Camborne on Trevithick Day is probably not the best time to play your final league game of the season, the weather certainly didn’t help as the Pirates lost to London Welsh 10-8 in a very average game, which will only live in the memory for the sole fact that we said farewell to a good number of the present squad, non more so than Heino Senekal and Iva Motusaga whom have been immense during their time with the Pirates. Today’s confirmation as well that Bertrand Bedes has signed for Bristol next season. Bon vent Bertrand.
The defeat to their National League 1 opponents left the Cornish Pirates with a 7th place finish in the final table. Trailing 3-0 at half-time to an Aled Thomas penalty, the Pirates conceeded a penalty try early in the second half after a series of collapsed scrums near their line, Thomas’ conversion giving the Welsh exiles a 10-0 lead. And that’s how it stayed untill 10 minutes from the end as finally Marika Vakacegu, another making his final apperence in a Pirates shirt, flew in to score a fine try. Rhys Jones couldn’t land the conversion, but he did a penalty a few minutes later, but that was as close as the Pirates would get.
So a lot of work for the new coaching team prior to the start of the Championship next season. Brett Davey had this to say about his time in the Duchy. “I have enjoyed it here, it’s been frustrating at times and there are a few things I would change. But what you have here is a good supporter base, it just needs a stadium. I think the stadium for Cornwall is massive, I don’t think you can underestimate how important it is because with that you are not just talking about the Pirates being a Championship side, but possibly one of the top sides in England, that is how important it is.
“I think you would get the cream from a lot of places with a great support base. You only have to look at Munster, it is a very, very similar situation. It’s very parochial and you have an idenity here. It needs one thing. Hopefully that one thing will come but that’s for other people to decide.”
In National League 2, Birmingham & Solihull duly confirmed their promotion to the Championship next season with a 31-7 win over long time league front runners Redruth. Redruth’s first-half try was scored by Damien Cook with Brett Rule adding the conversion.
Despite this Redruth finish up in 3rd place their highest ever placing in the league structure.
The Cornish All Blacks, after a string of poor results finally nailed a win with a 33-23 win over Southend at Polson. The All Blacks scored five tries through Tom Rawlings, Hamish Smales (2), Jason Luff and Gary Kingdom. Adam Staniforth anf Jon Fabian kicked the conversions. A result that leaves Launceston 6th for the moment though Cinderford could overtake them as they have two games still to play.
Mount’s Bay ended the season as they began with a defeat to Tynedale this time going down 32-14 at the Mennaye. Dan Hawkes and Sam Roberts scored Bay’s tries with Hawkes adding the conversion. Bay will look to re-group next season a rung below in National 2 South.
Liskeard and Looe were the only Cornish side involved in the league play-offs this season and the Lions duly secured a spot in the Cornwall & Devon League next season with a 20-0 win over Torrington at Lux Park, thanks to tries from Lewis Elliot, Baz Hocking and Andy Sheer. Hocking adding a conversion and penalty.
There was a great deal of anxiety on Saturday evening when news came through of Graham Dawe’s injury. We were all delighted to hear yesterday that Dawsey had been released from hospital. Dawsey hang those boots up m’ ansome, you’ve done enough!!
A great evening on Saturday at the Lostwithiel Golf and Country Club when Trelawny’s Army hosted members of the 1999 County Champioship winning team. Although not everyone was able to make the evening a great time was had by those who could make it. It was great to see Deano, Jimmy Tucker, Jason Atkinson and the others once more. A great night.