Gill Burns County Championship Division Two Semi-Final

North Midlands 12 Cornwall 19

By Gareth Davies, Stourbridge RFC,

Cornwall Women will play at Twickenham for the very first time after edging out North Midlands in a thrilling Gill Burns County Championship Division Two semi-final.

Victory for Jo Holden’s side will see June 6 become Super Saturday for Cornish rugby as both senior men and women’s teams play at headquarters against Lancashire and Durham respectively.

And while the men eased through against reigning champions Kent on Saturday, the women were made to work hard for their victory 24-hours later in a game played at Stourton Park, home of Stourbridge RFC.

In a tense, low scoring first half, Cornwall fell behind when giant home number eight Mia Maduagwu crashed over from close range.

But the Black and Gold wrestled the initiative from the hosts, themselves looking to play at the home of English rugby for the first time, after the turnaround.

Replacement Jessie Humber’s converted try levelled the game up at 7-7 and then straight from the restart, Cornwall got the ball in hand and Hannah Mills scored a stunning individual try.

Back came North Midlands and prop Sarah Price reduced the arrears down to two points before Alex Hutchings’ try nine minutes from time sealed a famous Cornwall victory.

After securing the Tamar Cup with victory over Devon seven days previously, Cornwall chief Holden made two changes to her starting line-up – one in the pack and the other in the back division.

Ivybridge pair Mills and Elizabeth Langton replaced Rhiannon Thomas who missed out altogether and Abby Masquelier, with the later named on the bench.

As expected, the game was a real cat and mouse affair in the opening exchanges with neither side able to gain a proper foothold in proceedings, although Cornwall shaded territory and possession.

North Midlands, through their two ball-carrying forwards Jasmine Faulkner-Harper and Maduagwu, who were both playing on home soil, were the hosts’ go forward options, but Cornwall repelled anything thrown at them.

The game’s momentum seemed to swing in Cornwall’s favour when full-back Kitty Morgan was sent for a 10-minute sabbatical by merry whistle blower Ewan Leadbetter. However, Cornwall couldn’t take advantage and being a player down seemed to inspire North Midlands.

And when Morgan returned from the bin, Cornwall found themselves on the back foot, defending their line with gusto until just before the break.

Referee Leadbetter ruled that Suz Franks had got her hands on the ball and knocked it forward out wide, although thankfully for Cornwall, it wasn’t ruled as a deliberate knock-on. From the resulting scrum, eight metres out for North Midlands, Maduagwu picked up and crashed over to break the deadlock.

Alison Livermore knocked over the extras to give North Midlands a 7-0 half-time lead and despite being behind, Cornwall knew they were very much in the game. They also would have felt that Faulkner-Harper and Maduagwu would perhaps tire as the game wore on, thus nullifying a big chunk of home attacking prowess.

After the interval, the game followed a similar pattern to the first period with Cornwall looking comfortable in defence, but not really showing themselves inside the North Midlands 22.

But once they did exert a sustained spell of pressure North Midlands crumbled and after hammering away at the home line, the referee lost patience after a string of penalty offences and sent Lottie Mason to the bin.

This time Cornwall did capitalise on a numerical advantage and replacement Jessie Humber barged over for Cornwall’s first points in the 50th minute. Penryn’s Georgia Hall kicked the extras to tie the scores.

They made it back-to-back scores as from Livermore’s scuffed restart, Langton got her hands on the ball and burst upfield. On half-way, the ball was spread to Cornwall’s left through the hands and into the grasp of Hannah Mills, who put her foot firmly to the floor – outpacing the would-be North Midlands defence to go in under the posts for a magnificent try.

Hall made it a seven point score and Cornwall had turned the game on its head in just three minutes.

Their nine point lead lasted until just shy of the hour mark when it was cut to two by prop Sarah Price who finished off a line-out move Livermore’s conversion crucially failing.

The tension was palpable for the healthy crowd in attendance and with the game on a knife edge, it was very much a case of the next try being decisive.

Thankfully for those of a black and gold disposition, it went the way of Cornwall when Hutchings broke free from a scrum and went in out wide. Hall couldn’t take Cornwall into a two score lead with a converted home try, only good enough to tie the game and send it to extra time.

And that never looked likely with Cornwall close to putting the icing on their cake as Mills went clear again out wide only to put her foot on the whitewash. Replacement duo Michaella Roberts and Masquelier also had chances with the former unable to hold the ball with the line gaping, whilst the Penryn speedster was bundled into touch by Faith Adams just three metres out.

The clock ticked into the red and Mills gave away a penalty for crashing through the centre of a home ruck and despite this giving North Midlands one final chance, a handling error presented Cornwall with the ball and full-time was then signalled.

Cue jubilant scenes full of elation and emotion for Cornwall’s players, coaching staff and loyal supporters, who will now travel to Twickenham next Saturday hoping for a Duchy double, on rugby union’s grandest stage of all.

