The AGM of the CRFU was held at Camborne RFC on Wednesday 25th June.

CRFU President Andy Reed welcomed everybody to the meeting.

A minute’s silence was observed to remember those who have sadly passed away during the past year.

At the conclusion of the formal part of the meeting Andy thanked everyone for their hard work over the past 12 months.

He then went on to make presentations to two stalwarts of Cornish rugby.

Alan Milliner, Alan has completed 10 years as our rep on the RFU Council and will step down from the role at the end of July.

For his service in this role and countless others, including Wooden Spoon Cornwall, Alan was made a Life Member of the CRFU.

The second award, that of Honorary Vice President of the CRFU was made to Stuart Hood, Stuart has been involved with the CRFU for 19 years, notably as Team Manager for Cornwall Clubs XV.

Stuart also received a county shirt presented by the Chair of Representative Rugby Kevin Thomas.

Also at the meeting were representatives from Trelawny’s Army, Phil and Marina Trevarton, they are pictured with our three Under 20 players who have been selected for the South West for the upcoming divisional fixtures. The players are Dan Bennett, Ayden Earnshaw and Rhys Bowery. TASC, alongside the CRFU are generously assisting our Under 20’s with travel expenses to attend the South West trials, training and matches.

Cornwall have made several changes to play Hampshire on Saturday.

BILL BEAUMONT CUP

CORNWALL 18 – 34 KENT

By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground, Redruth

Kent deservedly booked their place in the Bill Beaumont Cup final with this thrilling win against a Cornwall side that can have no complaints.

Some will point to the disallowed Ben Plummer try on 64 minutes when Cornwall trailed by six points following a superb break by Duncan Tout. Sadly for the Cornish faithful in Hellfire corner the officials got it right as the St. Austell winger’s right foot touched the whitewash as he was about to score.

It came at a time when Cornwall were pressing hard to get on level terms and proved a pivotal moment in the game.

Cornwall played up the slope first half looking to restrict Kent, an early penalty to Cornwall was kicked to the corner. Tom Cowan-Dickie made ground from the lineout but Cornwall infringed.

Kent got the opening score on 10 minutes, a clearance kick was charged down by the visitors on the Cornwall twenty-two, ball bounced wickedly on the hard surface eluding Tout but not Kent’s No.8 Ben Charnock, he grabbed the ball and romped in under the sticks. Fly-half Sam Evans added the extras.

Cornwall needed a reply and it came from a lineout up in the scoreboard corner when Cowan-Dickie powered over for an unconverted try.

Kent upped their game with their back row looking sharp whilst the backs gave notice of their powerful running.

The visitors had a lineout down in Hellfire corner, they set up the drive that saw Cornwall take the drive to ground, Jon Drew sent to the bin and Kent awarded a penalty try.

Worst was to come, from a scrum on the Cornwall twenty-two, Charnock broke away shrugging off a poor Cornish tackle to stride under the posts, Evans’ conversion and Cornwall already faced a mountain to climb.

Good play from Alex Ducker and Matt Shepherd took play up towards the Kent line, from an ensuing lineout Cowan-Dickie was again on hand to get over and dot down.

A penalty from Evans put Kent two scores ahead early in the second half, Shepherd cut that back with his one successful kick of the game.

With the game in the final quarter both Ducker and Harry Larkins combined to put the young Camborne wing in at the Piggy Lane corner.

Plummer’s chance came and went, Larkins was again called into action to stop Kent’s hooker from scoring, it proved a brief respite as Kent’s excellent scrum-half Mikel Davies scored their fourth try converted by Evans to start the celebrations.

Cornwall’s head coach Graham Dawe was understandably disappointed with the result. He said. “I felt we did well in the set-piece but at times we tended to over play it a bit, we were second best in the tackle area we need to see what went on there.

“Losing a couple of players to yellow cards didn’t help neither the foot in touch which would have made it a one score game at a critical moment.”

Cornwall will now need to refocus ahead of their final game away to Hampshire next Saturday at Havant and look to finish with a win.

Cornwall (Camborne unless stated): Matt Shepherd (St. Austell, Capt), Harry Larkins, Duncan Tout (Tonbridge J), Sam James (Redruth), Alex Ducker, Dan Rutter (Redruth), CJ Boyce; Kye Beasley, Tom Cowan-Dickie (Redruth), Jon Drew, Jamie Prisk, Edd Pascoe (both Redruth), Adam Hughes, Jordan Nicholls, Hugo Culverhouse (Tonbridge J).

Replacements: Ben Priddey, Luke Barnes (Redruth), Sam Rodman, Pat Walton (Barnes), Ben Hancock (Bude), Chris Rovery (Redruth), Ben Plummer, Archie Bees (both St. Austell).

Cornwall scores: Tries, Cowan-Dickie 20, 37, Larkins 61, Pen, Shepherd

Attendance: 2,075