Photo: Matt Shepherd training with Cornwall last night
Words by Bill Hooper, photos Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
Following training last evening at Camborne RFC Cornwall’s selectors have announced the side to take on Devon this Saturday at Ivybridge RFC kick-off 3pm.
The starting XV shows four changes from the side that commenced the game against Surrey last Saturday.
Camborne’s Andrius Zacharovas makes his first Championship start at tight-head prop. The powerful Cherry and White prop has made a fine impression in his two previous outings for Cornwall this season.
Penryn’s Grant Randlesome joins his Borough skipper George Jones in the back row, the only other change in the pack.
In the three-quarters, Plymouth Albion’s Matt Shepherd comes in at full back, Tom Notman starts on the wing whilst Robin Wedlake moves from the wing into the centre with skipper Jake Murphy.
Photo: Sam Matavesi back in contention for Cornwall after playing for the Royal Navy
Prop Tommy Phillips, flanker Chris Fuca and full-back Joe Elderkin all drop onto the bench, whilst flanker Sam Matavesi and centre Seti Raumakita both come into the match day twenty-two. A powerful looking bench is completed by Matt Ballard and Brad Howe.
Jack Simmons can consider himself unlucky to be left out of the twenty-two as can winger Matt Bowden.
Speaking prior to training Cornwall head coach Graham Dawe hopes Cornwall can build on the win at Richmond. “I was happy with performance against Surrey and I hope the side can build on that again this week. This is a brutal competition, there are no margins for error, we did what we had to do get the win and get the five points.
Photo: Graham Dawe gets his point across
Asked about making changes to his side for this week Dawe said. “It’s always hard bringing new players in and disrupting the pattern but both Matt Shepherd and Sam Matavesi will be involved this week, both have made a huge contribution to Cornwall in the past and are both top class players. It’s about the squad not just the starting XV, with this rotation policy players can come on and make an impact during a game.
Devon are boosted by the availability of Plymouth Albion scrum-half Cameron Setter.
Setter, who started his career at Ivybridge, missed last weekend’s defeat at Gloucestershire, but comes straight into the team to face the Duchy at Cross-in-Hand.
Devon make six changes to their starting line-up for their first County Championship meeting with Cornwall in seven years.
Ivybridge’s Charlie Briant and George Wilson also come into the team, as does Barnstaple’s Will Topps, Exmouth’s Ollie Rice and Brixham’s Matt Harvey.
Devon RFU have announced that RFU President Peter Baines will be their guest at Ivybridge on Saturday, as will Peter Cross, Twickenham’s Mr. England.
Devon: C Briant (Ivybridge), W Topps (Barnstaple), L Paterson (Ivybridge), O Rice (Exmouth), T Scoles (Ivybridge), T Whelan (Sidmouth), C Setter (Plymouth Albion); R Morris (Brixham), A Crouch (Barnstaple), M Finn (Ivybridge), J Fahy (Exmouth), G Wilson (Ivybridge), M Harvey (Brixham), J Harris (Exmouth), (capt), S Thomas (Brixham).
Replacements: M Richards, I Dalton (both Exmouth), M Dowrick (Newton Abbot), T McGratton (Okehampton), R Dingle (Ivybridge), J Bond (Newton Abbot), M Pinkus (Ivybridge).
Cornwall (Redruth unless stated): M Shepherd (Plymouth Albion), L Vinnicombe, R Wedlake (Plymouth Albion), J Murphy (Barnstaple) (capt), T Notman, D Mankee (Camborne), J Oulton; A Zacharovas (Camborne), R Brown, C Williams, B Jenkins (Barnstaple), T Whittle (Camborne), G Randlesome, G Jones (both Penryn), BJ Chapman.
Replacements: T Phillips, M Ballard (Wadebridge Camels), B Howe, C Fuca, S Matavesi (Camborne & Royal Navy), S Raumakita (Plymouth Albion), J Elderkin.
