JASON LEONARD CUP
SOMERSET U.20, 35 – 47 CORNWALL U.20
By Bill Hooper
Cornwall Under 20’s produced a remarkable second half performance to defeat Somerset Under 20s and qualify for the South West play-off against Berkshire Under 20s at Redruth RFC on Sunday 3rd May.
Were we still on the bus? Cornwall really didn’t know what had hit them as Somerset scored three converted tries for a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, now we would see just what this side was made of.
Cornwall needed a foot hold, they got thanks to prop Riley Raikes who crashed over with Oli Roberts adding the extras.
Somerset scored their fourth converted try before good work from Archie Beetles put in Oli Mount for Cornwall’s second try, Roberts again on the money with the extras.
A good half-time chat with the coaches saw Cornwall fired up for the second half, a first score was required and it was duly delivered by Roberts as he scored Cornwall’s third try, cutting the deficit to just nine points.
It got even better when the influential Raikes scored his second try again bettered by Roberts as it gave Cornwall a try scoring bonus point that ensured Cornwall would progress from the pool.
The Cornish boys wanted to qualify through the main gate, not the back door, so they pushed for the win. Two tries, the first from skipper Oscar Marr, who chipped ahead and gather his kick to dot down and then from the speedster on the wing Bracken Headland both converted by Roberts putting Cornwall 40-28 ahead.
Into the final ten minutes Somerset kept the Cornish lads honest as they clawed back a converted try and when Marr was shown a yellow card the nerves must have jangled.
Cometh the hour cometh the man, when Joel Pryor’s crunching tackle saw the ball turned over and Tom Tanswell put away to score Cornwall’s final try and Roberts to add his sixth conversion to confirm Cornwall’s passage to the South West play-off.
Cornwall Under 20: Barney Lewis, Bracken Headland (both Newquay Hornets), Sam Blake (Truro), Robbie Paul (Redruth), Oli Roberts (Camborne), Oscar Marr (Penzance & Newlyn, Capt), Alfie Brooksbank (Camborne); Rosko Troughton (Helston), Ted Hocking (Penzance & Newlyn), Callum John (Launceston), Dan Kent (Wadebridge Camels), Oli Wells (Redruth), Oli Mount (Penryn), Ed Boaden (Helston), Fin Robinson (Redruth).
Replacements: Leo Armstrong-Lever (Helston), Archie Beetles (Wadebridge Camels), Riley Raikes (St. Austell), Joel Pryor (Redruth), Jake Walker (Camborne), Marley Johns (Redruth), Tom Tanswell (Penryn), Ethan Taylor (Redruth).
Scorers: Tries Riley Raikes (St Austell) 2, Oli Mount (Penryn) Oli Roberts (Camborne) Oscar Marr (Penzance & Newlyn, Bracken Headland (Newquay Hornets), Tom Tanswell (Penryn)
Conversions Oli Roberts (Camborne) 6
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