GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2 FINAL
CORNWALL WOMEN 46 – 27 DURHAM WOMEN
Cornwall Women produced a scintillating performance on their first ever match at the home of English rugby to defeat Durham Women in the Gill Burns Division 2 county final, reports Bill Hooper
Cornwall Women scored eight tries during the match with Cornwall’s Michaella Roberts scoring a brace in a player of the match performance. The No.8 carried time and time again, constantly making good ground putting Cornwall on the front foot against a Durham side that played their part in the final.
Despite a promising start by Cornwall it was Durham who opened the scoring with an unconverted try scored by Kathryn Barrett who slipped the Cornish defenders.
From the beginning of the match Cornwall’s scrum had the measure of the Durham eight at the set-piece with Roberts proving a handful along with Alex Hutchings. Good Cornish pressure saw Abby Smith go close before the ball was moved wide with Faith Rowe finding Hannah Mills to dot down out wide.
Moments later Durham regained the lead when their skipper Jess Clabby sliced through the Cornwall cover, Sabrina McCann adding the conversion.
Cornwall got back to within two points when from a penalty kicked to the corner by Tori Crutchley, skipper Megan Arnold won the lineout with the pack putting in a great drive to the Durham line for Roberts to dot down.
Cornwall then took a firm grip on the game scoring two converted tries, first of all Cornwall’s scrum shoved Durham off their own ball strong drives saw Kim Upcott pick up from a ruck and then drive towards the posts, brought down just short the prop managed to dot down under the sticks.
From the re-start Hutchings made good ground before Amy Warman’s pass found Roberts who spotted a gap and sped from her own half to score a marvellous try, Tori Crutchley added both conversions and Cornwall were suddenly 24-12 up that scoreline remained to half-time.
Cornwall brought on some fresh legs for the second half just 5 minutes in from a scrum Cornwall broke away, the ball went wide to Abby Masquelier she was brought down short, Warman re-cycled the ball to Jessie Humber who did well to ground then ball in the corner.
Durham then lost Molly Dutchburn to the sin bin for repeat offending, Cornwall made the most of the extra numbers, good play by Roberts and Hutchings saw the ball moved into the Durham twenty-two, when the ball was moved wide Georgia Hall’s pass found Masquelier who showed her pace to out flank the cover and score to put Cornwall 34-12 ahead.
Any thoughts Cornwall had of game won were quickly dispelled. The influential Roberts found herself on the sidelines with a yellow card, Durham took full advantage when Hollie Mountain found space out wide to score, then Daisey Graham pulled back another try to bring the Northerners back to within twelve points.
Then Maggie Graham scored a fifth try for Durham with just seven minutes remaining to set Cornish nerves jangling.
Cornwall needed calm heads, they went for more! Mills, Ninnis and Upcott drove up into the Durham twenty-two before Faith Rowe picked the ball up three meters out and wriggled to the line to score, Hall’s conversion gave Cornwall some breathing space.
The icing on the cake came when Masquelier danced down the touchline to skin the tiring Durham defence and dot down with aplomb by the posts. Hall’s conversion went the wrong side of the sticks but it mattered not Cornwall were Champions and the celebrations began.
Speaking after the match Cornwall’s head coach Jo Holden was understandably delighted by her side’s performance. “We showed Cornish granite out there today, it was a game of ups and downs, we were well ahead, then got pegged back, but we showed our mettle and the support of the crowd helped us get over the line. I couldn’t be happier for our team. What a great bunch they have been, a pleasure to coach.”
Cornwall Women (Launceston unless stated): Rachel Hicks, Suz Franks, Abigail Smith, Tori Crutchley (Truro), Hannah Mills (Ivybridge), Faith Rowe (Truro), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (Capt), Jessie Humber (Ivybridge), Alex Hutchings, Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Michaella Roberts (Ivybridge).
Replacements: Jessica Varker (Helston), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Rhiannon Thomas, Caitlin Milliken (Camborne), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Evie Groves (Truro), Abby Masquelier (Penryn).
Cornwall scores: Tries: Mills 12, Roberts 26, 33, Upcott 31, Humber 47, Masquelier 56, 80, Rowe 76. Cons, Crutcley 32, 34, Hall 77
Durham Women: Sabrina McCann (Bishop Auckland), Georgia Massey (Bishop Auckland), Kathryn Barrett (Bishop Auckland), Jess Clabby (Capt, Ryton), Daisy Graham (Houghton), Neve Kinghorn, Leonie Kinghorn (both Stockton), Kenzie Burnside (Houghton), Tamsin Thompson (Peterlee & Horden), Meg Owen (Bishop Auckland), Hannah Picknett (Yarm), Maddy Chandler (Bishop Auckland), Dagmara Podgorska (Stockton), Sophie Underwood (Durham Uni), Naomi Garbutt (Stockton).
Replacements: April Roxby (Peterlee & Horden), Molly Dutchburn (Bishop Auckland), Amy Hayhurst (Stockton), Maggie Graham (Houghton), Clara Verlaque, Hollie Mountain (both Bishop Auckland), Ndapanda Kakundi (Stockton), Emma Lawson (Bishop Auckland).
Durham scores: Tries: Barrett 6, Clabby 15, Mountain 64, D Graham 71, M Graham 75. Cons, McCann 16.
Referee: Chrissy Clark (Oxon SRFR)
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