cornwall rugby

Twickenham arrangements

May 21, 2022 by Bill Hooper

County Championship Finals Day will see both Bill Beaumont and Gill Burns Division 1 & 2 finals at Twickenham, with the Bill Beaumont and Gill Burns Division 3 finals at Richmond Athletic Ground.

The Bill Beaumont Division 1 Final Cornwall v Cheshire will kick-off at 3 pm.

Entry to Twickenham Stadium on County Finals Day is FREE!

However, if you are travelling by car or coach, parking will need to be purchased prior to the game via the Twickenham Ticket Office.

Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club will be running coaches to the final both an overnight stay and up and back. See Trelawny’s Army website next week for details and how to purchase.

Further details when known will be put on here.

Please be patient, as soon as we know, we will share the information.

Cornwall Women name side to face Somerset Women

May 21, 2022 by Bill Hooper

The Cornwall Women’s team selectors needed to check on the fitness of a couple of players following the physical encounter against Middlesex Women last Sunday.

In the pack, front row, Emily Carbis steps up from the bench to start at hooker alongside Kim Upcott at tighthead, as does Sian Westgarth in the second row and Rhian Roberts in the back row.

In the backs, Chloe Towers comes in for a first start on the wing.

On the bench, Vinnie James and Holly Williams come in.

Entry is free at Hayle RFC tomorrow and kick-off is at 2 pm. If you are travelling from east beware of the diversion on the A.30 which will take you via Goonhavern!!

Cornwall make a couple of enforced changes for Herts

May 19, 2022 by Bill Hooper

Cornwall’s selectors have been forced to make a couple of changes to the Cornwall side that enjoyed a fine win against Hampshire last Saturday by 78-12.

Matt Shepherd has switched to full-back in place of the injured Will Trewin, who suffered concussion near the end of Saturday’s game.

Redruth’s Kyle Bradley comes in on the wing for his county debut, Kyle has impressed during his maiden season at the Reds.

On the bench Edd Pascoe is unavailable due to Naval duties, so former Cornwall captain Ben Hilton returns to the match day 22. The other change is Torin Clarke, the former Cornwall Under 20 captain who comes in on the bench in place of Brad Howe.

Kick-off at Hertford RFC is 3 pm with BBC Radio Cornwall providing live match commentary.

Cornwall team to play Hertfordshire at Hertford RFC Saturday 21^st May 3 pm.

1. Tommy Phillips (Redruth)

2. Ben Priddey (Camborne & Royal Navy)

3. Jess Tompsett (Redruth)

4. Toby Freeman (Tonbridge Juddians)

5. Tony Whittle (Falmouth)

6. Ben Fox (Redruth)

7. Sam Stevens (Redruth)

8. Kyle Marriott (St. Austell) (Captain)

9. Jack Oulton (Redruth)

10, Fraser Honey (Redruth)

11. Alex Ducker (Plymouth Albion)

12. Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddians)

13. Jack Simmons (Redruth)

14. Kyle Bradley (Redruth)

15. Matt Shepherd (St. Austell)

Replacements;

16. Luke Barnes (Redruth)

17. Richie Brown (Redruth)

18. Craig Williams (Redruth)

19. Ben Hilton (Barnstaple)

20. Torin Clarke (Plymouth Albion)

21. Mike Austin (Cinderford)

22. Connor Gilbert (Redruth)

Graham Dawe thoughts post match

May 17, 2022 by Bill Hooper

GRAHAM DAWE

By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground.

Cornwall’s head coach gave his thoughts on Cornwall’s performance on Saturday. “I was pleased the way the guys came together this week and they were very determined to put on a show today. First of all get the win and then score some points and get as many as we could.

Dawe was pleased by the way forwards and backs came together. “It was a good balanced game, Hampshire made it difficult for us during the first quarter of the game, we conceded a few penalties but stayed in the fight. If we keep chopping and kept our shape we could turn them over and we did.

Asked if he was relieved to get the bonus point so early in the game. “It’s always a strange one because you have the bonus point but at that point in the game it’s still to be won, you can’t get carried away but five points is better than one.

Did he feel the game was in the bag at half-time. “Well not really, you never know what could happen, just remember what happened at the Wales v Italy game.

