With both teams resting players involved in promotion battles and cup- tie commitments, forward power, and the boot of Okehampton's full back Arnie Searle, won the day for Devon. Cornwall were without their star players from Launceston and Penzance & Newlyn, both engaged in promotion chasing, and Devon were without their Barnstaple players, still in the NPI Cup and still with an outside chance of promotion.
In heavy conditions, Devon opted to play it tight and rely on their large forwards to grind out victory. They were on top of the battle during the first half but could only manage one score, a penalty by Searle which gave them a 3-0 half-time lead.
In the second half Cornwall came more into the game, but two penalty kicks by Steve Larkins of Redruth were fired wide either side of a successful second penalty kick by Searle. In the 57th minute, Cornwall took the lead when replacement flanker Ian Boase (Redruth) turned over a Devon attack deep in the Cornish half. The ball was swiftly fed to winger Nick Edyvean (Redruth) who beat the Devon defence in the race to the corner for a try converted by Larkins.
After 63 minutes came the winning Devon score when Searle put over a long penalty chance from just inside the Cornish half. One minute later a Larkins penalty attempt to put Cornwall back in the lead bounced back into the field of play off the crossbar. Cornwall now piled forward. Right wing Andy Hymans of Penryn came agonisingly close to scoring, and Edyvean just failed to hold a difficult pass with only 2 minutes to go and the line at his mercy.
This match was played in atrocious conditions. For the players there was a strong wind, thick drizzle and rain to contend with, and for the spectators there was fog.
Cornwall's opening score came from a long-range penalty kick by Steve Larkins (Penzance\Newlyn) followed by a try by Redruth winger Nick Edyvean, converted by Larkins. A second successful penalty kick by Larkins and one from Oxfordshire's fly-half Ashley Tapper made the half- time score 13-3 in Cornwall's favour.
In the second half Oxfordshire, with the wind at their backs, came more into the game but Cornwall ensured themselves of victory in the 60th minute when Cornwall captain Dean Shipton (Launceston) was driven over by the pack. With 2 minutes to go Oxfordshire pulled back three points with a second successful penalty kick from Tapper.
Cornwall team:
S. Larkins (Redruth), P. Redgrave, P.
Gadson, S. Evans (all Pz/Newlyn), N. Edyvean (Redruth), J. Tucker (Launceston),
M. Roderick (Pz/Newlyn), P. Risdon (Launceston), B. Andrew (Pz/Newlyn), R.
Tonkin (Truro), L. Mruk, K. Moseley (both Pz/Newlyn), M. Addinall (Penryn), K.
Penrose (Camborne), D. Shipton (Launceston, capt.).
Replacements: A.
Birkett, B. Lucas (both Launceston), S. Whitworth, N. Douch (both Redruth), M.
Goldsmith (Pz/Newlyn), M. Murley (Reading).
The Cornwall team set themselves up for a "winner take all" final pool match against Sussex after a solid home win over a Berkshire side consisting of heavyweight forwards and skilful backs drawn mainly from the Reading, Newbury, and Bracknell clubs.
The Cornwall selectors made wholesale changes for this match, some forced by injury but others prompted by the less-than-impressive display against Oxfordshire in the first group game. Out went hooker Brian Andrew, winger Nick Edyvean, centre Paul Gadson (injured), prop Richard Tonkin (injured), and lock Lee Mruk (injured). In came Andy Birkett of Launceston, winning his first cap at full-back, with Steve Larkins switching to the left wing. In came John Thomas of Penzance/Newlyn at prop, Andy Joint of Redruth at lock, and veteran Jason Atkinson at flanker. Stuart Whitworth retained the fly-half''s berth, having replaced the disappointing Jimmy Tucker in the first group game. Tucker replaced Gadson at centre.
This was a far better display by Cornwall. Forwards and backs combined well, there were far fewer handling errors, and the more mobile Cornish forwards were more than a match for the juggernaut Berkshire pack. Jimmy Tucker was back to his elusive best. John Thomas, winning his first cap, was rock-solid at tighthead prop.
