As you will have seen from my previous entry I took in Camborne’s home Tribute South West 1 West league match against Cullompton last Saturday.
Always a pleasure to visit Crane Park and catch up with the Cherry and Whites and following on from their disappointment in the play-offs last season to re-enter the National Leagues, Camborne hope to go one better this time around.
Play-offs are always a lottery and the best way to avoid them is to finish in the automatic promotion place (s) and that really must be their aim this season.
Despite some below par performances in their opening three league games, especially the loss at Bridgwater, Camborne showed against Cullompton that they will again be there or there about’s come the end of the season.
Five tries in a 34-13 success against a side that had shipped just sixteen points in their opening three league fixtures was a very pleasing outcome for the Cherry and Whites’ coaching staff and set them up nicely for a stiff test on the road when they travel to un-beaten Cleve this Saturday.
And there is strength in depth at the club as on Saturday the Second XV took on Lanner with seven of last season’s Cornwall Cup winning side lining up to face the re-formed village side. For the record Lanner won 24-17 in what proved to be an entertaining match on the Crane Park pitch.
Sticking with South West 1 West, St. Austell enjoyed their trip to South Devon winning 54-0 at Sidmouth. Paul Winterbottom (2), Ian Venner (2), Ben Chenoweth (2), Matt Shepherd and Dan Pearce all scored tries for the Saints with Shepherd converting all but one!
Wadebridge Camels were not to be outdone as they enjoyed a big win at home defeating Clevedon 50-15. Skipper Gary Gynn opened up the Camels try count as the visitors led 10-0 early doors. That set the scene for a Camels try-fest as Matt Ballard, Ryan Johns (2), Jack Oulton (2), Jake Grubb and James Grubb all crossing the whitewash. Johns kicked five conversions to end the match with a 20 point haul.
In the Greene King IPA Championship on Saturday, the Cornish Pirates travelled to last season’s National League 1 Champions Ealing Trailfinders and came away from West London with a 31-17 win.
Left wing Kieran Goss scored a couple of tries with prop Jack Andrew, hooker Aaron Carpenter and scrum-half Tom Kessell all scored tries for the Pirates for a bonus point win. Kieran Hallett helped himself to three conversions.
In National League 2 South, mixed fortunes for both Cornish sides. The Cornish All Blacks had Jake Murphy to thank for a last gasp 21-18 win over Hartpury College. Murphy had a field day with the boot kicking six penalties to add to an earlier success from Kieron Lewitt before the full-back was stretched off from the field with a neck injury (we all wish Kieron well for a swift recovery).
Sadly for Redruth early promise failed to turn into points as they lost 27-15 at Chinnor trailing just before half-time 20-3 with a Murray Westren penalty all to show for, the Reds rallied to score a good try just on the break through Luke Jones with Westren adding the extras.
Redruth nudged closer with an un-converted try scored by prop Darren Jacques but that was as good as it would get for the Reds as Chinnor ran in an interception try to kill the game.
Worrying for the Reds were injuries to Max Bodilly, and Matt O’Leary, hopefully they will both be fit for the visit of Taunton Titans this Saturday.
In Tribute Western Counties West, Penryn lost for the first time this season as an injury-time penalty gave Torquay Athletic a 26-24 win. Colin Campbell and Andrew Seviour scored tries for the Borough with Jake Seviour kicking fourteen points.
Truro enjoyed a big win at St. Clements 48-0 against Paignton. Tom Hatfield, Ashley Lawton (2), Luke Trescothick, Adam Gayton, Matt Cross, Karl Ranscombe and James Murdoch all scored tries with Karl Martin kicking the other points.
Bude lost at home to Wellington 15-5 with No.8 James Comber getting their only points with a try.
St. Ives lost at Teignmouth 45-3. Jamie Prisk with their sole points from a penalty.
Up in London 2 SW, London Cornish lost 25-13 at Tottonians. Matt Hakes scored the exiles try with Matt Spells kicking the conversion and a couple of penalties.
The Tribute Cornwall & Devon League saw only one Cornish win as Hayle won 21-15 at Falmouth in the local derby of the day. The Lions had Martin Strick’s boot to thank for the win. Both sides scored three tries but Falmouth failed to land any conversions.
Talan Daniels, Tony Williams and a penalty-try award made up the Lions three tries, whilst for the Eagles Tony Whittle, Tom Edmonds and Olli Church all crossed.
Pirates Amateurs are still waiting for their first win of the season as they lost for the fourth game this time 18-0 to Exeter Saracens.
Saltash, still in shock from their heavy loss at Exeter Uni the previous week, lost again on the road this time at Withycombe 22-10. Ryan Cruickshank scored all their points with a try conversion and a penalty.
Veor lost at Crediton 30-5. Winger Gareth Mankee getting an un-converted try for the visitors.
It was the first round of league matches in both Tribute Cornwall Leagues 1 & 2.
In Cornwall 1 there were wins for Liskeard & Looe at Perranporth 58-7, Camborne School of Mines defeated St. Agnes at Penryn 22-11, Bodmin won at Helston 17-5 and finally Roseland beat Stithians 17-12.
In Cornwall 2, Illogan Park won at home to Camelford 51-14 and St. Just pipped Lankelly-Fowey 15-14. The game between Redruth Albany and St. Day resulted in a home walk/over for Albany as St. Day had front row problems. Hopefully St. Day will soon have sufficient players back to compete again.
