A big weekend for Cornish sides at the top end: the Cornish Pirates won 40 – 21 at Rotherham Titans, Camborne scored 57 points in a 57 – 38 win at Dings Crusaders, and St Austell and Launceston both won away in Regional 1. Redruth experienced its first defeat of the season, losing narrowly to Hinckley, and Wadebridge Camels drew at Nailsea & Blackwell.
The Championship
Rotherham Titans 21 – 40 Cornish Pirates.
National League 1
Dings Crusaders 38 – 57 Camborne.
National League 2 West
Redruth 8 – 15 Hinckley.
Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West
Topsham 12 – 27 St. Austell.
Weston-super-Mare 24 – 36 Launceston.
Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West
Nailsea & Blackwell 28 – 28 Wadebridge Camels.
Penzance & Newlyn 33 – 19 Tiverton.
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Western West
Barnstaple II 38 – 36 Saltash; Torquay Athletic 50 – 27 St. Ives; Truro 10 – 69 Camborne II; Redruth II 26 – 52 Kingsbridge.
Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
London Cornish 28 – 39 Trinity.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Launceston II ran up 76 points in a 76 – 0 win over St. Agnes. Other results: Bude 26 – 39 Penryn; Falmouth 39 – 14 Newquay Hornets; St. Just 17 – 41 Honiton; Wadebridge Camels II 27 – 15 Perranporth.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Bodmin 22 – 0 Redruth Albany; Helston II 36 – 22 Falmouth II; Illogan Park 45 – 13 Lankelly-Fowey; Penzance & Newlyn II 17 – 14 Veor; Saltash II 14 – 59 Camborne School of Mines; St. Ives II 0 – 24 Hayle. Roseland received a home walkover against Bude II.
Women’s rugby (Sunday)
Henley Women 24 – 7 Launceston Ladies; Penryn Ladies 58 – 14 Crediton Women; Bideford Ladies 27 – 12 Bude Ladies; Devonport Services Ladies 31 – 20 Truro Women; Helston Women 45 – 5 Redruth Ladies; Saltash Women 39 – 0 Plymouth Argaum Women. St. Austell Ladies received a home walkover against Falmouth Women.
Full fixtures and results are on our Full Cornish page.
Scores from trelawnysarmy.org/full-cornish. No match reports were available for this round-up, so results are given as scores only.
Hayle were the standout side among the Cornish clubs on 24-25 October, running up 59 points against Saltash II in Counties 3. St Austell beat Weston-super-Mare and Penzance & Newlyn won at Okehampton in the Regional leagues, while Launceston’s three-match winning run ended against Exmouth. Several games were postponed.
Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West
Launceston 14 – 28 Exmouth. Exmouth led 21-0 at half-time after a penalty try and two converted tries, with Launceston missing chances including two five-metre penalties and a held-up try. Charlie Tummon was sin-binned after the penalty try, but Launceston conceded no points while he was off. A second-half fightback brought two converted tries, from George Harris and Mitch Hawken with James Tucker adding both conversions, but Exmouth added a late second penalty try. Launceston’s three-match winning run ended and they finished without a losing bonus point; Tummon was named their man of the match.
St. Austell 33 – 12 Weston-super-Mare.
Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West
Okehampton 5 – 13 Penzance & Newlyn. Wadebridge Camels v Teignmouth was postponed.
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Western West
Saltash 12 – 19 Truro; St. Ives 5 – 8 Redruth II. Camborne II v Torquay Athletic was postponed.
Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
Old Wimbledonians 30 – 17 London Cornish.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Bude won at Newquay in stormy, wet conditions, taking a bonus point with a 29-7 victory (reported as 17-0 ahead at half-time). Joe Wilson scored a hat-trick of tries, with Ed Hilliam-Cooke and skipper Finley Fry also crossing and Olly Denford kicking two conversions; Tyler Croft scored Newquay’s only try. Other results: Helston 38 – 0 St. Austell II; Liskeard-Looe 24 – 0 Falmouth; Penryn 28 – 0 Wadebridge Camels II. Perranporth v Launceston II and St. Agnes v St. Just were postponed.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Hayle 59 – 7 Saltash II was the biggest score of the weekend. Other results: Camborne School of Mines 7 – 24 Illogan Park; Falmouth II 12 – 38 St. Ives II; Lankelly-Fowey 35 – 18 Roseland; Redruth Albany 26 – 28 Penzance & Newlyn II. Bude II v Bodmin and Veor v Helston II were postponed.
