National League 2 Cornish Derby lived up to it’s promises on Saturday, a game that was decided when Kieron Lewitt’s last-gasp penalty effort flew wide of the posts to leave the Redruth faithful in jubilation with a 14-13 win and two wins from as many games to start the season.
Redruth head-coach was happy with the win but less so with his side’s performance. Plenty to work on before the trip next Saturday to Cambridge.
Naturally Launceston’s Director of Rugby Neil Bayliss was less happy following a second defeat for his side by a single point.
Both tries were conceded when the All Blacks were down to fourteen men, which tells it’s own story. He hopes his side will be able to get that elusive first win at Polson next week against Shelford.
You can read my report from the West Briton site in the link.
On Sunday the Cornish Pirates lost for the second time this season in the Greene King IPA Championship 30-19 to London Scottish.
Plenty of faces in the crowd from Redruth to see old favourites mark Bright and PJ Gidlow, whilst former Pirates Ben Prescott and Max Maidment were also in the exiles line-up.
Sadly for PJ a heavy collision with Rheon James in mid-field saw the centre stretched off, happily he made a full recovery after the match.
As for Brighty, another five star performance as he again helped himself to a hat-trick of tries for the second game running and then had a big hand in Miles Mantella’s bonus point 4th try for the Scottish.
The Cornish Pirates scored a couple of tries of their own with Tom Riley’s great run setting up winger Kyle Moyle for a great finish in the Newlyn gate corner, whilst scrum-half Tom Kessell’s quick thinking got a try near the end.
Cornish Pirates’ Director of Rugby Ian Davies described Bright as the best forward in the Championship
“It was a better performance from us from last week, though the final result is a fair the margin of victory probably not, but we will move on.
“Our work rate was right up there and we showed some good attacking intent we moved the ball around and our defence was a lot better than last week and we kept going until the end. We competed well and nullified much of what they wanted to do, it was an attritional game you saw that with the number of injuries coming off but you can’t give a powerful pack like that field position and we did that on too many occasions.
“We were in the game until be gifted them two scores within a couple of minutes, the first from a penalty which they drove over and then the next from an up and under with the bounce of the ball going their way, twelve points conceded in quick time.
Injury worries again surfaced for the Pirates, with the influential flanker Alex Cheesman going off and seen on crutches after the game.
There are already muttering in some quarters as the Pirates have lost two from two with the prospect of a trip next Sunday to face Bristol at Ashton Gate. I say keep the faith, the Pirates are battling on two fronts both on and off the pitch, though their next home game against Moseley will be a big one as far as their season is concerned. Now is the time for supporters to get behind the team and the club.
Bill Sobey’s match report can be found in the link
In the Tribute regional leagues; in Tribute South West 1 West after two opening day wins for Camborne and St. Austell at home last week both tasted defeat on the road this.
Camborne travelled to Cleve and lost 15-12. Camborne took a 5-0 lead with a try from flanker George Hall but things went awry for the Cherry and Whites as big lock Ben Kemp was red carded for punching!
Despite this handicap Camborne re-took the lead with a try and conversion from Dave Mankee to lead 12-10, but a yellow card for winger Scott Murray saw Town down to thirteen allowing Cleve to score a winning try.
St. Austell went down heavily at North Petherton 32-6 with just a couple of Andy Ashwins penalties to show for their efforts.
In Tribute Western Counties West, Penryn made it two wins on the trot with 50-12 win over St. Ives. Borough scored tries through Josh Chambers (2), Matt Horton Ollie Evans, Andy Seviour, Adam Hughes, Grant Randlesome and a penalty-try.
Nathan strick’s boot added the other points. For the Hakes Ben Taylor and Tom Chandler scored tries with Jake Ninnes adding a conversion, it’s worrying times at the Hakes having lost so many players during the summer.
A late penalty gave Okehampton a 26-23 win over visitors Truro, a game that saw the lead change hands five times. Chizzy Gilbert, Ieuan Boon and Carl Ranscombe scored tries for Truro with Jake Champion kicking a conversion and two penalties.
A second loss for Wadebridge Camels as they went down 63-7 at Kingsbridge, it’s a result that will hurt coach Mike Rawlings and will be a blow to the Camels’ hopes of bouncing back after relegation last season. Still early days.
In London 2 SW, London Cornish defeated Weybridge Vandals 36-0, see my previous blog entry for a report by Ben Gilbey.
In the Tribute Cornwall and Devon League, Bude had a tough game at home to newly promoted Bodmin eventually winning 35-18 thanks in part to four tries scored by young Bradley Janes with Jason Bolt and Mark Parsons also dotting down. Olly Denford kicked a conversion and Alex Rakhashani a penalty to complete the seasiders’ haul.
For Bodmin Lee Taylor and Paul Carter scored tries with James Taylor kicking the rest of the points.
Pirates Amateurs won at Falmouth 21-18 Craig Stephens (2) and Steve Evans scored tries for the Ams with Evans adding all three conversions.
Simon Bailey and Nick Caine scored the Eagle’s tries with Justyn Irons kicking the rest of the points.
Hayle won their opening game of the season defeating visitors Paignton 22-12. Scott Harvey scored the only try with Dan Magee kicking the rest of the points.
Withycombe accounted for Liskeard-Looe 67-0 with the omens already looking bleak for the East Cornwall Lions.
Saltash bounced back from an opening day defeat to win at Exeter Saracens 35-10. Saltash tries were scored by wing Will Morton, prop Simon Nance, centre Sean Crawford, fly-half Ollie Mulberry and full-back Max Venables, who also kicked five conversions.
In the RFU Junior Vase Cornwall Qualifying semi-finals, Veor defeated Illogan Park 28-5 and St. Agnes won at Roseland 30-10.
