SUNDAY FIXTURE SEES SMALL CROWD INCREASE

Despite the attraction of the autumn internationals either live or on the box, there was still plenty of local rugby to enjoy over the weekend.

I took in a couple of games, Saturday at Redruth and then on Sunday down at the Mennaye for the Cornish Pirates match against the Bedford Blues.

Let’s start at the Mennaye in the Greene King IPA Championship, this being the first match to be held on a Sunday, though it has to be said that the original fixture list always had this as a Sunday afternoon kick-off.

It was always going to be interesting to compare the attendance with that of a Friday night, which so many had vehemently opposed. I for one am not too bothered, though Sunday’s are slightly preferable to me re work.

Naturally the jury will be out for a while yet, but the official attendance of 1,609 is only marginally better than that of a Friday night.

What it tends to confirm is that the continued economic squeeze is still having an effect, despite what the politicians try to tell us, and is likely to do so for some time yet especially in Cornwall where wages are sadly low and everyone is feeling the pinch!

On the field what more could you ask for, a tremendous game played in difficult conditions with the Pirates squeezing home by a score 16-13. Scrum-half Tom Kessell snipped another try with Kieran Hallett adding the conversion and three penalties. Bill Sobey’s report from the WMN in the link.

The only downside were the injuries picked up by lock James Sandford and prop Alan Paver, who it reported has a broken arm which will keep him out of tomorrow night’s Remembrance Day fixture at the Brickfields for the Barbarians against Combined Services kick-off 7-15 pm.

Thursday evening is date of the Emergency General Meeting to be held at Redruth’s club house for all paid up members. Membership cards will need to be produced on the door to gain entry.

On the field Redruth gave another Jekyll and Hyde performance, woeful in the first half, simply outstanding in the second to overturn a half-time deficit of 25-10 into a 38-28 win at full-time.

It was the third time this season that Phil Watters has refereed at the Rec this season and as on the previous two occasions it was a mixed performance on his part, which again left seasoned players in disbelief with certain interpretations of the rules!

My match report from today’s Western Morning News can be found in the link here.

Special mention for Sam Matavesi, who is on a four week loan period from Plymouth Albion with the Reds, the former Camborne player scored two tries on his debut in a red shirt!

The other game in National League 2 South saw a welcome win on the road for the Cornish All Blacks at Southend 17-14. It sounds like it was a tempestuous affair with cards being flourished left, right and centre! Poor old skipper Ben Hilton copped a red for a second yellow card offence! Tom Rawlings & Jamie Salter scored the tries with Kieron Lewitt kicking the rest of the points. Read Nigel Walrond’s match report from today’s WMN in the link.

In Tribute South West 1West, Camborne defeated Chard 23-17. Joe Parma, Alex Ducker and Rob Floyd scored the Cherry and White’s tries with Grant Thirlby kicking a conversion and two penalties.

St. Austell ran riot at Cullompton winning 50-18! Darren Pellow and Matt Shepherd each scored two tries with Hugh Noot, Ashley Taylor, Adam Kellow and Dan Pearce also crossing for scores. Shepherd converted five scores.

Defeat at home to Weston Hornets 19-15 capped a miserable week for Wadebridge Camels who have been deducted five points by the Cornwall RFU disciplinary panel. Mark Grubb scored their only try with Josh Taylor kicking three penalties for a losing bonus point.

In Tribute Western Counties West, Penryn were the only Cornish side to taste success as they won 26-8 at Wellington. Colin Campbell and Dan Booth scored the Borough’s tries with Rob Banks kicking four penalties and two conversions.

Truro lost at high-flyers Burnham-on-Sea 20-10. Carl Ranscombe and Ashley Lawton scored unconverted tries for the City side.

St. Ives lost at leaders Ivybridge 27-11. Sam Heath got a try for the Hakes with Jacob Ninnes kicking a couple of penalties.

Bude lost at home to Teignmouth 30-20. James Comber (2) and Freddie Saxton scored the seasiders’ tries with Ollie Denford kicking a conversion and penalty.

Up in London 2 SW, London Cornish notched up another good win this time at Effingham & Leatherhead 28-22. Simon Brading (2), Tom Lloyd and Ciaran Acford scored the exiles’ tries with Tom Carter kicking two penalties and a conversion.

In Tribute Cornwall and Devon League; Saltash had a fine win against Falmouth at the Rec 33-28. Steve Hillman, Sean Crawford, Jason Carroll and Max Venables all scored tries for the Ashes, whilst Venables’ boot accounted for the rest of the points.

For the defeated Eagles, Justin Irons, Tony Whittle and Ollie Church all crossed the whitewash with Irons kicking thirteen points.

Veor beat Pirates Amateurs at Wheal Gerry 29-10. Try scorers were Shovel (2), Stone, Lancaster and a Penalty-try, whilst Mankee kicked a couple of conversions. At present no details of the Ams point scorers.

Hayle were defeated at home by Exeter Uni 34-17. Alex Thornton and Scott Harvey scored tries for the Lions with Dan Magee kicking the other points.

Injury strapped Newquay Hornets were no match for OPM’s as they lost 32-10 at the Sportscentre. Connor Riley and Nick Parnell scored the Hornets’ tries.

In Tribute Cornwall 1, Liskeard-Looe kept their un-beaten record with a 38-8 win at Lux Park against Helston.

Bodmin were held to a 17 all draw at St. Agnes, whilst Perranporth won 30-17 at Stithians.

School of Mines won at home against Roseland 33-0.

In Tribute Cornwall 2, Illogan Park continue to lead the way after a 74-5 win over Lankelly-Fowey.

Second place St. Just defeated Redruth Albany 29-10 and third place Camelford beat St. Day 26-3.

Congratulations to all the Cornwall 18 group lads who have been selected for the initial group of players for the SW Division. My understanding is eleven players are in the thirty-five man squad. The squad will eventually be trimmed to twenty-two in a couple of weeks time.

There was one Cornish based player involved in this weekend’s internationals; Cornish Pirates’ Matt Evans played full back for Canada in their 19-15 defeat to Georgia in Tbilisi.

Posted in Bill's Blog

One comment on “SUNDAY FIXTURE SEES SMALL CROWD INCREASE
  1. Stuart Hoy says:

    ……thanks Bill! Love the Round-up!!! ……Happy Birthday m’ansum! ……Hoping some more Pirates fans may stop off to see Midands1 Lichfield RFC v Malvern RFC on Saturday 30th November ko 2.15pm before their trip to Nottingham RFC on Sunday 1 December. Some already signed up for the “double header”. Perhaps you could mention as we get closer?? Cheers! Stuart Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:15:30 +0000 To: sghoy57@hotmail.com

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