CAMBRIDGE EXTINGUISH REDS’ HOPES

Cambridge will be the only side to complete the league double over the Reds this season as they defeated their visitors 21-18 at Grantchester Road to finally end Redruth’s lingering hopes of promotion to next season’s “Championship”.

It was certainly a fine match with the result in doubt up to the final whistle as Redruth searched for a score to win the game. For the Reds Lewis Vinnicombe and Emyr Lewis scored tries with Brett Rule converting a try and kicking a penalty, Mark Scrivener a replacement for Rule during the second half kicked a further penalty.

A plus for the Reds during the last two games has been the maturity shown by the young half back pairing of scrum-half Nick Simmons and fly-half Rule.

Redruth will no doubt want to close out the remaining two fixtures of their season on a high with Stourbridge the visitors to Redruth a week on Saturday in their final home match of the season.

The Cornish All Blacks were held by Blackheath at Polson in an 18 – 18 draw. Gary Kingdom scored both the Cornish All Blacks’ tries after half-time also adding a conversion. Adam Staniforth kicked two early penalties first half.

Mount’s Bay, although now confirmed as relegated put up a spirited second half performance to get a bonus point scoring four tries in a 40-26 loss. Brett Stroud (2), Tim Mathias and a penalty try award were the Bay’s try scorers with Dan Hawkes adding three conversions. Bay’s injury woes continue as centre Sam Parsons had to go off with a dislocated shoulder!

In National League 1, the Cornish Pirates picked up the five points on offer at Park Lane with a performance that was like the curate’s egg, good in parts, pretty ordinary in others. The Pirates scored five tries in their 35-27 win with Aisea Havili, Heino Senekal, Paul Devlin, Rhodri McAtee and Mike Burak all crossing the whitewash. Simon Whatling adding tow conversions and two penalties. With their away fixtures now finished the Pirates have three games at Camborne to complete the season starting with Plymouth Albion on Easter Sunday, an Albion side in need of points to keep out of the relegation dog-fight.

In the Tribute regional leagues, South West 2 West, St. Ives with only fourteen men after flanker Justin Paul was sent off for foul play, lost at home to Clevedon 7-6, Karl Martin kicked a couple of penalties for the Hakes.

In Western Counties West, Wadebridge Camels kept their hopes of a play-off place alive with a 27-7 win over Devonport Services. Dan Briskham (2), Tom O’Donnell and Matt Angwin scored the four Camels’ tries with Josh Taylor kicking a conversion as well as a penalty and Jake McCarroll a further conversion the other points.

Newquay Hornets couldn’t do their neighbours any favours as Ivybridge won 41-16 at the Sportscentre to keep a point ahead of the Camels. Romey Vassell scored the Hornets’ only try with Sam Cullen adding the conversion and a penalty.

Camborne had a good win at home against Tiverton 21-12 ahead of their Skinners Brewery Cornwall Cup final against St. Ives on Easter Monday at St. Austell. Alex Hinds, Stuart Milliner and Dave Mankee scored Town’s tries with Mankee adding all three conversions.

Bude won the basement battle at Withycombe 13-7, though neither side will be relegated due to the league re-structuring. Paul Williams scored Bude’s try with Ollie Rayner adding the conversion and two penalties.

Up in London 3 SW, London Cornish’s play-off prospects look over as they lost at Tottonians 16-10. Dickon Moon’s match report will appear in the link.

In the Cornwall & Devon League, Penryn secured promotion with a 60-8 win at the Memorial Ground against local rivals Falmouth. Matt Symons led the scoring with four tries, whilst Syd Savvas (2), Dave Pascoe (2), Taron Peacock and Charlie Ross also crossed the Falmouth line. Peacock also added five conversions. For Famouth Steve Roe scored a try and Tom Spiller added a penalty.

Truro are likely to go up to Western Counties West as well after their 32-0 win at Hayle. Luke Trescothick, Matt Trevail, Ross Martin and Michael Patterson all scored tries with other points coming from the boot of Scott Martin, 3 conversions and a penalty with brother Ross adding a drop-goal.

Saltash lost at Moorlands 23-6 to Bideford, Steve Down kicked two penalties.

Well done to Truro College on their win last Wednesday in the final of the Daily Mail RBS U.18 Cup Final at Twickenham winning 39-18 over St. Peter’s Gloucester.

This weekend sees the usual Easter program with old favourites Old Dunstonians returning to Cornwall for the 75th year. Their opening game on Good Friday will be against Penryn 5-30pm before playing Falmouth on Saturday and Truro on Easter Monday. On Easter Sunday there is the Penryn Tribute 7’s whilst Imperial Medics are also on tour playing at Redruth on Good Friday, St. Ives on Saturday and Pirates Amateurs on Easter Monday.

So the format for the Championship and the British & Irish Cup has been announced (in the Rugby Times at least). With the Championship set to run from the first weekend of September until May 2010. The regular season will see each of the 12 teams play each other home and away (22 matches), after which the top eight sides will be split into two pools of four to contest the championship, the winners and runners-up of each pool will play semi-finals with the final probably at Twickenham, whilst the bottom four sides will play-off for relegation. This format currently is used in France in their Federale Championships.

The Cup sounds exciting, with teams from the four Irish provinces, six Welsh Premiership clubs, and both Scottish districts joining the 12 Championship clubs with pools of 4 x 6 clubs to play each side once (5 games) with either two home or three away or three home two away. matches to be played during the 6 Nations with only the pool winners advancing to the semi-finals, the final to be played in May. The RFU want the pools to be regionalised so it could be the Cornish Pirates, Plymouth Albion, Exeter Chiefs, Cardiff RFC, Leinster and Edinburgh!!!!

Finally good luck to the clubs contesting the Skinners Brewery Cornwall Cup Finals on Easter Monday, only two finals now that the much maligned Super Cup has been scrapped for this season as the fixtures have not been completed in time.

Bodmin v Stithians in the Clubs Cup Final at 12-00 pm

St. Ives v Camborne in the Cornwall Cup at 2-30 pm

Both finals will be played at St. Austell RFC.

Posted in Bill's Blog

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