Graham was asked about the impact his bench had on the game. “We needed to see how the replacements would go, half-time we changed both props bringing on Luke Barnes and Declan Prowse, also Edd Pascoe in the second row, he showed us his huge work ethic and put in a lot of tackles.

Looking ahead to the Hertfordshire game the result must give the squad confidence. “I think so, it won’t be just the Hertfordshire team that will look at this result but hopefully also the referee who should give us a little bit of credit and respect. It’s always very hard going away and referees often make the big calls that cost you the game. He’ll recognise that we have a good team here, it will be a battle and it will come down to those sorts of decisions, we’ve learned a lot from today’s game, especially in the tackle area. Away to Hertfordshire, our biggest rivals in the group over the past ten years we can’t take anything for granted.

Asked about the present state of the county championship, Graham remarked. “I am so disappointed by the way the RFU have gone, I appreciate they have lost money and are trying to balance the books but they have to realise that rugby players want to play. Representative rugby is so important at our level, these guys aren’t going to play International rugby at the elite level, but they can be proud to pull on a county shirt and go to the next level. I think they are doing rugby a huge disservice by not putting more into the county championship or an equivalent competition. The commitment and passion of these players to want to play in the competition in undeniable and they deserve the full support of the RFU”.

Five Players from Cornwall U.20s selected for SW Team

May 15, 2022 by Bill Hooper

Following trials at Bristol on the 8 May, the SW selectors confirmed 5 Cornwall U20 players had been selected for the SW team.

Unfortunately, the RFU have decided there will be no England Counties U20 this season, and so these players were denied the opportunity to try and earn an England Cap!

This also meant that the SW trials were rearranged at the end of the season due to Cornwall and Berkshire reaching their respective cup finals. A big thankyou to Trelawny’s Army who assisted the players attending the trials with fuel costs.

The 5 players selected were; –

Ethan Pearce-Cowley (Cinderford)

Declan Prowse (Camborne)

Pat Walton (Penryn)

Harry Larkins (Camborne)

Joss Pascoe (Truro)

Many congratulations to all five on their achievement.

Colin Hatch Cornwall U20 Team Manager

Battling defensive display sees Cornwall Women home

May 15, 2022 by Bill Hooper

GILL BURNS CUP

MIDDLESEX WOMEN 5 – 10 CORNWALL WOMEN

By Bill Hooper

Cornwall Women made it two wins on the bounce with a gutsy display at Grasshoppers RFC against their hosts Middlesex Women. The old adage that defence wins games was so true in this titanic contest.

A very even first half saw both sides have scoring chances but the defences held firm. It was Cornwall Women who got the important first score some 17 minutes into the half when following a penalty that missed touch, wing Emma Stefanotti hacked the ball into clear space, with the Middlesex defence wrong-footed, she kicked on again before gathering to score at the posts.

Cornwall were unable to convert so it remained 5-0 to Cornwall until half-time.

In the second half Cornwall were under almost constant pressure but their defence was unrelenting with a huge tackle count. Eventually Middlesex got over the line to level the scores thanks to prop Louise Simons.

Cornwall remained unfazed to put in a strong finish which saw full back Amy Bunt pick up a loose ball to run in the winning score from her own half, tackled short of the line she managed to place the ball on the line for the winning try.

Cornwall now face Somerset Women at Hayle RFC next Sunday 2 pm kick-off with a place in the Gill Burns Division 3 final at stake.

Cornwall Women: Bunt, Stefanotti, Allin, Larson, Hawkins, Rowe, Warman; Ruby, Derrante, Rowland, Gallagher, Milliken, Eddy, Holden (Capt), Hampton.

Replacements: Upcott, Ninnis, Carbis, Westgarth, Roberts, Kneale, Towers.

Cornwall Women Scores: Tries, Stefanotti, Bunt.

Cornwall score eleven tries in big win

May 14, 2022 by Bill Hooper

BILL BEAUMONT CUP

CORNWALL 78 – 12 HAMPSHIRE

By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground, Photos Simon Bryant Iktisphoto

Cornwall served up a veritable feast of attacking rugby at Redruth as they opened the defence of the Bill Beaumont Cup with an emphatic win against a valiant Hampshire.

St. Austell’s Matt Shepherd was the star of the show helping himself to four tries, whilst fly-half Fraser Honey missed just one kick at goal all afternoon.

