Devon edge Cornwall in Tamar Cup

TAMAR CUP

DEVON 26 – 20 CORNWALL

By Bill Hooper at Brickfields

Devon regained the Tamar Cup following a pulsating match at the Brickfields that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Cornwall took the field led out by skipper Mark Vian roared on by the travelling faithful from Trelawny’s Army.

Devon kicked off with Cornwall immediately handing the advantage to the Green & Whites as they knocked the ball on.

Cornwall dealt with that initial threat as they won the turnover allowing James Tucker to clear.

Tucker kicked to the Devon twenty-two, the ensuing lineout was lost but Devon had infringed allowing Ben Hancock to take a quick tap and go, Stan Somers burst through the line brought down short Cornwall went again but were held up over the line, a let off for Devon, however the referee had been playing advantage so Cornwall had another bite of the cherry. Tucker kicked to the corner, Vian won the lineout ball and the Cornish pack drove furiously to the Devon line, but yet again they were denied being help up Devon skipper Tom McGratton under the ball.

Devon almost scored a try following a good break but Charlie Tummon got under the ball, however Devon were building pressure.

Cornwall lost a player to the bin for a deliberate knock on, from the scrum Devon moved the ball wide for Tom Davies to score an unconverted try.

Cornwall weathered another Devon attack allowing Tucker to clear. Devon messed up the lineout allowing Cornwall to make good ground as play was switched back Hancock made a good drive slipping the ball to Ollie Bebbington who danced around the Devon defence to dot down under the sticks.

The strong win hampered Tucker’s conversion attempt which ended up wide.

Devon won the ball from a lineout moving the ball wide, before the forwards took the ball up with Jamie Hext dotting down under the sticks, Mitch Pinkus with the conversion.

Cornwall looked to get back before the break but conceded a penalty that gave Devon field position. Devon won the lineout moving the ball wide before Pinkus sliced through the Cornwall defence to score and convert his own try for a 19-5 half-time lead.

Cornwall made a fast start to the second half but couldn’t breech the Devon defence, a breakout by the Green & Whites almost saw a try for Davies but Bebbington saved the Cornish.

With Pete Harris having come on at half time Cornwall began to use their bench, Olly Derry and Rohan Ewels giving the front row some energy. In the back row Hector Bright came on and was soon carrying hard.

Cornwall eventually got a break when a poor pass from Pinkus was hacked on by Tucker who collected the ball to score and convert his own try.

It was just the boost Cornwall needed, a penalty kicked by Tucker brought Cornwall even closer to Devon on the scoreboard and set up an exciting finale.

Which way would the game swing? Devon piled on the pressure and with Cornwall on a final warning a quick tap 5 meters out saw the ball moved wide with Ben Saunders breaking the line to pop a pass to Kyle Felton to score the vital try, Pinkus added the extras making it 26-15 to Devon.

Cornwall had the final word when Bebbington went in for his second try in the corner.

The final whistle confirmed it was Devon’s year.

Cornwall: Ben Rosevear (Redruth), Rhys Williams (Helston), Jamie Stanlake (St. Austell), Josh Semmens (Penzance & Newlyn), Ollie Bebbington, James Tucker, George Hillson (all Launceston); Declan Prowse (Penzance & Newlyn), Rory Mead, Charlie Short (both Launceston), Tom Daniel, Mark Vian (both St. Austell), Charlie Tummon, Ben Hancock (both Launceston), Stan Somers (Penzance & Newlyn).

Replacements: Pete Harris (St. Austell), Olly Derry (Wadebridge Camels), Rohan Ewels (Redruth), Freddie Saxton (Bude), Hector Bright (St. Austell), Ed Hillman-Cooke (Bude).

Cornwall scores: Tries Bebbington (2), Tucker, Con Tucker, Pen Tucker

TASC Paul Bawden Trophy Cornwall man-of-the-match: James Tucker