Cornwall’s hopes dashed in Gloucestershire defeat

Cornwall players Curtis Reynolds (1), Luke Hattam, Tommy Phillips, Adam Hughes (8) and Dan Rutter

Gloucestershire U20 36 – 14 Cornwall U20

Cornwall travelled to Cinderford RFC in the Forest of Dean for their second championship game of the season, despite a bright opening, Cornwall found their hosts too hot to handle especially with two yellow cards during the game.

Cornwall got off to a flying start with a try after 12 minutes when scrum half Dan Rutter dived over after some hard work by the forwards close to the Gloucestershire line. The try was converted by James MacFarlane.

Gloucestershire shaken by the early score came back into the game 4 minutes later with a driving maul and grounded the ball for an unconverted try.
Straight from the kick off Gloucestershire struck again when a missed tackle let them run through to score under the posts for a converted try.

Cornwall had to endure the first of two yellow cards when prop forward Tommy Phillips was sent to the sin bin. Gloucestershire took advantage of the situation and from a scrum close to the Cornish line drove over for another converted try. The half ended for Cornwall when an attempted kick was charged down and slick hands saw the ball thrown wide for Gloucestershire winger Reuben Goatley cross for the second of what was to be a hat trick of tries.

With a half time deficit of 24 – 7 Cornwall had a mountain to climb in the second half.

The second half Cornwall had the wind behind them and a closer game ensued. In the 53 minute another missed tackle by Cornwall saw Goatley go over for his hat trick, but again the conversion was missed. Cornwall suffered their second yellow of the day when flanker Angus Brown was given 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Gloucestershire again took full advantage when they scored their final try of the afternoon.

The Cornwall players never gave up, and a bit of individual magic saw Rutter break the line, twice chipping over the opposition catching the ball and scoring a brilliant consolation try which was converted to give Cornwall a consolation score.

Gloucestershire deserved there victory with a strong squad and well worked moves on the day. Gloucestershire and Berkshire progress through to the quarter-finals of the competition. Cornwall now has it all to do, with a group wooden spoon decider against local rivals Devon on Sunday 13 March at Camborne RFC with a 14:00 kick off, the Cornish lads will want to end on a high in their only home game of the season.
Cornwall: Stean, Thomas, Simmons (Capt), Down, Swan, MacFarlane, Rutter; Reynolds, Southworth. Phillips, Hattam, Inch, Brown, Moyle, Hughes.

Replacements: Smith, Burley, Vincent, Smith, Andrews, Sandercock, Tyler

Cornwall scores: Tries, Rutter (2), Conversions, MacFarlane (2)

 

 

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