Cornwall U18’s 20 – 24 Exeter Chiefs Outreach Development XV
A preseason assessment match for both Cornwall U18s and Exeter Chiefs Outreach U18s on a sunny afternoon in Bodmin gave the spectators an entertaining match to watch, reports James Mills at Bodmin RFC
Chiefs started the brighter of the 2 teams and camped in the Cornwall 22 for the first 10mins, not helped by some needless infringements from the boys in black and gold. Cornwall were soon into the match and early signs were our lads had the upper hand at scrum time. Cornwall continued the pressure through a lively Tyler Dower at hooker probing the Chiefs defence on several occasions with strong purposeful carries. Eventually the pressure forced Chiefs to infringe and Kristian Davis at 12 took the option to kick for posts and take the first points of the match 3-0.
The game proceeded to be a good contest with both teams defence going at it but Chiefs managed to find away through after the Chiefs scrum half who looked a real talent all game managing a half break and off load out of the tackle to release the chiefs player to scamper over and score left of the posts which was converted. 3-7
With Cornwall in the ascendancy and with flanker Jack Mills for Cornwall gaining 4 turnovers, the pressure was on the Chiefs for the remainder of the half. Cornwall had 2 good opportunities, firstly off a sublime cross field kick from Cornwall flyhalf Kit May only for the Cornwall chasers to knock on during the gather a few metres short of the Chiefs line. The half finished with Jack Mills being judged to have been held up over Chiefs the line with Cornwall going into the turn around 3-7 down.
The second half was a similar affair with the scrum dominance from Cornwall but Chiefs taking the match early on, not helped by the needless offside infringements from our boys handing possession to Chiefs. Chiefs needed no invitation and they managed to break a midfield tackle to go over for their second score which was not converted 3-12
After yet more Cornish infringement and a quick thinking tap and go from Chiefs and a sleeping Cornish defence the Chiefs went under the posts with a converted score. 3-19
This appeared to have the desired wake up call for Cornwall and with Call Grohmann now on in the backs and full of energy chased down a loose Chiefs pass, putting huge pressure on their scramble defence to force a knock on. The Cornwall tight 5 packed down and with their dominance provided good ball for Huey Campbell to deliver good service to Kristian Davis now at 10 who span the ball out left to Freddie Davies, who popped it sweetly back inside to Davis on the loop and then Davis supplied the ball to fullback Eddie Pearce running a direct line who took the ball into contact with his opposite number and offloaded to the support runner Call Grohmann to finish it off for the score of the match. Not converted 8-19.
Chiefs were not done yet and replied with 2 man well executed overlap on the left wing to dab down in the corner for their final score which was not converted 8-24.
The remaining 15 mins was all Cornwall as Chiefs struggled to contain the now rampant boys in black and gold. Chiefs received a yellow card for cynical play and the pressure mounted. Tyler Dower who continued his excellent first half performance inspired the Cornish with a 30m line break. This sustained Cornish attack ended with lock Jack Hoskin, with Mills latched on with a neat pick and go to score from short range, again not converted 13-24.
Mills who continued to frustrate the Chiefs at the breakdown winning 6 turnovers, meant that Kristian Davis could kick it deep into the corner for a lineout maul. Chiefs infringed again by collapsing the maul 2m out and having just had the yellow carded player back on the pitch had to send their prop to the bin. Cornwall opt to scrum which they won with ease and now with Chiefs lacking numbers out wide, Davis throws a 2 man miss pass into the welcoming arms of fullback Eddie Pearce who goes over for a well deserved final converted score to end a fine match 20-24.
Many thanks goes to Bodmin RFC for hosting and in particular Dave Saunter and to CRRS for supplying the match official team
Starting XV Finishes
- Matt Trehair 16. Matt Trehair
- Tyler Dower 17. Finn Richards
- Declan Prowse 18. Ethan Reed
- Tom Hughes 19. Jamie Stockley
- Jack Hoskin 20. Cameron Harvey
- Dillon Newton 21. Andre Green
- Jack Mills 22. Cal Grohmann
- Eli Williams (C)
- Huey Campbell
- Kit May
- George Hutchinson
- Kristian Davis
- Freddie Davies
- Callum Preece
- Eddie Pearce