Women’s rugby (Sunday)
Wadebridge Camels Women 52 – 7 Falmouth Women (Women’s NC 3 South West (West)); Truro Women 29 – 5 Camborne Women (RFU Women’s Junior Cup Round 2).
Full fixtures and results are on our Full Cornish page.
Scores from trelawnysarmy.org/full-cornish. Match colour from The Post (thepost.uk.com).
Cornish sides had a strong Saturday on 17 October: the Cornish Pirates, Camborne and Redruth all won, Camborne edging Sale FC by four points in National League 1, while Launceston won at Newent and Penzance & Newlyn took a one-point win over Nailsea & Backwell. St. Austell and Wadebridge Camels were beaten in the Regional leagues, and the lower leagues produced some huge scores, including 94 points for St. Just and 84 for Lankelly-Fowey.
St. Just racked up 94 points against St. Austell II. Bude 42 – 7 Liskeard-Looe; Falmouth 8 – 38 Helston; Launceston II 38 – 25 Penryn; St. Agnes 17 – 28 Perranporth; St. Just 94 – 28 St. Austell II; Wadebridge Camels II 47 – 12 Newquay Hornets.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Lankelly-Fowey (84) and Helston II (82) both topped 80 points, Illogan Park and Hayle drew 20 – 20, St. Ives II and Veor drew 15 – 15, and Saltash II were awarded a home walkover against Falmouth II. Helston II 82 – 7 Redruth Albany; Lankelly-Fowey 84 – 7 Bude II; Penzance & Newlyn II 39 – 15 Bodmin; Roseland 41 – 45 Camborne School of Mines; Illogan Park 20 – 20 Hayle; St. Ives II 15 – 15 Veor.
Women’s rugby (Sunday)
Launceston Ladies 29 – 22 Okehampton Women (Women’s Championship South West 2); Ellingham & Ringwood Ladies 5 – 40 Penryn Ladies (NC 1 South West (West)); Bude Ladies 5 – 12 Devonport Services Ladies (NC 2 South West (West)); Helston Women 0 – 20 St. Austell Ladies (NC 3 South West (West)); Plymouth Albion Ladies 0 – 38 Saltash Women; Redruth Ladies 46 – 5 Plymouth Argaum Women.
Full fixtures and results are on our Full Cornish page.
Scores from trelawnysarmy.org/full-cornish (taken from englandrugby.com results). No match reports were available when this round-up was prepared, so only results are given.
A big weekend for Camborne, who hit 59 points at Cambridge, while Redruth beat Hornets and Launceston edged a Cornish derby at St Austell. The Cornish Pirates lost at Bedford Blues, and Hayle ran up a century against Bude II in Counties 3.
St Austell 25 – 31 Launceston. Launceston won the Cornish derby by six points.
Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West
Penzance & Newlyn 27 – 22 Sherborne.
Winscombe 22 – 36 Wadebridge Camels.
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Western West
Saltash lost by a single point, 42 – 43 to Paignton. Other results: Camborne II 64 – 24 Newton Abbot; St Ives 21 – 12 Kingsbridge; Truro 27 – 10 Devonport Services II.
Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
London Cornish 53 – 26 Old Hamptonians.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Perranporth 22 – 10 Liskeard-Looe; St Agnes 7 – 68 Helston; St Austell II 17 – 31 Launceston II; St Just 12 – 42 Bude; Wadebridge Camels II 28 – 14 Falmouth. Penryn v Newquay Hornets was listed as a home walkover.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Hayle won 106 – 0 against Bude II. Other results: Roseland 32 – 31 Redruth Albany; Saltash II 32 – 33 Penzance & Newlyn II; St Ives II 26 – 14 Helston II. Camborne School of Mines v Falmouth II was listed as a home walkover.
Women’s rugby (Sunday)
Launceston Ladies 69 – 0 Cheltenham Tigers Women II (Women’s Championship South West 2); Yeovil Women 14 – 29 Penryn Ladies (NC 1 South West West); Camborne Women 19 – 22 Newton Abbot Ladies (NC 2); Plymouth Albion Ladies 0 – 43 Helston Women, Wadebridge Camels Women 45 – 12 Plymouth Argaum Women and Redruth Ladies 7 – 10 St Austell Ladies (all NC 3). Truro Women v Bideford Ladies was listed as a home walkover.
