to score in the Piggy Lane corner.

Spurred on by the news from Hertfordshire Cornwall suddenly came to life. Gloucestershire had a player sent to the bin as Holder was adjudged to have deliberately knocked-on. Bright grabbed his second try of the game, which Matavesi converted.
Cornwall looked full of running a fine move involving Pale Nonu, Owen Hambly and replacement Tom Notman set the alarm bells ringing in the Gloucestershire defence. Cornwall eventually found their way through again as Nonu finished off a fine move and with Paul Thirlby adding the conversion Cornwall were suddenly just four points adrift. That was as close as they were to get. Gloucestershire camped themselves deep into the Cornwall 22 in the final moments and were twice denied having driven over the Cornish line in Hell Fire corner.

With the news confirming Devon’s 53-21 loss against Hertfordshire Cornwall had done enough to save their skins for another season in the top tier of the Bill Beaumont Cup.

After the match Cornwall’s head coach “Benji” Thomas had mixed feelings about his side’s performance “We were awful in the first half” admitted bluntly Thomas. “It was the worst rugby I’ve seen a Cornwall team play for years. So many missed tackles, we never got the ball, couldn’t win any line-outs it was the worst I’ve seen from any Cornish team in a long time first half. We had a few strong words at half-time, and in the second half I thought they played really well, we could have won the game in the second half, another five minutes I think we could have done it.

“We played for territory, scored some nice tries, we made a lot of changes in the second half and everyone we put on the field really came up trumps.

Thomas was at a loss trying to put a finger on why Cornwall had stared so poorly. “I don’t know, we had a good pre-match sort-out you couldn’t put your finger on one reason why we started so badly, some of the tackles we missed were awful, you wouldn’t expect your U.13’s to miss tackles like that and they just exploited us completely. I thought their ten (Stevenson) ran the game really well for them, in the first-half his kicking to the corners took us apart and they had some good field positions from that to run the ball and score some tries.

“Second half I thought we played really, really well and deserved the points we put up and we could have snatched the game at the end.

One further piece of news is that Luke Collins, who this week signed to play for Redruth next season, has been selected for the England Counties side tour to Canada. The squad departs from London after the County Championship final next Sunday.

All the best in Canada Luke and fly the flag for Cornwall.

Cornwall 27 pts

Tries – Bright (2), Nonu, Conversions – Matavesi (2). P Thirlby, Penalties – Morgan (2)

Gloucestershire 31 pts

Tries – Gadd (2), Knight, Codlin (2), Conversions – Stevenson (3)

Yellow Card – Holder

Cornwall: J Matavesi (Exeter Chiefs), R Thirlby (Moseley), R Westren (Cornish All Blacks), P Nonu (Camborne), C Bonds (Redruth), I Morgan (St. Ives)., M Richards (Redruth, capt); D Jacques (Redruth), O Hambly (Redruth), A Morcom (Newquay Hornets), L Collins (Cornish Pirates), D Cook (Redruth), M Rawlings (Cornish All Blacks), T Rawlings (Cornish All Blacks), M Bright (Redruth)

Replacements (used): D Clackworthy (Hayle), B Hilton (Cornish All Blacks), J Lord (Cornish All Blacks), L Webb (Cornish All Blacks), P Thirlby (Redruth), T Notman (Camborne)

Replacement (not used): B Priddey (Redruth)

Gloucestershire: M Knight (Lydney), C Holder (Lydney), C Ashwin (Bristol), J Gadd (Bristol), N Codlin (Cinderford), T Stevenson (Cinderford), T Richardson (Stourbridge); T Brockett (Dings Crusaders), P Finkin (Newbury Blues, capt), C Meddick (Dings Crusaders), D Hodge (Newbury Blues), R Cadman (Hartpury Coll), D Williams (Gloucester), J Preece (Birmingham & Solihull), G Curry (Dings Crusaders)

Replacements (all used): D Trigg (Cinderford), O Stott (Dings Crusaders), S Plummer (Dings Crusaders), B Purbrook (Clifton), S Wilkes (Clifton), E King (Cinderford), M Brown (Cinderford)

Referee: Mr. L Apgeriant-Roberts (RFU)

Crowd: 753

Man-of-the-Match: Mark Bright (Cornwall)

RESULT

HERTFORDSHIRE 30 – 32 CORNWALL

Cornwall’s head coach Dave “Benji” Thomas has freshened up his side prior to Saturday’s Bill Beaumont Cup fixture at Hertford.

Speaking to Trelawny’s Army at the conclusion to Wednesday evening’s training session at Redruth RFC, Thomas explained his side’s selection “We’ve made a few changes in the pack, Sam Hocking is unavailable this Saturday, so Mike Rawlings who came on, on Saturday and played very well takes his place. Damien Cook another who came on last Saturday and did well starts in the second row alongside Ben Hilton, Bryn Jenkins who started last week hasn’t trained this week due to illness. We’ve also got Luke Collins available this week and he comes in on the bench and will strengthen the side. Josh Lord will also brings a lot of experience from the bench.

One of the major changes is at fly-half where veteran Ian Morgan, player/coach at St. Ives, comes into the side with Josh Matavesi switching to full-back in place of the unavailability – due to injury- of Adryan Winnan. “We brought Morgan in to run the game for us, I felt we lacked that a bit on Saturday, Ian can kick us into the corners, also his goal kicking skills so hopefully if there are some penalties on Saturday he’ll be able to put them over for us. Otherwise we’ve brought Craig Bonds on to the wing for his footballing skills in place of Nick Simmons who will be on the bench. So it looks a well-balanced side really.

Asked about Saturday’s opponents Hertfordshire “Well they were defeated at Gloucestershire but on their own pitch they are going to be a handful, Cornwall have been up there twice recently and lost. It will be a different game to that against Devon and their forward orientated game, I think they will want to play a more fluid game which should suit us more and hopefully our forwards will be dominant”.

Cornwall: J Matavesi (Exeter Chiefs), R Thirlby (Moseley), R Westren (Launceston),P Nonu (Camborne), C Bonds (Redruth), I Morgan (St. Ives), M Richards (Redruth, capt); D Jacques (Redruth), O Hambly (Redruth), P Joyce (Redruth), D Cook (Redruth) B Hilton (Launceston), M Rawlings (Launceston), T Rawlings (Launceston), M Bright (Redruth)

Replacements: J Salter (Launceston), A Morcom (Newquay Hornets), L Collins (Cornish Pirates), J Lord (Launceston), L Webb (Launceston), N Simmons (Redruth), P Thirlby (Redruth)

Travelling reserve D Clackworthy (Hayle)