Cornwall make changes for Kent clash

JASON LEONARD CUP UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINAL

Cornwall v Kent

Cornwall take on Kent in the last eight of this season’s Jason Leonard Cup at St. Austell RFC with a 1:30 PM kick-off on Easter Sunday.

Kent’s run to the last eight has been less than straight forward. Having lost their opening game at home to Hertfordshire 23-12, they were then held by Eastern Counties 21-all in their second pool match. They came in to the final round of pool games with just 2 points on the board and a daunting game at Farnham against Surrey. They put in their best performance thus far defeating Surrey emphatically 36-14 to snatch runners-up behind Hertfordshire.

There is a strong Old Elthamians’ presence to the squad captained by OE’s Huw Roberts in the centre.

Kent have made the quarter-finals in each of the last ten years and will not have happy memories of the last time they met Cornwall at this stage in 2015 when the black and golds won 25-18 at Charlton Park. For the record Cornwall’s tries that were scored by Todd Prisk, Locryn Williams and Dan Rutter, whilst Rhys Brownfield kicked two conversions and a penalty with Connor Swan adding another penalty.

Having won at Dorset & Wilts last Sunday, Cornwall have been obliged to make some changes to the squad for this match giving coaches Josh Lord and Matt Shepherd (pictured above) food for thought.

In the backs Reuben Edwards is unavailable for this game so in his place at fly-half comes Redruth’s  James Tucker. In the centre Declan Matthews, who will be involved with Camborne on Saturday, drops to the bench with Jake Penprase moving from the wing to centre.

Onto the wing comes Shae Cornish a colt with Penzance & Newlyn.

Up front Luke Barnes is also unavailable so Harry Lightfoot starts at hooker. Ollie Andrews (Falmouth) starts at tight-head with Kyle Gratrix one of three possible prop replacements for the 18 shirt dropping to the bench along with Penryn’s Callum Degenhardt and Redruth’s Jack Hodge.

In the second row Brandon Rowley comes in to partner Dan Goldsmith in a pack containing no less than five Cornish All Blacks.

In the back row Will Gibson who missed the game last week returns to partner Tiaan Clark and skipper Torin Clarke. Aden Brassington reverts to the bench.

On the bench Chae Jenkins returns having missed the Dorset & Wilts game, Camels’ Quinn Cross comes in as hooker cover.

STOP PRESS : Declan Matthews hasn’t passed fitness so Seb Firth comes onto the bench, whilst Jack Hodge is named as prop cover on the bench.

Cornwall Squad

Coaches – Matt Shepherd, Josh Lord

Medical cover – Dr Tanya Lindsay, Sam West, Lauren Albury, Miles Corbett

Kit – Paul Hurrell, Colin Hatch