Cornwall got off to a dream start when winger Peter Redgrave (Penzance/Newlyn) went over after only 90 seconds, with Steve Larkins adding the extras. From then on, Cornwall captain Dean Shipton (Launceston) led the way with two tries, and there was one apiece for Andy Joint (Redruth) and Jimmy Tucker (Launceston). Steve Larkins (Redruth) converted two more of the tries and also struck over a penalty kick. Berkshire's score came from three tries, one conversion and a penalty.
Cornwall team:
A. Birkett (Launceston), P. Redgrave
(Pz/Newlyn), J. Tucker (Launceston), S. Evans (Pz/Newlyn), S. Larkins
(Redruth), S. Whitworth (Redruth), M. Roderick (Pz/Newlyn), P. Risdon
(Launceston), B. Lucas (Launceston), J. Thomas (Pz/Newlyn), A. Joint (Redruth),
K. Moseley (Pz/Newlyn), J. Atkinson (Pz/Newlyn), K. Penrose (Camborne), D.
Shipton (Launceston, capt.).
Replacements: N. Edyvean (Redruth), E.
Nancekivell (Launceston), B. Andrew (Pz/Newlyn), N. Douch (Redruth), M.
Addinall (Penryn), M. Murley (Reading).
This was an impressive performance by Cornwall. In front of 1500 flag-waving travelling Cornish supporters, they overwhelmed a Sussex side that had previously seen off Berkshire (24 - 12) and Oxfordshire (24 - 13). The Cornish forwards were just too strong and determined, the backs too skilful for a Sussex side drawn mainly from the Hayward's Heath club.
Cornwall made three changes for this game, two of them forced by injury. Nick Edyvean (Redruth) came in for Peter Redgrave at right wing, and Glynn Hutchings (Launceston) replaced Andrew Joint at lock. Neil Grigg came in for his Launceston teammate Barry Lucas at hooker. Danny Sloman, now with Moseley, and Launceston stalwarts J.J. Wilcocks and Steve Rush were added to the replacements.
Cornwall, playing up the slope, had far the better of the first half, spending long periods encamped in Sussex territory. Left wing Steve Larkins (Penzance/Newlyn), who impressed all afternoon with his strong running, drew first blood when he struck over a penalty. This was followed by another try from Larkins and one by Andy Birkett (Launceston), both unconverted. Then Sussex, who had hardly ventured into the Cornwall half, scored the try of the game when winger Sam Cole (Lewes) jinked his way through half the Cornish team to score under the posts. Cornwall extended their lead with another penalty by Larkins, making the score at half-time Sussex 7 Cornwall 16.
The second half saw more of the same. The Cornish forwards were dominant, and the defence generally sound. The ball was recycled well, and play spread across the pitch to stretch the Sussex defence. Cornwall clinched victory with a try by Steve Evans (Penzance\Newlyn), a Larkins penalty and a push-over try touched down by Cornwall captain Dean Shipton (Launceston), converted by Larkins. Sussex piled on all six substitutes and were rewarded with a late consolation try to make the final score 31 - 12 in Cornwall's favour.
Cornwall team:
A. Birkett (Launceston), N.Edyvean
(Redruth), J. Tucker (Launceston), S. Evans (Pz/Newlyn), S. Larkins (Redruth),
S. Whitworth (Redruth), M. Roderick (Pz/Newlyn), P. Risdon (Launceston), N.
Grigg (Launceston), J. Thomas (Pz/Newlyn), G. Hutchings (Launceston), K.
Moseley (Pz/Newlyn), J. Atkinson (Pz/Newlyn), K. Penrose (Camborne), D. Shipton
(Launceston, capt.).
Replacements: D. Sloman (Moseley), B. Lucas
(Launceston), S. Rush (Launceston), J. Wilcocks (Launceston), M. Addinall
(Penryn).
In an all-action game, Cornwall emerged victorious but not before causing their supporters all kinds of agony. Kent fielded a team drawn largely from the Westbourne Park club, who won London Division 1 this year without losing a game.
