Photo – Cornwall skipper Todd Prisk in action against Gloucestershire
CORNWALL Under 20s go into Sunday’s vital match against Devon knowing that a draw will be good enough to ensure a home quarter-final against either Berkshire or Hertfordshire.
Should they slip up at Ivybridge they would be obliged to travel to face Kent.
Cornwall do not intend to leave matters in others hands and will be playing for the win at Cross-in-Hand.
It’s a game that Cornwall captain Redruth’s Todd Prisk is looking forward to. He said, “This game has been a long time coming after our great win against Gloucestershire back in November, that was a massive result for us and made up in part for our disappointment in losing to them in the quarter-finals last season, but we know that the game against Devon is going to be a titanic struggle with a home quarter-final at stake.”
Prisk also said that the long gap between the two fixtures was not an issue. “I was a bit concerned initially but the boys have all being playing and when we have come together training has been excellent. We will have a final session a week before the game to polish up but the boys are chomping at the bit to get into Devon. Any game against Devon requires little motivation.”
With Wadebridge Camels flyer Jake Woodward unavailable having broken his scaphoid, Ashley Taylor (St. Austell) currently at Cardiff Met comes into the squad. Prisk is happy with the squad: “It will be very much the same squad that took on Gloucestershire with a couple of new backs after the Gloucestershire result I think the boys deserve a crack at Devon, we may also be able to add prop Tommy Phillips to the squad depending on how much he plays on the Saturday for Redruth at Canterbury.”
Prisk has no qualms that his squad are fully focused on the result required next Sunday: “The knowledge that we can afford to draw does play on you a bit but when you are playing Devon you want to win pure and simple. We beat them last year and want the same result again, we know they will be a huge challenge on their own turf but the prize for us is massive a quarter-final at home with our home support.”
Cornish support at Cross-in-Hand will be very much appreciated by the Cornish lads.
Match details:
Sunday 25th January Devon U.20 v Cornwall U.20 @ Ivybridge RFC kick-off 2:30 pm
