Truro & Saltash progess to National Cup semis, Cornwall Under 20s lose out in Hampshire

Outside of the Cornish Pirates Championship game at leaders London Irish it was the National Cup Quarter-finals that took centre stage.

The Pirates were rocked by a dazzling Irish first half spell that saw the home side race into 34-0 lead inside 30 minutes.

Credit though to the Cornish Pirates as they came back with a couple of unconverted tries before half-time through Jake Parker and Alex Dancer.

London Irish found the Cornish Pirates a harder nut to crack during the second half adding just one further try right at the end to end up 39-10 winners.

With Jersey winning the Pirates have now slipped back to sixth in the Championship, five points behind Doncaster Knights in fourth and ten behind Ealing in third.

With the Knights next up at the Mennaye this Sunday, nothing less than a win will do to keep any hopes alive of making the top four.

In the South West Division Final of the Intermediate Cup (otherwise known as the quarter-finals) Truro had a resounding win at Southern Counties South side Swanage & Wareham 46-10.

Luke Tidball helped himself to four tries whilst Ashley Hosking scored a brace and kicked four conversions and a penalty for a twenty-one point haul. Truro’s other try came from Matt Symons.

Truro now face a trip to Charlton Park for their semi-final after the London side defeated a depleted London Cornish 32-17, the exiles first competitive loss this season.

Meanwhile in the South West Divisional Final (it’s still a quarter-final) of the Senior Vase, Saltash beat visiting Swindon College Old Boys 22-5 at Moorlands.

Ashes scored three tries through James Moriarty, Lewis Wells and Shaun Crawford with Harrison Reburn kicking a couple of conversions and a penalty.

Saltash’s reward is a semi-final tie at Farnham in Surrey.

The only league rugby in Cornwall was played in Cornwall Leagues 1 & 2. Hayle moved to within a win of sealing the Cornwall 1 title without playing as Roseland couldn’t raise a side.

Newquay Hornets have moved back to second place behind Hayle after defeating Liskeard-Looe 38-15. Officials at Hornets have indicated to league officials that they will decline promotion for this season as they look to rebuild the club.

Fourth placed Veor lost ground when they were defeated at Helston 33-30, whilst St. Agnes pipped Camborne School of Mines 21-17.

In Cornwall 2, Illogan Park went back to the top of the table without playing as Perranporth conceded the game. Illogan Park are now four points ahead of Lankelly-Fowey.

Camelford did travel to Redruth Albany and played a friendly game having conceded the league points.

Stithians played and won at St. Just 18-17.

St. Austell won through to this season’s Tribute Cornwall Cup final after beating Falmouth 27-13 at Tregorrick Parc.

Falmouth led at the break 6-3 thanks to a couple of Tom Edmonds’ penalties to an effort from Liam Freeman for the Saints.

In the second half St. Austell pulled away thanks to tries from George Knowles (2), Freeman and Miles Davey with Freeman landing a couple of conversions.

Falmouth replied with a David Jones’ try again bettered by Edmonds.

St. Austell will face in the final either Wadebridge Camels or Truro who play this Sunday.

On Sunday there was disappointment for St. Austell Colts when they lost their National Colts Cup Quarter-final at Guildford 38-12.

Cornwall Under 20s completed their pool matches suffering a second defeat when going down to Hampshire Under 20s 25-19 at Overton.

The Cornish lads found themselves 20-0 down early in the second half before rallying with three tries but Hampshire scored a fourth try to make sure they topped the group and leave Cornwall in third place.

In the other game Gloucestershire defeated Berkshire 31-5 to ensure the second qualifying berth.

Posted in Bill's Blog

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