Kent started nervously and for the first 20 minutes Cornwall were all over them, scoring three tries from Kevin Penrose (Camborne), Andy Birkett (Launceston) and Steve Larkins (Redruth). Unfortunately, Danny Sloman (Moseley), brought in in place of Nick Edyvean on the wing to bolster the Cornish kicking, had a rare off day and failed to kick any of the conversions (all of which were difficult). Sloman was eventually substituted by Roly Nancekivell in the second half. Kent hit back with a try by Peter Macauley and by the half-time whistle were starting to look dangerous.
After the break Cornwall seemed to have made the match safe when they went into a 22-5 lead after a Mark Roderick (Penzance\Newlyn) try, converted by Sloman. However, Kent had other ideas and twice man-of-the-match Macauley sliced through an uncertain Cornish defence to score, both tries converted by Derek Coates. Suddenly Cornwall's lead was down to 22-19.
Kent winger Graham Askley went down injured after a tackle with a badly dislocated knee. Play was held up for 25 minutes while the Air Ambulance landed on the pitch to take him to hospital. The 25 minute wait for the game to restart did nothing for the nerves of the Cornish supporters as they reflected how a 17 point lead had been reduced to just 3 points.
On the restart Birkett extended Cornwall's lead to 6 points with a drop goal and then with 4 minutes to go, and much to the relief of the home crowd, Larkins dropped on a loose ball to put Cornwall 11 points to the good. Still Kent fought back and in the dying moments of the game Macauley once again burst through the Cornish defence for his fourth try to make the final score 30-24 to Cornwall.
Cornwall team:
A. Birkett (Launceston), D. Sloman
(Moseley), J. Tucker (Launceston), S. Evans (Pz/Newlyn), S. Larkins (Redruth),
S. Whitworth (Redruth), M. Roderick (Pz/Newlyn), P. Risdon (Launceston), N.
Grigg (Launceston), J. Thomas (Pz/Newlyn), G. Hutchings (Launceston), K.
Moseley (Pz/Newlyn), J. Atkinson (Pz/Newlyn), K. Penrose (Camborne), D. Shipton
(Launceston, capt.).
Replacements: R. Nancekivell (Launceston), B. Lucas
(Launceston), S. Rush (Launceston), J. Wilcocks (Launceston), P. Gadsdon
(Penzance\Newlyn), L. Mruk (Penzance\Newlyn).
Cornwall stormed their way into a County Championship final against Gloucestershire at Twickenham with their best performance of the season. County champions Cheshire, who beat Cornwall in the final last season, stood no chance against a Cornish team determined to redress the balance. Dean Shipton of Launceston, the Cornwall captain, was outstanding, as was Trelawny's Army Player of the Year Martyn Addinall (Penryn). And the rest of the team? Outstanding as well.
Cheshire fielded a similar team to last year, with players from National League 1 teams making up the bulk. Cornwall were definitely the underdogs for this match.
Cornwall made three changes from the team that beat Kent in the quarter-final. Nat Saumi, the Penzance/Newlyn fullback and Fijian international, came in on the right wing in place of Danny Sloman. Colin Laity of Exeter came in at centre in place of Steve Evans. The only other change was in the back row, where Martyn Addinall, seemingly back to full fitness and power, returned in place of Kevin Penrose of Camborne.
Cornwall opened their score with two Steve Larkins (Redruth) penalties within the first twenty minutes. Then came the first of the tries as the backs linked to send Saumi in at Hellfire Corner. A try from Jason Atkinson (Penzance\Newlyn) to a penalty and a try by Cheshire put Cornwall 16 - 6 up at the break.
The Cornish defence, slightly suspect against Kent, had been far steelier in this game, the attack more inventive. Cornwall were playing some great 15-man rugby, attacking from all over the field and often running the ball from deep in their own half. The whole team oozed determination. This was a match Cornwall were not going to lose! No-one was more psyched up than captain Dean Shipton, whose enthusiasm sometimes caused him rather unwisely to question the referee's decisions.
Early in the second half Kevin Moseley (Penzance\Newlyn) crashed over for Larkins to convert. Then Cheshire briefly caused a flutter in the hearts of the Cornish supporters when a penalty and a converted try brought them to within seven points of the Cornish score. But Cornwall held firm and pulled away again with a try by Laity and a conversion by Saumi. In injury time Lee Mruk (Penzance\Newlyn) was driven over the line to touch down Cornwall's fifth try.
