In retrospect perhaps the cold snap should have contined a little while longer as all three of our National League clubs involved in action over the weekend lost!
Wharfedale’s last gasp win at Redruth on Saturday has opened up the National League 2 title chase once again. The Dalesman 15-14 win was a deserved victory, both sides came to play rugby, sadly for Redruth they gave an error-strewn performance, though I do feel that Redruth’s head coach is a little hard on himself shouldering the blame in his post match comments after the game. At the end of the day once, the players cross the whitewash it’s up to them to play the game, I feel sure that they will look at their performance and agree it was not one that they will be proud of, and will be keen to put matters right Saturday week up at Polson against the Cornish All Blacks. As Hambly went on to comment it’s only a game of rugby with far worse things happening in the world.
Sadly Hambly’s comments didn’t have to stretch from the world of rugby this weekend as less than 24 hours after Redruth’s defeat, news came across the channel of the sad death of a rugby player in a French Federale 1 game between Cahors and Perigueux. Perigueux’s Tongan back row player Feao Latu, 28 years old, collapsed after 17 minutes of the game from a suspected heart attack. I am sure everyone connected with Cornish rugby will wish to send their condolences to the player’s family and the Perigueux club at this very sad time.
The Cornish All Blacks made the long trip to Tynedale as their game survived a late pitch inspection to go ahead. The northeners as you would expect adapted far better to the conditions to race into a 29-7 half-time lead. The visitors had a Jason Luff try and a Mal Roberts conversion on the board. An early second half penalty by Roberts cut the deficit before they were awarded a penalty try, Roberts adding the extras but that was as close as they got as Tynedale claimed all five points.
On Sunday the Cornish Pirates almost pulled off a win at Meadow Lane against Nottingham with Dicky Evans looking on from the stands. Leading 19-9 with fourteen minutes to go the Pirates coaching team made a triple replacement, which disturbed the balance of the team , allowing Nottingham to score two converted tries to pinch the game 23-19! For the Pirates Rhys Jones kicked four penalties and a conversion whilst scrum-half Nicky Griffiths knicked in for a try.
A very much reduced program in the Tribute regional leagues due to the weather. In South West 2 West, St. Ives went down to another defeat in South Devon losing at Torquay Athletic 24-15, Will Dirksen and Louis Stevens scored tries for the Hake with Karl Martin kicking a conversion and a penalty.
In Western Counties West, just one game involving a Cornish club was played as third placed Wadebridge Camels hosted first placed Cullompton. In a close exciting game the Devon side came out on top 20-5, Rob Hawkey getting the Camels only try.
Only one game in the Cornwall & Devon League played at Falmouth where Hayle won 10-0 with flanker Steve Pointon scoring the Lions’ try with Paul Lello adding the conversion and a penalty.