Full fixtures and results are on our Full Cornish page.
Scores from trelawnysarmy.org/full-cornish. No match reports were found for this weekend’s games, so no further match detail is given.
A dramatic last-minute try gave the Cornish Pirates a 35 – 33 win over Ealing Trailfinders in The Championship, while Camborne (38 – 26 v London Scottish) and Redruth (36 – 31 v Taunton Titans) both won at National League level. Launceston edged Brixham 38 – 31 in Regional 1, Penzance & Newlyn won 41 – 7 at Winscombe and Wadebridge Camels beat Ivybridge 41 – 25 in Regional 2, but St. Austell lost 54 – 29 at Royal Wootton Bassett. St. Ives won a close one at Saltash, and there were big scores in Counties 2 and 3.
The Championship
Cornish Pirates 35 – 33 Ealing Trailfinders. The sides were level at 21 – 21 at half-time and the Pirates won it with a last-minute try from Matt Pritchard. Everett, Nelson, Palmer and debutant Nick Lilley also crossed, with Arwel Robson kicking five conversions; Ealing replied with tries from Gibbons (2), Moore, Hatherell and Cornish. Joint head coach Gavin Cattle said: “Our last play to work our way back up field and get close to Ealing’s line was exceptional.” It was reported as the Pirates’ first win over Ealing in five years.
National League 1
Camborne 38 – 26 London Scottish.
National League 2 West
Redruth 36 – 31 Taunton Titans.
Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West
Launceston 38 – 31 Brixham.
Royal Wootton Bassett 54 – 29 St. Austell.
Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West
Winscombe 7 – 41 Penzance & Newlyn. Penzance & Newlyn scored six tries, through Joe Best, Sam Carter, Callum Walsh, Ben Martin, Connor Bick and Dan Rhys Evans, with Rhys Brownfield adding a penalty and four conversions. It was their second win in succession. Head coach Murray Westren said the side started really well, though the second half became a scrappier affair. Callum Walsh was man of the match.
Wadebridge Camels 41 – 25 Ivybridge.
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Western West
Newton Abbot 43 – 22 Truro; Saltash 30 – 33 St. Ives.
Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
Hove 49 – 15 London Cornish.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Two draws on the day: Perranporth 17 – 17 St. Just and St. Austell II 24 – 24 Falmouth. Other results: Helston 38 – 5 Bude; Liskeard-Looe 20 – 26 Wadebridge Camels II; Newquay Hornets 12 – 68 Launceston II; Penryn 50 – 14 St. Agnes.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Bodmin 12 – 22 Helston II; Bude II 3 – 59 Penzance & Newlyn II; Camborne School of Mines 54 – 26 Lankelly-Fowey; Falmouth II 19 – 71 Illogan Park; Hayle 70 – 12 Roseland; Redruth Albany 33 – 22 St. Ives II; Veor 68 – 19 Saltash II.
Women’s rugby (Sunday)
In the RFU Junior Cup, Bude Ladies 5 – 20 Truro Women, and Camborne Women advanced after an away walkover at Redruth Ladies. In the RFU Intermediate Cup, Penryn Ladies were given a home walkover against Crediton Women.
Full fixtures and results are on our Full Cornish page.
Scores from trelawnysarmy.org/full-cornish. Match colour from CornishStuff (cornishstuff.com).
The first full Saturday of the league rugby season brought a mixed bag for Cornish sides. Camborne and Redruth both won on the road, St Austell edged their Regional 1 opener at home, and Penzance & Newlyn ran up a big score, while the Cornish Pirates and Launceston came away from Coventry and Trowbridge with defeats.
The Championship
Coventry 73 - 40 Cornish Pirates. After winning their opener 45-19 against Doncaster Knights, the Pirates were beaten at Coventry despite a lively first half. Scrum-half Dan Hiscocks opened the scoring for the second week running, and Milo Hallam, Alessandro Heaney and Harry Ascherl also crossed before the break, leaving them 33-26 behind at half-time. Coventry then ran in six more tries after the restart, with Jack Reeves and Jordon Poole each grabbing two in total, while fly-half Bruce Houston, a former Pirate, landed nine conversions. Replacements Matt Pritchard and Jamie Clark scored late tries for the visitors, with Arwel Robson kicking five conversions. Joint head coach Gavin Cattle pointed to two yellow cards as the turning point.