It would be invidious to pick out individuals in what was essentially a team performance. The backs made their tackles and attacked with verve. The pack were solid as a rock -- more than once shunting the big Cheshire forwards back at a rate of knots. The back row, as ever, were outstanding.
Twickenham here we come, and we're bringing our other County Championship finalists with us. It's Cornwall v Yorkshire in the Under 21 County Championship final and Cornwall v Gloucestershire in THE County Championship final. Both matches are on May 22nd. Be there! KERNOW BYS VYKEN!
Cornwall team:
A. Birkett (Launceston), N. Saumi
(Pz/Newlyn), J. Tucker (Launceston), C. Laity (Exeter), S. Larkins (Redruth),
S. Whitworth (Redruth), M. Roderick (Pz/Newlyn), P. Risdon (Launceston), N.
Grigg (Launceston), J. Thomas (Pz/Newlyn), G. Hutchings (Launceston), K.
Moseley (Pz/Newlyn), J. Atkinson (Pz/Newlyn), M. Addinall (Penryn), D. Shipton
(Launceston, capt.).
Replacements: P. Gadsdon (Penzance\Newlyn), E.
Nancekeivell (Launceston), S. Rush (Launceston), B. Lucas (Launceston), L. Mruk
(Penzance\Newlyn), K. Penrose (Camborne).
Cornwall will start the new millennium as rugby champions of England. In the 99th County Championship final, they overcame Gloucestershire 24 - 15 to win the title for only the third time in their history.
It was a nail-biting match. The big Gloucestershire pack had the edge in the set scrums and the lineouts. The Cornish forwards were quicker around the pitch, the Cornish backs more creative. The final try count was two-nil to Cornwall, which just about reflected the two sides' attacking skills. However, too often promising Cornish moves were thwarted by handling errors; too much ground was lost by an inabilty to win good line-out ball, or indeed any line-out ball at all.
Cornwall drew first blood after 5 minutes when Steve Larkins stroked home a penalty. Gloucestershire replied with interest when centre Lee Osborne kicked two . Larkins struck back with his second successful kick, then Cornish captain Dean Shipton flicked a quick tap penalty to scrum-half Mark Roderick, and Saumi put centre Jimmy Tucker in for the first try -- 11-6 to Cornwall. Osborne and Larkins traded further penalties .
At half-time it was 14-12 to Cornwall. Gloucestershire had dominated the lines-out and given the Cornish front row problems in the scrums. Throughout the first half, Cornwall had won only one of their own lines-out. In the loose, the Cornish forwards -- especially the back row of Addinall, Shipton, and Atkinson -- had been much more effective. Number 8 Shipton, as ever, was all power and aggression, leading by example. Cornwall's Fijian international, Nat Saumi, had made some strong runs and put in some crunching tackles.
In the second half Cornwall played with more conviction, winning more line-out ball and having the better of the game territorially. Still Gloucestershire refused to crumble, and made some dangerous breaks of their own. Saumi and Osborne swapped penalties.
With five minutes to go, Cornwall led 17 - 15. Already Osborne had kicked five Gloucestershire penalties -- one more would have settled the match. Play flowed from end to end. Cornwall tried to slow it down, playing it tight, holding the ball at the base of the scrum. The 20,000 Cornish spectators in the crowd bayed for the final whistle but the referee refused to be browbeaten. As the minutes ticked away, Gloucestershire became desperate. Cornwall counter-attacked. After no less than six minutes of injury time, a slick move led to Stuart Whitworth crossing for Cornwall's second try. People invaded the pitch. They thought it was all over. Saumi kicked the conversion. It was then!
Scores:
3-0 larkins pen; 3-3 Osborne pen; 3-6 Osborne pen; 6-6
Larkins pen; 11-6 Tucker try; 11-9 Osborne pen; 14-9 Larkins pen; 14-12 Osborne
pen; 17-12 Saumi pen; 17-15 Osborne pen; 22-15 Whitworth try; 24-15 Saumi
con.
