News that the Barbarians are looking to play Australia in match at Wembley Stadium to celebrate the Olympic ruby final of 1908 on Saturday December 6th 2008 will be welcome news to all Cornish rugby fans. Those that know their rugby history will be aware that the side the Wallabies defeated to win the goal medal were the English County champions that season, Cornwall by 32-3 at the now long gone White City Stadium in London. Let’s all hope that this match comes about.
Speaking of Cornwall a Development XV took on Redruth Development XV at the Recreation Ground on Sunday afternoon with the Reds running out winners 38-12. The Reds scored five tries through Josh Morgan, Steve Wood, Brett Rule, Ben Fox and Nick Simmons with Grant Thirlby kicking all five conversions and a penalty. For Cornwall Ollie Faulkner (Mount’s Bay) and Dan Prout (Cornish All Blacks) scored tries with David Mankee (Camborne) kicking a conversion.
It wasn’t a happy weekend for our National League clubs as all four lost. On Sunday the Cornish Pirates played Nottingham who had defeated them earlier in the season at Camborne by one point. Despite their best endeavours the Pirates were unable to get revenge as they slipped to a 24-17 defeat at Meadow Lane. Ed Fairhurst and Brian Tuohy scored the Pirates’ tries with Gareth Steenson kicking both conversions and a penalty. Talking of the Pirates mention must be made to congratulate Robin Turner on his election as club President in succession to Dicky Evans last Monday evening along with the confirmation that Mark Hewitt had been given a 2-year contract as head coach.
The Cornish All Blacks suffered a 29-17 reversal at Polson Bridge against Coventry on Saturday. The defeat was compounded with the news that they have lost their fly-half Scott Ireland for the rest of the season as he suffered a broken tibia and fibia. Trailing 19-5 at half-time the All Blacks were always up against it. The home side scored three tries all through the forwards through Josh Lord, on-loan Gavin Quinnell and Neil Clark. Jon Fabian converted the final try.
Redruth had an away trip, which they will want to forget quickly losing 40-14 at Westcombe Park in National League 2, a performance that left coach Nigel Hambly fuming, looks like it’s going to be a tough couple of weeks for the Reds on the training park before their next league game at home to Halifax. The Reds shipped six tries and only managed to score one in reply through Mark Bright. Luke Cozens kicked three penalties.
Mount’s Bay lost at home for the first time in the league this season when Ealing Trailfinders won 15-13 at the Mennaye. Lee Jarvis, who announced this week that he will be leaving the club at the end of this season to take up a post with Cardiff RFC, missed with a conversion attempt, which would have tied the scores. Richard Carroll and Ben Hilton scored the tries for Bay with Jarvis kicking a penalty. Cinderford could only draw with Dings Crusaders so Bay are still top four points clear.
St. Ives suffered another heavy defeat in South West 1 this time at Reading by 79-5, Dean Rainey scoring the Hakes only try in the second half. The end of the season can’t come quick enough for them. We all hope they can regroup next season and come back.
South West 2 West basement side Camborne got no joy on their trip to Barnstaple losing 38-0 in North Devon
The picture is a little rosier thankfully in Western Counties West, Wadebridge Camels ran in nine tries against poor old doomed Penryn running out 56-0 winners. Dan Briskham (2), Gary Gynn (2), Ben May (2), Matt Angwin, Jamie Kneale and Shaun Hawkey scored the Camels’ tries with Jake McCarroll kicking the other points. The win lifts the Camels to third just outside the promotion/play-off spot.
Bude had a feisty old affair at Bencoolen Meadow against Ivybridge winning 7-3, Paul Williams scored and converted his own try for all of Bude’s points.
Hayle lost 26-0 at Kingsbridge to remain in the bottom two.
Up in London in London 3 SW, London Cornish enjoyed a fine 35-11 win over Winchester. Once again you can read Dickon Moon’s report in the forums.
In the Cornwall & Devon League Newquay Hornets maintain their one point lead at the top over Cullompton following their 25-9 win at Crediton. Ashley Mann (2), James Ingle and Luke Bazeley scored the Hornets’ tries, Ryan Johns kicked a penalty and conversion to complete the score for the Hornets. Truro had a good win at bottom side Teignmouth by 49-3 whilst Falmouth lost on the road up at Bideford by 23-15, Justin Doney and Andy Knight got the Chiefs’ tries with James Instance kicking the points.
As it was T.A.S.C.’s presentation day on Saturday at Cornwall 1 clubs, I took in the Stithians against Perranporth league game were the homeside ran out worthy winners by 50-19, Lewis Vague (3), Andrew Creeden (2), Ben Waters, and Ben Keay scored the tries for Stithians with Martin Strick kicking six conversions and a penalty. For Perranporth Paul Martin, Ben Parker and Chas Buscombe scored tries with Addy Matthews and Johnny Smeedon kicking conversions.
Round Four of the RBS 6 Nations takes place this weekend, on Saturday in the first match at Croke Park I expect Wales to complete the Triple Crown with a 25-20 win over Ireland. Up at Murrayfield in the Calcutta Cup match I think England will prove too strong for Scotland and I take them to win 27-12. Finally on Sunday in the all Latin encounter at Stade de France, France are likely to run Italy off their feet and I think they will win 49-7. We shall no doubt see!!