National League 1
Sheffield 24 - 26 Camborne. Camborne made it three away wins in a row in National League 1, edging a tight game at a Sheffield side who had been unbeaten for almost two years. Harry Larkins scored the opener, and after the hosts twice moved ahead, hooker Ben Priddey scored twice to keep Camborne in touch, with full-back Frankie Nowell also crossing. Fly-half Fraser Honey landed three conversions, the last of them to level the scores at 24-24, and Camborne held on for the two-point win.
National League 2 West
Exeter University 19 - 34 Redruth. Redruth stayed top of National League 2 West with a bonus-point win at Exeter University. Tom Cowan-Dickie scored a hat-trick of tries, with Rob Baragwanath, Sam Bray and Jarrold Hambly also crossing, and Joe Cummins kicked two conversions. Redruth led 22-7 at half-time, and Exeter’s three tries, two of them from full-back Billy Benson, made the final margin look closer than the game was. Taunton are next at the Rec.
Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West
St. Austell 19 - 15 Chew Valley. St Austell were 14-0 up inside 12 minutes thanks to early converted tries from Max Bullen and Charlie Nicholson. Cam Taylor added a third try, and although Chew Valley, through Max Dorrington and Harry Stride, pulled back to within four points, the Saints defended stoutly to hold on.
Trowbridge 33 - 28 Launceston. Launceston lost their league opener in a five-point game at Trowbridge that was reported as a game of two halves.
Regional 2 Tribute Ale South West
North Petherton 27 - 19 Wadebridge Camels. Wadebridge were beaten by eight points on the road.
Penzance & Newlyn 62 - 7 Teignmouth. The Mennaye hosted ten home tries in a season opener that was all one way. Callum Walsh, Sam Carter and Wes Eddy each scored twice, with John Stevens, Dan Rhys Evans, Harvey Stone and Rhys Brownfield also crossing, and Brownfield kicked six conversions. They led 31-7 at the break, and full-back Evans took the man-of-the-match award. Faolan Lidstone got Teignmouth’s try.
Counties 1 Tribute Ale Western West
Camborne II 29 - 10 Saltash; Redruth II 29 - 29 Devonport Services II; St. Ives 14 - 22 Paignton; Truro 15 - 22 Kingsbridge.
Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
London Cornish 37 - 27 Old Caterhamians.
Counties 2 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Bude began the new campaign in flying style with a 64 - 5 win over St. Austell II. The other results: Launceston II 31 - 33 Liskeard-Looe; Perranporth 34 - 35 Penryn; St. Agnes 28 - 18 Newquay Hornets; St. Just 38 - 19 Falmouth; Wadebridge Camels II 13 - 39 Helston.
Counties 3 Tribute Ale Cornwall
Camborne School of Mines were awarded a home walkover against Bude II; Helston II 0 - 16 Penzance & Newlyn II; Illogan Park 17 - 29 Veor; Lankelly-Fowey 36 - 24 Hayle; Roseland 75 - 14 Falmouth II; Saltash II 57 - 38 Redruth Albany; St. Ives II 26 - 10 Bodmin.
Women’s rugby (Sunday)
Championship South West 2: Newbury Women 72 - 19 Launceston Ladies. NC 1 South West (West): Penryn Ladies 46 - 5 Paignton Ladies. NC 2 South West (West): Bude Ladies 5 - 20 Truro Women; Devonport Services Ladies 17 - 0 Camborne Women. NC 3 South West (West): Plymouth Argaum Women 12 - 15 Falmouth Women; St. Austell Ladies 53 - 10 Plymouth Albion Ladies; Helston Women 24 - 5 Wadebridge Camels Women.
Full fixtures and results are on our Full Cornish page.
Scores from englandrugby.com and trelawnysarmy.org/full-cornish. Match colour from the Cornish Pirates website (cornish-pirates.com), CornishStuff, the Camborne and Redruth club websites, St Austell RFC’s club website, the Cornish Times and The Post.
Cornish clubs have had to wait a little longer than usual for the start of the league season after the RFU delayed the start of competitive community rugby until the week commencing Monday 21st September.