Matt Shepherd of Cornwall (St Austell) breaks for the try-line with Mike Austin of Cornwall (Cinderford) in support. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo

In front of a large crowd Cornwall got off to a fast start. Honey kicked a routine penalty before adding the extras to a Alex Ducker try following a jinking run from the winger.

Hampshire replied with a try from their prop Dan Sargent following some good pressure with fly-half Tom Fieldsend adding the extras.

However, from the re-start Cornwall were back on the scoreboard as they secured the re-start to launch a blistering attack that saw centre Jack Simmons gallop through.

Alex Ducker of Cornwall (Plymouth Albion) on the charge. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo

Off the back of scrum Jack Oulton found Shepherd to put him in, the winger stretching to dot down on the line.

There were some big drives from the forwards with prop Tommy Phillips, and locks Tony Whittle and Toby Freeman prominent, a word too for the work of flanker Ben Fox in the loose.

From a catch-and-drive the forward powered towards the line with hooker Ben Priddey coming up with the ball, to leave Cornwall 31-7 up at half-time.

Tony Whittle of Cornwall (Falmouth) makes a break. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo

During the break Cornwall’s Under 20s paraded the Jason Leonard Cup around the pitch to huge cheers from the black and gold supporters.

After half-time it was more of the same. Oulton and Ducker launched a blistering attack that saw Shepherd in for his second.

Hampshire pulled a try back through wing Chris Buckett, but immediately Shepherd bagged his third try.

Ducker then completed his brace before Shepherd scored his fourth to put the Cornwall supporters in dreamland!

Tommy Phillips of Cornwall (Redruth) charges forward with Sam Stevens of Cornwall (Redruth) on his shoulder. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo

Mike Austin on as a replacement scrum-half got Cornwall’s next try with Redruth favourite hooker Richard Brown coming up with one of his trademark tries off a catch-and-drive.

Cornwall’s final try went to Freeman making his county debut, the former Cornish Pirate was delighted with his score.

Will Trewin had a solid game at full back on his county debut, he suffered a bad knock near the end but left the field walking.

Cornwall, Head Coach Graham Dawe. – Photo mandatory by-line: ©Simon Bryant/Iktis Photo

Cornwall head coach Graham Dawe was satisfied with the result. He said. “The guys came together really well this week, they were determined to put on a show, first of all get the win and also score some points and as big a margin as possible.

“I thought we kept our shape well for the full eighty, we had defend at times and we put in some big tackles. The whole 22 got a good run out and we were able to see what they had to offer in a match situation.

“Next week at Hertfordshire will another step up, so we will prepare accordingly.”

Cornwall (Redruth unless stated): Trewin, Shepherd (St. Austell), Simmons, Tout (Tonbridge), Ducker (Plymouth Albion), Honey, Oulton; Phillips, Priddey (Camborne), Tompsett, Freeman (Tonbridge), Whittle (Falmouth), Fox, Stevens, Marriott (Capt, St.Austell)

Replacements: Barnes, Brown, Prowse (Camborne), Pascoe, Howe, Austin (Cinderford), Gilbert.

Cornwall scores: Tries, Ducker 2, Simmons, Shepherd 4, Priddey, Austin, Brown, Freeman, Cons, Honey 10, Pen, Honey.

Hampshire (Havant unless stated): Barnes (Worthing), Morris, Smith, Dugan, Fieldsend (Ryl Wootton Bassett), Holt; Jenkinson (Tottonians), Shepherd, Sargent (Worthing), Cuffe (Worthing), Young, Brock, Rees (Bournemouth), Perkins (Worthing).

Replacements: Featherstone (Trojans), Clark (Petersfield), Williams (Tottonians), Carkeet (Rosslyn Park), Rabjohn, Sutherland (Bournemouth), Read (Eastleigh).

Hants scores: Tries, Sargent, Buckett, Con Fieldsend

Referee: Ben Woods

Cornwall side to face Hampshire in Bill Beaumont Cup opener

May 13, 2022 by Bill Hooper

Cornwall selectors have announced their side to play Hampshire in their first game in this season’s Bill Beaumont Cup.

Only two players who featured in the recent Crawshay’s match feature in the match day 22, Matt Shepherd and Tony Whittle.

Former Cornwall captain Kyle Marriott returns as captain having last played for Cornwall in the winning final of 2016 against Cheshire.

