Cornwall complete the job and return to HQ

Bill Beaumont County Championship Division One Group Two

Kent 19 Cornwall 56

Gareth Davies, Charlton Park RFC, Saturday

Cornwall booked their place in the Bill Beaumont County Championship final at Twickenham next Saturday with a comprehensive 56-19 win over reigning champions Kent.

In a two legged clash with the current holders, Cornwall travelled to Charlton Park holding a 59 point lead after last week’s 11-try romp at Camborne’s Recreation Ground.

And in searing temperatures, Graham Dawe’s charges crossed the whitewash eight times in South London to prevail 132-29 on aggregate.

Herbie Stupple’s hat-trick, along with braces for Dean Wills and Ben Priddey, coupled with a single score for flying winger Alex Ducker, was enough for Cornwall to book a date with Lancashire at headquarters – the Black and Gold’s first County Championship final in four years

Holding a 59 point cushion from seven days previous, Dawe made three changes to his starting line-up with two of those coming in the front row.

Ben Watson and Kyle Beasley were replaced by Archie Rolls and Sam Rodman whilst in the engine room, Jago Sheppard took the place of Redruth’s Edd Pascoe.

Sadly for Rolls, he was injured early in the piece and replaced by Jack Andrew but this early pack shuffle didn’t deter the visitors as Wills opened the scoring in the sixth minute from close range.

Kyle Moyle, who had a 100 per cent record from the tee, slotted over the first of eight successful conversions.

Despite falling behind early and being fearful of another painful loss, Kent rallied and scored the game’s next try when Sevenoaks winger Jacob Ivell finished off a flowing backs move out on the left flank. Home skipper Sam Begbie, also a Sevenoaks player, missed the conversion and Cornwall remained in front.

But just as Kent gained a foothold in proceedings, it was taken away from them by Cornwall in ruthless fashion almost straight from the restart. Josh Matavesi got his hands on the ball in midfield and an outrageous dummy, which has become the giant Fijian’s trademark, punched a huge hole in the Kent defence and with Ducker supporting, the full-back was drawn and Cornwall were in again.

Once again, credit to Kent who didn’t crumble and for 10 minutes they kept Cornwall at bay before Camborne’s Stupple barged over from near the posts.

Wills then seared through the Kent rearguard just before the interval and with Moyle kicking the extras, Cornwall held a 28-5 interval lead.

They had, barring one of the greatest comebacks in the history of rugby union, made it to Twickenham and with a final place 99.9 per cent secured, Josh Matavesi and Wills were replaced at the turnaround.

Priddy took the place of Tom Cowan-Dickie at hooker while Barnes lock Pat Walton and Camborne’s utility back Harry Larkins were also thrust into the fray.

And because of those changes, coupled with Kent’s willingness to throw caution to the wind at every opportunity, the opening exchanges of the second stanza were scrappy.

But Priddy, with a remarkable 39 tries for Camborne this term, got in on the scoring act when he finished well in the far right corner. Moyle nailed a fine touchline conversion and Cornwall were up and running in the second 40.

Kent, just like they had in the first half, then scored next when Canterbury scrum-half Tom Williams seized on a loose pass to run fully 80 metres to score the home side’s second try which Begbie bettered.

Stupple recorded his second just shy of the hour mark after a short, close-range pass from Priddey, after Cornwall took a quick tap penalty close to the Kent line.

Into the final quarter and after a number of driving mauls deep in home territory didn’t result in points, Priddey bucked the trend in familiar fashion to nab his second.

With 14 minutes left Kent scored arguably the try of the game when Cornwall were penalised the hosts 22 and quick thinking from half-back duo Harvey Young and Williams saw the latter match the feats of Wills, Stupple and Priddey with a second try.

Sidcup’s Harry Large took over from the tee and he tacked on the extra two points to leave the score at 49-19 in Cornwall’s favour.

With the sweltering conditions taking its toll on both teams and Cornwall with one eye on their final against Lancashire, the game somewhat petered out in the final 10 minutes, but not before Stupple secured his hat-trick.

His third five-pointer of a productive afternoon came from a Cornwall scrum 18 metres from the Kent line. Obliterating the Kent pack, playing with a penalty advantage, the former Plymouth Albion man picked up from the base and he crashed over.

A final converted try of the match hoisted Cornwall over the 50-point mark and victory ensured Kent’s name will not be on the trophy for a fourth consecutive season.

Instead, Cornwall will be vying for a first title since 2022 whilst Lancashire, the competition’s most successful side, bid for a 26th county crown.

Cornwall (Camborne unless stated): Moyle, Shepherd (St Austell), Bodily (London Welsh), J Matevesi, Ducker, Wills (Redruth), Boyce; Rolls, Cowan-Dickie (Redruth), Rodman, Osborne, Sheppard, Buzza, S Matavesi, Stupple. Replacements: Andrew, Walton (Barnes), Prowse (Penzance & Newlyn), Hancock (Launceston), Nicholls, Hennessey, Larkins, Priddey.

Tries: Wills (6, 38), Ducker (17), Stupple (31, 56, 72), Priddey (45, 62)

Conversions: Moyle 8/8

Kent: Hawkins (Bromley), Sipawa (Medway), Begbie (Sevenoaks), Harrison (Westcombe Park), Ivell (Sevenoaks), Young (Bromley), Williams (Canterbury); Watson (Sidcup), Jackson (Gordon Highlanders), Gibbons (Blackheath), Cole (Medway), Sanusi (Blackheath), Lienafa (Old Alleynians), Wagstaff (Westcombe Park), Elliott (Bromley). Replacements: MacMillan (Canterbury), Muhlemann (Westcombe Park), Wheeler (Blackheath), Clarke (Dartfordians), Large (Sidcup), Griffiths (Bromley), Kiernan (Medway), Ford (Medway.

Tries: Ivell (14), Williams (49, 66)

Conversions: Begbie 1/2, Large 1/1

Referee: Angus Nicholls

Attendance: 300 (est)