File photo: James Tucker of Cornwall (Launceston) runs in a try in the Tamar Cup friendly at Brickfields, Plymouth, April 2026. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
The RFU said the decision was taken with three concerns in mind: player safety on hard pitches, fairness of competition, and certainty for clubs. In its statement it explained that “prolonged dry weather has left many grounds across the country hard and unsuitable for safe full-contact activity.”
What the delay meant
National League Rugby was allowed to permit National League 1 and 2 matches before 21st September, but Regional 1 and all lower men’s leagues had to postpone any earlier fixtures until after that date. Women’s leagues below PWR also had to reschedule fixtures falling before 21st September.
Age-grade competitions moved too, with the U18 Schools Cups starting on 28th September and the U15s on 5th October. Training was able to continue, with modified contact protocols on hard grounds, and friendlies could still go ahead where conditions allowed.
The RFU encouraged clubs to keep players involved through non-contact formats and T1 Rugby in the meantime, adding that “a delayed start to contact fixtures doesn’t mean a delayed start for your club as a whole.”
Guidance for clubs
Cornwall RFU later passed on further RFU guidance to help clubs, referee societies, schools, colleges, universities, coaches, referees and volunteers through the extra weeks. It covers assessing the safety of pitches, returning players to game fitness ahead of the competitive season, age-grade rugby and more. County Boards, schools, colleges and universities are responsible for deciding when non-RFU league and cup competitions start.
By Bill Hooper, Cornwall RFU, Polson Bridge, Launceston.
Launceston curtain-raised the new Cornish rugby season in style, winning the Tribute CRFU Super Cup at Polson Bridge on Saturday 5th September, with Penzance & Newlyn taking the runners-up spot.
The competition was played as a three-team round-robin between Launceston, Wadebridge Camels and Penzance & Newlyn, with every side playing the other two in 40-minute games split into two 20-minute halves.
The programme at Polson Bridge
LAUNCESTON V PENZANCE & NEWLYN 2:30 WADEBRIDGE CAMELS V LAUNCESTON 3:30 WADEBRIDGE CAMELS V PENZANCE & NEWLYN 4:30
Supporters were welcome at the ground for £5 (under-16s free), and the day finished with the cup presentation and medal ceremony.
Congratulations to Launceston RC on winning the Super Cup, and to Penzance & Newlyn RFC as runners-up.
With the Super Cup out of the way, the focus now turns to the league campaign, which gets under way this week after the RFU delayed the competitive community season until the week commencing 21st September. You can follow all the Cornish fixtures and results on our Full Cornish Fixtures & Results page.
Report by Bill Hooper, Cornwall RFU. Reproduced with permission from crfu.co.uk.
Cornwall claimed their eighth County Championship crown with a hard-fought five try win over a spirited Lancashire outfit at Twickenham.
For Cornwall’s Matt Shepherd it was also a fifth winners medal from his eight finals played at Twickenham.
Looking to emulate the magnificent feat of the Cornwall women’s team just a few hours earlier, Dawe’s charges fell behind inside the first 90 seconds when a ruck infringement was punished by Lancashire captain Chris Johnson.
Herbie Stupple drives through Lancashire’s Chris Johnson. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
The Heath veteran, playing in his eighth showpiece final, kicked a long-range penalty to open the scoring.
That narrow Red Rose advantage didn’t last long as with Cornwall’s first assault on their line, Shaun Buzza went over and Kyle Moyle converted.
Lancashire responded well to conceding the game’s first try and they duly opened their five- point account in the 11th minute through hooker Jack Ellam. The extras were knocked over by Johnson and Cornwall were behind.
Alex Ducker dives in under the posts. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
Two tries in three minutes then underlined Cornwall’s attacking prowess as both Alex Ducker and then Moyle crossed the whitewash. Moyle, the former Gloucester and Cornish Pirates full-back, chimed into the three-quarter line to feed Ducker who showed magnificent footwork to sit two would-be Lancashire defenders down to score near the posts. Moyle added the extras and almost from the restart, Cornwall struck again.
A scrum in the centre of field after the ball struck the referee saw Cornwall execute a training ground move with perfection. Josh Mataevesi’s short delayed pass found Dean Wills and then Shepherd with Moyle supporting to dot down.
Another seven-point score was registered and at that point Cornwall threatened to run riot but once again huge credit must go to Lancashire as they dug in magnificently. So much so that Moyle opted to kick for goal from a penalty inside the Lancashire half as the interval approached to stretch the score out to 24-10 in Cornwall’s favour.
