NO WHERE else to start this week than with St Austell’s win over Wimborne in the Final of the SW Intermediate Cup Final 14-8.
The win puts them in an away tie at either Brighton or North Walsham, neither of which will be easy, with the winner playing against the North/Midlands winners in the final at Twickenham.
That is in the future let’s savour the present. The Saints roared on by over 700 at Tregorrick were thrilled when Matt Shepherd kicked three penalties to give his side a 9-0 lead.
Despite Wimborne reducing the deficit with a penalty. St. Austell moved further ahead thanks to a try from Paul Winterbottom.
Despite being reduced to thirteen men with Winterbottom and Adam Kellow in the bin. Saints held fourteen man Wimborne until five minutes to play when the visitors scored an un-converted try.
That was as close as they got and St Austell held on for a famous win. More on the win from the Saint’s website in the link
In the RFU Championship a depleted Cornish Pirates’ side made the long trek to Kingston Park to take on leaders Newcastle Falcons. Aaron Penberthy back in a Pirates’ shirt for the first time since last November kicked the Cornish sides’ only points with a first-half penalty. Falcons ran out 50-3 winners. Read Phil Westren’s match report in the link
In National League 2 Redruth played one of their catch up games taking on and beating Barking 46-17. Eight tries for the Reds. However, and I hold my hand up as the guilty one, Darren Jacques only scored one not two of the Reds’ tries the other should have gone to skipper Chris Fuca! Tom Duncan did score three more tries to take him up to eighteen for the season, so Fucs has still got some catching up to do!! Read my report in the link.
Elsewhere, despite neither of our sides playing in Tribute South West 1, North Petherton regained top spot from Camborne despite dropping points in 25 all draw at Oldfield Old Boys. They are a point ahead with a game in hand.
In Tribute Western Counties West Bude won at home against Honiton 31-8. Despite trailing 8-3 at half-time the North Cornwall side ran in four converted second half tries from Freddie Saxton, Will Kingdon, Joe Wilson and Dan Pearce who added the other points with the boot.
Truro’s win at Ivybridge helped Bude leap over the Devon side in the league. Truro won 27-23. Former Redruth player Mark Lea (2), Will Martin and Jack Tidball scored Truro’s tries with Chevy Reed’s boot adding the rest of the points.
In the Tribute Cornwall & Devon League, St. Ives got back to winning ways with a 27-16 win at Withycombe. Ben Taylor, Neil Corin, Josh Semmens and Sam Heath scored the Hakes tries with Ceiron Thomas kicking the rest of the points. The win consolidates St. Ives in second place.
Hayle won the all Cornish encounter at Newquay Hornets 16-12. Martin Strick scored all the Lions points with a try conversion and three penalties. For Hornets Perry Hughes and Connor Riley scored tries with Liam Freeman kicking a conversion.
Liskeard/Looe lost at Crediton 32-5. Baz Hocking with their only try.
Pirates Amateurs won at Wessex 35-6. Kevin Brownfield, Dan Lugg, Craig Stephens, Steve Kent and Josh Hoare scored the tries and Rhys Brownfield converted the lot.
Just one game in Tribute Cornwall 1 saw Stithians defeat St Agnes 38-5.
In Tribute Cornwall 2, leaders Bodmin were awarded a walk/over against St Day.
Saturday saw the annual Bottle Match between Royal School of Mines and Camborne School of Mines played up in London. Sadly CSM couldn’t bring the bottle back to Cornwall as RSM won 24-8 to retain the trophy for third successive year.
Cornish Pirates now know their quarter-final opponents in the British & Irish Cup, and it will be a repeat of the very first final as Munster will travel to the Mennaye on SUNDAY 7TH APRIL. The kick-off time will made known nearer the date as the game is subject to SKY SPORTS possible coverage.
CORNWALL U.20’S game against Devon will take place on Sunday 17th March kick-off 3 pm at Plymouth Albion’s Brickfields ground.
CORNWALL now know the venues of their AWAY games in this season’s BILL BEAUMONT CUP. Gloucestershire on Saturday May 4th at CINDERFORD RFC. Kent at MEDWAY RFC on Saturday May 11th both games kick-off at 3 pm.
Finally despite no Cornish interest this time round congratulations to England Counties for their win against France Federale at Ealing on Friday evening 27-7. It was the first time these two sides have played each other since 2010. Counties win sees them win back the Jean-Claude Baque Cup. For the record Blackheath’s Rory Teague kicked 17 points with tries scored by Olly Marchon (Old Albanians) and Nev Edwards (Rosslyn Park). For France lock Anthony Potente (Lavaur) scored a try with fly-half Julien Lavie (Langon) adding the conversion.