Cornwall (Launceston unless stated) Hicks, Franks, Smith, Crutchley (Truro), Mills (Ivybridge), Rowe (Truro), Warman; Cole, J Arnold, Upcott, M Arnold, Milliken (Camborne), Ninnis (Penryn), Langton (Ivybridge), Hutchings. Replacements: Varker (Helston), Webber (Camborne), Penrose (Truro), Roberts (Ivybridge), Humber (Ivybridge), G Hall (Penryn), Groves (Truro), Masquelier (Penryn)

Tries: Humber (50), Mills (52), Hutchings (71)

Conversions: G Hall 2/3

North Midlands: Morgan (Kidderminster), Lower (Dudley Kingswinsford), Adams (Birmingham), Donaldson (Birmingham), Carter (Kidderminster), Livermore (Sutton Coldfield), Smith (Dudley Kingswinford); Price (Bridgnorth), Mason (Telford Hornets), Faulkner-Harper (Stourbridge), Currie (Sutton Coldfield), Mason (Kidderminster), Godding (Clee Hill), Maduagwu (Stourbridge). Replacements: Massam-Vallely (Greyhound), Suggitt (Birmingham), Qalovaki (Telford Hornets), Kemp (Kidderminster), R Hall (Greyhound), Tolley (Stourbridge), Middleton (Clee Hill), Fletcher (Sutton Coldfield)

Tries: Maduagwu (37), Price (58)

Conversions: Livermore 1/2

Referee: Ewan Leadbetter

Attendance: 500 (estimated)

GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2

DEVON WOMEN 17 – 26 CORNWALL WOMEN

Cornwall Women had to dig deep under a relentless sun in North Tawton to secure top spot in their pool and qualify for the semi-finals of this season’s competition, reports Bill Hooper.

They also defended the Women’s Tamar Cup to make it a double delight for the black and golds.

Cornwall Women certainly had the upper-hand when it came to the scrum, on numerous occasions they shoved the Devon Women back at a rate of knots.

It was Devon who got the early try when their wing Annie Jones squeezed in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Cornwall Women launched numerous attacks from the base of the scrum notably through No.8 Amy Hutchings, but frustratingly, they fell-foul, as did Devon on numerous occasions to the referee’s whistle.

Cornwall did manage to tie the scores when Abby Smith managed to stretch for the line having been tackled just short.

Cornwall thought they had gone ahead when Libbie Cole put in a determined charge to make the line, but once again on the intervention of the Assistant Referee the try was disallowed.

Both Hutchings and Smith again went close to a score, eventually Cole had something to celebrate when she crossed to score Cornwall’s second try, which was converted by Tori Crutchley.

Just before half-time Devon conjured up an unconverted try when centre Boe Minns went over in the corner to leave Cornwall with a narrow 12-10 lead.

After the break Cornwall looked to raise the tempo, Kim Upcott put in some of her trademark drives and came close to scoring, Amy Warman kept the tempo up with her quick taps keeping Cornwall on the front foot. Yellow cards saw Devon lose a couple of players, whilst Cornwall were again denied when Abby Masquelier thought she had scored only to be called back for a forward pass in the build up.

The breakthrough finally came when Georgia Hall slipped a pass to Smith who finished in style, Hall’s conversion gave Cornwall some breathing space, but not for long. Back came Devon as Jones scored her second try with Aoife Underhill adding the extras to make for a tight finish.

Cornwall playing in the right area o0f the field pressed the Devon line with Hutchings and Rosie Ninnis close, before the ball went wide for Masquelier to score the vital try with Hall on the money with the extras.

Devon threw everything at Cornwall during the closing moments but when they were driven into touch the referee blew for time and the Cornish celebrations commenced.

Speaking after the game Cornwall head coach Jo Holden was understandably delighted. “I am really pleased with that performance today given the hot conditions, they gave their all and were determined not to let go of the Tamar Cup. To make the semi-finals again is a great achievement but we now want to go further and make that Twickenham final next weekend.”

Cornwall will be on the road for their semi-final next Sunday when they travel to play North Midlands Women.

Cornwall Women (Launceston unless stated): Rachel Hicks, Suz Franks, Abigail Smith, Tori Crutchley (Truro), Abby Masquelier (Penryn), Faith Rowe (Truro), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (Capt), Caitlin Milliken (Camborne), Rhiannon Thomas, Rosie Ninnis (Penryn) Alex Hutchings.

Replacements: Jessica Swales (Truro), Jessica Varker (Helston), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Maddie Webber (Camborne), Heather Holmes (Penryn), Michelle Bauer (Camborne), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Sophia Bishop (Camborne).

Cornwall Women scores: Tries Smith 12, 66, Cole 36, Masquelier 75, Cons, Crutchley 13, Hall 67, 76

Referee: Eleanor Clarke (Bristol RRS)

GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2

CORNWALL WOMEN 86 – 0 BERKSHIRE WOMEN

By Bill Hooper at Polson Bridge

Cornwall Women laid down a marker with a fourteen try demolition of a young, valiant Berkshire team who did not let their heads drop.