Kyle Moyle celebrates his try. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
Lancashire would ensure that Cornwall’s lead would be down to single figures at the turnaround when powerhouse flanker Ashton Kassam-Sharples scored and Johnson converted. After the interval, Cornwall nerves would have started to jangle when Lancashire levelled up the game when full-back Sam Freeman burrowed his way over from close range for his side’s third converted try of the afternoon.
Freeman’s score came on the back of a penalty advantage for the Red Rose side which also resulted in Josh Matavesi being shown a yellow card.
Josh Matavesi stretches to dot down. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
At 24-24 and with Cornwall losing one of their many talismen, Lancashire hopes were raised that they could secure an against all odds triumph.
Moyle kicked a fine penalty from just inside the Lancashire half to edge Cornwall back in front before the game changing moment arrived in the 53rd minute. Lancashire’s Tom Ailes broke through the Cornwall defence and his brilliant offload was snared by replacement Matt Bradley. The Sale scrum-half dived for the line and he slid over, only to be denied by a truly remarkable try-saver from Wills. Held up was referee Tom Evans-Jones’ call and from the subsequent restart, Sam Matavesi delivered a captain’s knock to win a penalty and the momentum swung towards the Black and Gold.
Back from his 10 minutes on the sideline, Josh Matavesi then increased Cornwall’s lead with a powerful run off the back of an attacking line-out. The former Bath and Newcastle man reached out to place the ball on the whitewash and despite strong Lancashire protests, which led to handbags between the two sides, the try was awarded and Moyle converted.
Max Bodilly dives in for his try. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
Some real breathing space for Cornwall, who suffocated the Lancashire attack and despite the Red Rose outfit having a sustained spell of possession and multiple phases, they were nullified. With 10 minutes to go, another fine backs move resulted in Bodily cutting a superb line to score a fifth Cornwall try. The conversion was missed as Moyle recorded the only blot on his personal copybook from the tee.
Ben Priddey thought he had extended Cornwall’s lead further as the clock approached 80 minutes but the referee, in consultation with one of his tough judges, ruled that the Camborne try scoring machine had knocked on.
It was the final noteworthy action of the match and when the final whistle sounded, despite heavy rain falling under gloomy London skies, a second side in black and gold had triumphed at headquarters, in what turned out to be a truly landmark day for Cornish rugby.
Cornwall (Camborne, unless stated): Kyle Moyle, Matt Shepherd (St. Austell), Max Bodilly (London Welsh), Josh Matavesi, Alex Ducker, Dean Wills (Redruth), CJ Boyce; Tyler Gendall, Tom Cowan-Dickie (both Redruth), Sam Rodman, Mawgan Osborne, Edd Pascoe (both Redruth), Shaun Buzza, Sam Matavesi (Capt), Herbie Stupple.
Replacements: Declan Prowse (Penzance & Newlyn), Jack Andrew, Jago Sheppard, Ben Hancock (Launceston), Jordan Nicholls, Will Hennessy, Harry Larkins, Ben Priddey.
Cornwall Women produced a scintillating performance on their first ever match at the home of English rugby to defeat Durham Women in the Gill Burns Division 2 county final, reports Bill Hooper
Cornwall Women scored eight tries during the match with Cornwall’s Michaella Roberts scoring a brace in a player of the match performance. The No.8 carried time and time again, constantly making good ground putting Cornwall on the front foot against a Durham side that played their part in the final.
Despite a promising start by Cornwall it was Durham who opened the scoring with an unconverted try scored by Kathryn Barrett who slipped the Cornish defenders.
Cornwall players celebrate with Michaella Roberts after her score. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
From the beginning of the match Cornwall’s scrum had the measure of the Durham eight at the set-piece with Roberts proving a handful along with Alex Hutchings. Good Cornish pressure saw Abby Smith go close before the ball was moved wide with Faith Rowe finding Hannah Mills to dot down out wide.
Moments later Durham regained the lead when their skipper Jess Clabby sliced through the Cornwall cover, Sabrina McCann adding the conversion.
Cornwall got back to within two points when from a penalty kicked to the corner by Tori Crutchley, skipper Megan Arnold won the lineout with the pack putting in a great drive to the Durham line for Roberts to dot down.