Cornwall team:
A. Birkett (Launceston), N. Saumi
(Pz/Newlyn), J. Tucker (Launceston), C. Laity (Exeter), S. Larkins (Redruth),
S. Whitworth (Redruth), M. Roderick (Pz/Newlyn), P. Risdon (Launceston), N.
Grigg (Launceston), J. Thomas (Pz/Newlyn), G. Hutchings (Launceston), K.
Moseley (Pz/Newlyn), J. Atkinson (Pz/Newlyn), M. Addinall (Penryn), D. Shipton
(Launceston, capt.).
Replacements: E. Nancekeivell (Launceston) for Larkins
39, S. Rush (Launceston) for Thomas 62, B. Lucas (Launceston) for Grigg 76, L.
Mruk (Penzance\Newlyn) for Hutchings 80, P. Gadsdon (Penzance\Newlyn), K.
Penrose (Camborne).
Having weathered an early spell of Devon pressure, Cornwall quickly slipped into gear in their opening County Championship match. By half time they were 17-0 up, with tries from Alex Finch (Redruth), Ian Warren (Launceston), and Joe Bearman (Pirates). Joe Williamson (Redruth) completed the score with two conversions.
Devon started the second half strongly, and were rewarded with a converted try to pull the score back to 17-7. But confident Cornwall never looked like surrendering their lead further, and sealed the game with a fine interception try by Ben McGregor (Newquay Hornets).
Cornwall took this match by the scruff of the neck and were in total charge throughout. They raced to a 22-0 lead by half time, and at one stage were 39-0 up.
Truro speed merchant David Coombes, added to the squad for this match, took his chance at County level well. He scored two tries and made the break for two more. Other tries were scored by Marcus Ross (Penryn), Ben Trevorrow (St Ives), Geoff Arnold (Loughborough), Ben McGregor (Newquay Hornets), and Joe Bearman (Penzance-Newlyn), who crossed the line twice. The extras were added by Liam Chapple (Gloucester) with five conversions and a penalty.
Cornwall Under-21 are in the quarter-final of the County Championship! The deciding group match, away to Gloucestershire, was a real nail-biter. Teamwork won the day for Cornwall against bigger, streetwise and, on paper, higher-class players. Among the Gloucestershire team were 6 players from Gloucester, 2 from Bristol, 2 from Worcester and 1 from Wasps.
In the quarter-final, Cornwall are away to the Under 21 Southern Area champions, Buckinghamshire, on Jan. 24th, at Marlow. KO 2:00p.m.
Cornwall Under-21 are through to the semi-final of the County Championship!
Cornwall overwhelmed their much-fancied Buckinghamshire opponents 6 - 76 in their Under 21 County Championship quarter-final encounter. Cornwall scored fourteen tries, six in first half and eight in the second half, and conceded none.
Buckinghamshire scored first, after 5 minutes, with a penalty by home team centre Richard Shakespeare. The lead was short-lived and never to be repeated. On the 8th minute, Cornwall went ahead with a try by flanker John Byers (Camborne), followed two minutes later by an interception try from centre Ben McGregor (Newquay), both unconverted.
After 17 minutes, Buckinghamshire closed the gap to 4 points with another penalty kick by Shakespeare, and then the flood gates opened. Four more Cornwall tries came before half-time after 26, 33, 38 and 40 minutes, with scores by left wing Rocky Newton of Penzance & Newlyn (2), right wing David Combes (Truro) and full-back Mark Richards (Penzance & Newlyn). Two conversions were struck over by Ben McGregor for a half- time score 6 - 34.
In the second half Cornwall scored a further 42 points without reply. First Rocky Newton raced over for his third try in the 49th minute, then second row forward Allan Jordan (Penryn) was in on the act with a touchdown after 55 minutes. David Coombes got his second try after 59 minutes and Rocky Newton his fourth after 66 minutes. Three minutes later Ben McGregor added his second try and in the 75th minute Craig Bonds (Redruth), on as a replacement, went over.
Still Cornwall swarmed forward with prop Mathew Keverne (Penryn) and centre Ben Trevorrow (St. Ives) getting on the try scoring sheet, the last one being converted by Rocky Newton with the last kick of the game to bring his personal tally to 22 points and Cornwall a victory by 6 points to 76.