Not the best start for either of our National League 2 South sides last Saturday.
Redruth’s 35-27 defeat at the Recreation Ground to demoted Cambridge was a very frustrating affair.
The Reds certainly didn’t endear themselves to referee Phil Watters who appeared to constantly penalize the home side at scrum time.
It looks like the new scrum interpretations are going to be a lottery in the lower leagues. Oh what joy!!
The frustrations boiled over with the yellow card to flanker “Kizzie” Smith in the first half for a dangerous tackle and then in the second a red card to scrum-half Greg Goodfellow for dangerous play.
Redruth kicked a lot of ball away and in truth their chase wasn’t too organised allowing players of the like of Cambridge full back Jim Wigglesworth to run back at them. Some of their tackling also left a lot to be desired!
To their credit Redruth fought their way back to come away with a try-scoring bonus point of their own, which was of some comfort to the home fans.
It could have been two points if Brett Rule’s final conversion attempt (or one of the two other kicks he missed) had gone over. C’est la vie!
Numbers for the Reds have been a problem during pre-season and I feel that manifested itself in Saturday’s performance. No doubt Director of Rugby Adrian Edwards and Head Coach Ashley Morcom will be looking for numbers this week as they build for the first local derby of the season at Launceston next Saturday.
Neither was it a good start for the Cornish All Blacks who lost 21-9 at Shelford.
They will be focused for the visit of the Reds who completed a league double over the Polson boys last season.
They will not lack for motivation to put that right next Saturday. It promises to be a full-on Cornish Derby.
In Tribute South West 1 West, Camborne got off to a fine start with a 29-23 win over Wadebridge Camels. Cameron Bone, Grant Thirlby, Leigh Hocking and a penalty-try award ensured the try-scoring bonus point as well. Dave Mankee kicking the rest of the points.
For the Camels a losing bonus point to take back to North Cornwall with tries from Will Pengelly and Sean Johns. Ryan Johns kicked the rest of the Camels’ points.
St. Austell, despite a bright start went down 31-22 at North Petherton. Mark Martin, Matt Shepherd and Paul Winterbottom scored tries for the Saints with Shepherd adding a penalty and two conversions.
In Tribute Western Counties West. A good start to the league campaign from Penryn who defeated newly promoted St. Ives 36-15. There was a hat-trick of tries for winger Alex Ducker with centre Josh Chambers and scrum-half Taron Peacock also crossing the whitewash. Jake Seviour kicked three conversions and a couple of penalties.
St. Ives, who just had a Jamie Prisk penalty to show for their efforts scored a couple of late tries through Ben Taylor and Josh Semmens with Prisk kicking a conversion.
Josh Lord’s first league game in charge of Truro ended in defeat at Ivybridge 28-12. Two late tries by the home side denied Truro a losing bonus point. Carl Ranscombe and Ieuan Boon both scored tries for the City boys with Darryl Richards adding a conversion.
Bude lost their opening fixture at Bencoolen 50-12 to Burnham-on-Sea.
In the Tribute Cornwall & Devon League; There was a good win for new boys Veor as they defeated Exeter Saracens. Arthur kicked 17 points for the home side with Shubble getting their try.
Saltash made a great start at OPM’s winning 42-15. Joe Skinnard (3), Steve Hillman (2), Max Venables and Tom Croft all scored tries for the Ashes with Venables’ boot adding the other points.
A good start for Newquay Hornets at the Sports centre as they defeated Honiton 20-16. Hopefully the Hornets will be buzzing near the top as the season progresses. A big plus is that former Brixham backs coach and recently appointed backs coach to the Cornwall County side Ian Morgan is helping out with Newquay this season.
Tiverton pipped Hayle 27-25 with a last-gasp conversion earning the win. Doug Arnull, Tallan Daniels and Lewis Laity scored tries for the Lions with Martin Strick kicking the rest of the points.
Pirates Amateurs lost at the Mennaye 38-15 to a useful looking Exeter University side that won promotion from Devon 1 last season and may well feature near the top of the table once again.
Kelvin James and Nick Hitchens scored tries for the Ams with James also adding a conversion and a penalty.
In the RFU National Junior Vase, Bodmin had a walk over as St. Agnes couldn’t raise a side. Helston beat St. Just 34-10, Liskeard & Looe beat Illogan Park 29-0 and Stithians defeated Perranporth 14-6.
The Cornish Pirates ended their pre-season with a 58-7 win over Bath University at Bath’s Recreation Ground.
