Photo by Rodney Parrish, TASC ball presentation to Bude
On a glorious spring day the Cornish Pirates put on one of their best displays of the season in defeating last season’s defeated Championship finalists Doncaster Knights 34-17 to keep their play-off hopes alive with two rounds remaining of the league season.
First half tries courtesy of a penalty-try award and a couple of rapier thrusts from Max Bodilly and Kyle Moyle with Laurence May bettering tow of the three tries left the Pirates with a healthy 19-10 lead at half-time.
That was soon improved on when Moyle scored his second try and ensure the bonus point. May then added a penalty before rounding off the scoring by converting his own try.
The only disappointing aspect was the dislocated shoulder picked up hooker Jack Innard which will now curtail his season. Fortunately Tom Channon is due back from injury and will feature against Richmond on April 8th.
In National League 2 South, Redruth made the long trip to leaders Bishop’s Stortford and returned back to Cornwall empty-handed suffering a 32-7.
Jack Oulton scored a consolation try near the end converted by Brett Rule.
With Taunton winning, Redruth slip to fifth place in the table with four games to play.
In National League 3 SW, Camborne kept the pressure on Dings Crusaders for the play-off place with 22-21 win against Bracknell.
Town’s tries came from Josh Semmens, Ashley Lawton, Dave Mankee and Rhys Brownfield with Brownfield kicking a conversion in the tricky wind.
Launceston’s hopes of avoiding relegation were dealt a cruel blow as Brixham scored a converted try in time added on to win 18-17.
The Cornish All Blacks scored tries through Martin Kneebone, Lloyd Duke and Chris Macdonald with Fraser Honey adding a conversion.
It leaves Launceston seven points adrift of Lydney and safety prior to the All Blacks trip to Regentsholm on Saturday.
Truro’s faint hopes of making the play-off in Tribute Western Counties West are all but extinguished following their 24-15 defeat at home to Cullompton.
Truro fielded a changed line up faced with a Cornwall Cup semi-final the next day at Wadebridge Camels.
Ethan Tyler and Matt Cross scored tries for the home side with “Eggy” Williams kicking a conversion and a penalty.
Wadebridge Camels were much in the same boat as they lost at home to Crediton 27-20.
Camels tries came from Rhys Bright, Jack Scott and Christian Cotton with James Grubb kicking a penalty and conversion.
Photo by Rodney Parrish, TASC ball presentation to the Hakes
Bude did their hopes of avoiding a swift return to the Cornwall & Devon League some good with a bonus point win at home against St. Ives 35-22.
Dan Pearce scored three of his side’s tries with Ryan Vincent and Olly Mounce scoring the others. Pearce also kicked tow penalties and a couple of conversions.
For St. Ives, Tom Chandler, Archie Mackay and Jordan Gott all crossed for tries with Gott adding two conversions and a penalty.
St. Austell had a resounding win 62-5 at home to Torquay Athletic scoring ten tries. Toby Robinson and Miles Davey each scored a brace with Adam Kellow, Hugh Noot, Ian Venner, George Knowles, Shane Johns and Mark Martin all joining in the scoring. Andy Ashwin kicked six conversions.
In London 2 SW, a fine defensive performance underpinned another bonus point win for Champions London Cornish, five tries on the road enough to see off mid table Winchester by 32-5. Tries were scored by Rich Stephens, George Kimmins with two, Mark Osei-Tutu and Matt Hakes, Kimmins adding two conversions and a penalty.
In Tribute Cornwall & Devon League, it looks like that despite a fine 67-14 win at Tavistock Falmouth cannot yet pop the champagne corks and celebrate the league title.
Despite losing AJ Geach to a red card mid-way through the first half when the Eagles led 26-7, the visitors were in no mood to buckle and pressed their foot on the pedal even harder.
In the end Seb Firth (3), Tom Edmonds (2), Tom Simmons, Dan Hubble, Tom Spiller, Mark Lea, David Jones and Hugo Page scored the tries with Justyn Irons slotting six conversions.
Pirates Amateurs couldn’t do Saltash any favours as they went down 44-15 at the Mennaye to second place Paignton. The Amateurs scored three good tries through Steve Evans, Hitchens and Lonsdale.
Saltash kept the pressure on Paignton with a 62-17 win over relegated Topsham, Dom Mulberry, Steve Hillman, Phil Eatwell (2), Nick Blake (2), Ryan Cruickshanks, Kieran Down, Simon Nance and Ben Stean all crossed form tries with Harrison Reburn (4), Blake and Down kicking six conversions.
Penryn boosted their morale with a 31-27 win at Withycombe. Borough’s tries came via Grant Randlesome, James Salisbury (2) and Will Gibson, all converted by Mitch Vague who also landed a penalty.
Lanner pulled off another fine win this time at Plymouth Argaum 22-16. Adam Kevern, Adam Harris and Dave Hewitt scored tries with Nick Prout kicking the other points.
Bottom of the table Tamar Saracens 12-9 win over Bodmin did the Cornish side no favours and sees them slip into the bottom three.
In Tribute Cornwall 1, Hayle clinched the title in style defeating Helston 82-7 scoring twelve tries. Congratulations to the Lions who have bounced back into the Cornwall & Devon League at the first attempt.
Newquay Hornets remain in second after their 31-7 win in the North Coast derby at St. Agnes.
Liskeard-Looe are just two points behind Hornets following their win 44-17 over Roseland.
Camborne School of Mines defeated Veor 44-17 to put paid to the visitor’s outside hopes of a play-off place.
In Tribute Cornwall 2, leaders Illogan Park were given a fright at Stithians before emerging 22-20 winners.
They remain four points ahead of Lankelly-Fowey who beat St. Just 48-24.
Lankelly-Fowey travel to Illogan Park this Saturday, for what looks set to be a title decider and looking to repeat their 34-16 win earlier in the season.
Perranporth had a walkover against Camelford.
On Sunday the second Tribute Cornwall Cup semi-final was played at Wadebridge and it was the Camels that came through against Truro 42-31 thanks to tries from Matt Ballard (2), Adam Blackmore (2), Joe Pretty, Mike Rawlings and Harry Smith. James Grubb kicking the other seven points.
Well done to the Camels who will now face St. Austell in the final on Easter Monday at Redruth RFC.