Cup joy for the Reds & vital win for the Pirates

 

Picture Geoff Hitchens – Brad Howe & Peter Joyce

There was a good fixture list around the duchy on Boxing Day to tempt out the fans to the various clubs.

Whilst some were holiday fixtures there were others that have stood the test of times, none more so than Camborne v Redruth, or for those on the Fal, Penryn against Falmouth.

A good crowd of some 1,500 plus were at the Recreation Ground to see the Mining Division derby for the Rodda’s Milk Cup.
Despite playing in the teeth of a gale, both sides produced a fine game devoid of any of the usual “derby” shenanigans moving referee Kevin Williams to remark that it was the most pleasant “derby” between the two sides he had officiated!

Redruth retained the cup 22-15, thanks to tries scored by Pale Nonu, Brad Howe, Shaun Buzza and Luke Hattam. Brett Rule did well to kick a conversion in the howling gale.

Howe had a fine game and deservedly picked up the TASC Tony Pill Memorial Cup as man-of-the-match although Hattam pushed him all the way.
For Town, Neil Stanleick, Noah Sixton and Jack Simmons scored excellent tries with James Goldsworthy deservedly picking up the Camborne man-of-the-match plaudits.

In the morning Redruth also won both the Reserves fixture 20-13, with Adam Hosking scoring perhaps the try of Boxing Day selling a couple of dummies before going over, and the Colts fixture 25-17.

In Penryn, the Borough downed Falmouth Eagles 29-7 and the Reserves clinched a club double at the Recreation Ground in the morning with a large win.

On Sunday there was Championship action when the Cornish Pirates entertained Jersey on a muddy Mennaye in front of a crowd of 2,350.

Picture Simon Bryant – Ian Davies happy with the Yuletide win

Still stinging from their Cup defeat at the hands of Cardiff the previous week, Pirates tore into the Channel Islanders scoring a try with barely a minute on the clock through Aaron Carpenter. Laurence May added the extras and then a penalty shortly after for a useful 10-0 advantage.

May kicked a second penalty before former Pirate and Redruth ace Aaron Penberthy cut the deficit for Jersey with a penalty.
May kicked a third penalty to leave the Pirates 16-3 up at half-time.

Jersey made a great start to the second half with a try from Tongan No.8 Uili Kolo’ofa’i with Penberthy making it a seven pointer, but that was as close as they would get despite the Pirates losing Matt Evans to sin-bin and having to withstand a Channel storm from visitors.

Director of Rugby Ian Davies was pleased with his side’s performance. “I thought we scored a good maul try off the first play of the game when we may have caught them [Jersey] cold,” he said. “The boys came up with that set play and it worked really well. It’s just unfortunate we didn’t get another chance to try it.
“I think we left a couple of tries out there if we’re honest. A little bit of excitement on one occasion where we tried to give another pass, when another phase should have been taken. And also perhaps some over exuberance at a breakdown a couple of others.”

It just leaves me to wish One & All a very Happy New Year, Bledhen Nowyth Da!

Posted in Bill's Blog

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