Hannah Mills scores Cornwall’s first try. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
Cornwall then took a firm grip on the game scoring two converted tries, first of all Cornwall’s scrum shoved Durham off their own ball strong drives saw Kim Upcott pick up from a ruck and then drive towards the posts, brought down just short the prop managed to dot down under the sticks.
From the re-start Hutchings made good ground before Amy Warman’s pass found Roberts who spotted a gap and sped from her own half to score a marvellous try, Tori Crutchley added both conversions and Cornwall were suddenly 24-12 up that scoreline remained to half-time.
Cornwall brought on some fresh legs for the second half just 5 minutes in from a scrum Cornwall broke away, the ball went wide to Abby Masquelier she was brought down short, Warman re-cycled the ball to Jessie Humber who did well to ground then ball in the corner.
Durham then lost Molly Dutchburn to the sin bin for repeat offending, Cornwall made the most of the extra numbers, good play by Roberts and Hutchings saw the ball moved into the Durham twenty-two, when the ball was moved wide Georgia Hall’s pass found Masquelier who showed her pace to out flank the cover and score to put Cornwall 34-12 ahead.
Michaella Roberts about to score her second try. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
Any thoughts Cornwall had of game won were quickly dispelled. The influential Roberts found herself on the sidelines with a yellow card, Durham took full advantage when Hollie Mountain found space out wide to score, then Daisey Graham pulled back another try to bring the Northerners back to within twelve points.
Then Maggie Graham scored a fifth try for Durham with just seven minutes remaining to set Cornish nerves jangling.
Cornwall needed calm heads, they went for more! Mills, Ninnis and Upcott drove up into the Durham twenty-two before Faith Rowe picked the ball up three meters out and wriggled to the line to score, Hall’s conversion gave Cornwall some breathing space.
Abby Masquelier scores the final try. Photo Simon Bryant Iktisphoto
The icing on the cake came when Masquelier danced down the touchline to skin the tiring Durham defence and dot down with aplomb by the posts. Hall’s conversion went the wrong side of the sticks but it mattered not Cornwall were Champions and the celebrations began.
Speaking after the match Cornwall’s head coach Jo Holden was understandably delighted by her side’s performance. “We showed Cornish granite out there today, it was a game of ups and downs, we were well ahead, then got pegged back, but we showed our mettle and the support of the crowd helped us get over the line. I couldn’t be happier for our team. What a great bunch they have been, a pleasure to coach.”
Cornwall Women (Launceston unless stated): Rachel Hicks, Suz Franks, Abigail Smith, Tori Crutchley (Truro), Hannah Mills (Ivybridge), Faith Rowe (Truro), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (Capt), Jessie Humber (Ivybridge), Alex Hutchings, Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Michaella Roberts (Ivybridge).
Cornwall RFU has released a brand new 40-minute documentary, The Black & Gold – A Cornish Rugby Campaign, and it is a belter. Going behind the scenes with the Cornwall Under-20s, the film…
It is with deepest regret to announce the passing of Trelawny's Army member John Robins. He passed away on Saturday morning following a long illness.…
It is with deepest regret to announce the passing of Trelawny's Army member John Robins.
He passed away on Saturday morning following a long illness. Trelawny's Army take this opportunity to pass on their condolences to all of John's family and friends.
He was a fervent Cornwall supporter and regular traveler on our supporters coaches and will be sadly missed.
The funeral arrangements will be posted in due course.
Round-up 3-4 October 2026 – last-minute heroics A dramatic last-minute try gave the Cornish Pirates a 35 - 33 win over Ealing Trailfinders in The…
Round-up 3-4 October 2026 – last-minute heroics
A dramatic last-minute try gave the Cornish Pirates a 35 - 33 win over Ealing Trailfinders in The Championship, while Camborne (38 - 26 v London Scottish) and Redruth (36 - 31 v Taunton Titans) both won at National League level. Launceston edged Brixham 38 - 31 in Regional 1, Penzance & Newlyn won 41 - 7 at Winscombe and Wadebridge Camels beat Ivybridge 41 - 25 in Regional 2, but St....
A dramatic last-minute try gave the Cornish Pirates a 35 – 33 win over Ealing Trailfinders in The Championship, while Camborne (38 – 26 v London Scottish) and Redruth (36 – 31 v T…
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