Ben Priddey gets the nod for the hooker spot, fresh from playing in the recent Army v Navy game at Twickenham

Toby Freeman a former Cornish Pirate and Harlequin comes into the side. The former Spanish Cup winner with Ordizia forms a powerful second row partnership with Whittle.

The Redruth half backs, Jack Oulton and Fraser Honey will once more play a pivotal role in Cornwall’s fortunes this season.

The boy from Bude, Duncan Tout teams up with Redruth’s Jack Simmons to form an exciting centre pairing.

A deserved senior debut for Will Trewin at full back, he has enjoyed a great season in the red shirt and fully deserves his Cornwall call up.

On the bench one of the stars from Cornwall Under 20’s Jason Leonard Cup win, prop Declan Prowse, whilst former Falmouth player Mike Austin will be the scrum-half cover off the bench.

Cornwall team to play Hampshire at Redruth Saturday 14^th May 3 pm.

1. Tommy Phillips (Redruth)

2. Ben Priddey (Camborne & Royal Navy)

3. Jess Tompsett (Redruth)

4. Toby Freeman (Tonbridge Juddians)

5. Tony Whittle (Falmouth)

6. Ben Fox (Redruth)

7. Sam Stevens (Redruth)

8. Kyle Marriott (St. Austell) (Captain)

9. Jack Oulton (Redruth)

10, Fraser Honey (Redruth)

11. Alex Ducker (Plymouth Albion)

12. Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddians)

13. Jack Simmons (Redruth)

14. Matthew Shepherd (St. Austell)

15. Will Trewin (Redruth)

Replacements;

16. Luke Barnes (Redruth)

17. Richie Brown (Redruth)

18. Declan Prowse (Camborne)

19. Edd Pascoe (Redruth & Royal Navy)

20. Brad Howe (Redruth)

21. Mike Austin (Cinderford)

22. Connor Gilbert (Redruth)

Travelling Reserves

Matt Ballard (Wadebridge Camels)

Todd Prisk (Redruth)

Kyle Gratrix (Wadebridge Camels)

Kyle Bradley (Redruth)

Tickets available on the gate.

Cornwall Women make minimal changes to face Middlesex Women

May 12, 2022 by Bill Hooper

Fresh from their success against Dorset & Wilts Women last Sunday by 30-15 at Polson Bridge, Cornwall Women travel to take on Middlesex Women at Grasshoppers RFC with a 1 pm kick-off.

In the pack both hooker Emily Carbis and flanker Rhian Roberts drop to the bench, with Holly Derrante and Briony Eddy come into the starting pack.

In the threequarters, Lydia Hawkins comes in for Mariella Blanchard. On the bench Emily Kneale comes into the matchday 22.

Middlesex like Cornwall won their opening game when they defeated Somerset last Sunday at Weston Hornets 35-17.

Post match thoughts from Verity Holden and Emma Stefanotti plus video highlights link

May 9, 2022 by Bill Hooper

POST-MATCH REACTION FROM CORNWALL WOMEN’S WIN

After the final whistle Bill Hooper caught up with Cornwall Women’s captain Verity Holden and try scorer Emma Stefanotti.

I asked Verity how she felt after that tremendous Cornish performance. “I am so proud of all the girls, they really smashed it out there today. They played for the Kernow shirt today and left it all out there on the park.

Despite the hot conditions the girls stuck at it for the full eighty. “They really put everything into it. I thought our backline was tremendous today they put their bodies on the line especially when we had to defend hard in our red zone. In attack they looked sharp and posed a lot of questions. It wasn’t just the fifteen who started but also the replacements who came on and played their hearts out.

With a win in the bag the girls can now look forward to their remaining games with confidence. “We are really up for the challenge this season. Kernow women are here and willing to play and that scoreline today puts us on the map and a few people will take note that we mean business this season.

Turning to Emma, she was over the moon with her great try. “It was called in from the outside, Verity heard the call a little one two with my teammates and I was off, the space opened up so I put my head down and went for it. Having Amy (Bunt) with me helped as we play together at Ivybridge I just went and looked for space and luckily for me it opened up.

“Now the trick is to do it again, we have had a couple of weeks together and built up a great team spirit, I can’t wait for the next game at Middlesex this is a great squad and I am really proud to wear the black and gold and be part of it”.

Match highlights on youtube