Launceston’s Abby Smith, playing on her home pitch was the star of the show, not only did she score five scintillating tries but she also showed her tigerish tackling when called upon.

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the match for the coaches at least, apart from not conceding any points, was that when the bench players came on there was no dip in intensity nor attacking intent. It was truly a 23 women’s team performance.

It had to be Smith who both opened and closed the try-scoring, her first came after 5 minutes as she cut a great angle to the line from a Tori Crutchley pass, who then added the first of her eight conversions.

The pace and provision of the Cornish Women was evident when skipper Amy Bunt finished off a fine move with Smith and Alex Hutchings involved.

Despite losing Caitlin Milliken to a yellow card, the forwards wanted their say. The ever willing Kim Upcott took a quick tap near the line powering forward before being brought down only for fellow prop Libbie Cole to finish the job.

The Cornwall back row were industrious, with Hutchings, Rosie Ninnis and the impressive Elizabeth Langton getting through the hard work.

The bonus point try was a thing of beauty, a break out from the Cornish twenty-two by Bunt saw her feed Hannah Mills who with 60 meters to go completely bamboozled the Berkshire cover to dot down.

Further tries from Upcott, Faith Rowe and Rachel Hicks saw Cornwall lead 43-0 at half-time.

Mindful of Devon’s win against Berkshire 50-0 the previous week, Cornwall knew thy had to press on during the second half.

A couple of early tries from Smith kept the momentum going. Smith and Mills then put Rowe away for her second try.

Cornwall began to empty the bench with Jessie Humber and Rhiannon Thomas bringing renewed power and Zeta Penrose and Jessica Varker more of the same in the front row.

Jenna Arnold made sure the forwards had a third try to celebrate before Rowe completed her hat-trick of tries and Smith rounded off the scoring with her final couple of tries.

Speaking after the match Abby Smith was quick to pay tribute to her team mates. “I couldn’t have scored those tries without them, they did the hard work to put me in with a chance, we are very much a family and we all work for each other.”

Cornwall’s head coach Jo Holden was delighted with her side’s performance. “I am really pleased, we kept going and put in a full eighty minutes never letting up, they stuck to the game plan and gave everything. I was pleased that the whole squad got game time and that the consistency did not drop off, it will be very hard picking the side for next Sunday with so many great performances today.”

The win puts Cornwall in charge of the group ahead of next Sunday’s Tamar Cup fixture against Devon Women at North Tawton RFC kick-off 2 pm.

Cornwall Women (Launceston unless stated): Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Rachel Hicks, Abigail Smith, Tori Crutchley (Truro), Hannah Mills (Ivybridge), Faith Rowe (Truro), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold, Caitlin Milliken (Camborne), Alex Hutchings, Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn).

Replacements: Jessica Swales (Truro), Jessica Varker (Helston), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Rhiannon Thomas, Jessie Humber (Ivybridge), Evie Groves (Truro), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Sophia Bishop (Camborne).

Cornwall scores: Tries, Smith (5), Bunt, Cole, Mills, Upcott, Rowe (3), Hicks, J Arnold. Cons, Crutchley (8).

Referee: George Batty (Cornwall RRS)

CORNWALL WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE MATCH

CORNWALL WOMEN 17 – 5 BRITISH POLICE WOMEN

By Bill Hooper at Recreation Ground, Falmouth

Cornwall Women continued their build up to this season’s Gill Burns Division 2 campaign with a hard fought win over British Police Women in a game played in a continuous downpour which made for challenging conditions.

The match was played over four 20 minutes periods so that the whole Cornwall squad of some twenty-eight players were given valuable game time.

Cornwall Women began well as the Police soaked up the pressure, but it took a try-saving tackle by Rachel Hicks to arrest a certain Police try.

The Police did take the lead shortly after with a converted try.

Cornwall stormed back at their opponents and levelled matters when Camborne’s Caitlin Milliken drove over for a try which was converted by player of the match Truro’s Tori Crutchley.

Penryn’s Abby Masquelier, who has been in super form for the Penryn ladies, put in a couple of strong runs highlighting her pace.

The scoreboard remained unchanged after 40 minutes.

Cornwall took the lead with an excellent score from Launceston’s Abi Smith, Crutchley once more adding the extras.

Camborne speedster Aimee – Jean Holsey finished off some great work from Amy Bunt to score Cornwall’s third try.

Despite losing a player to the sin-bin Cornwall wrapped up the win when Bunt again showed her pace and strength to outpace the Police cover to score Cornwall’s fourth try, which Crutchley again converted.

Great to have had the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Cornwall yesterday with events at both Helston RFC & St. Austell RFC, with great participation at both events to inspire our young players.

Cornwall’s Women Head Coach Jo Holden and RFU Club Development Officer Rachel Miller with the Cup.

CRFU Management Board members Paul Hayes and Jane Bell with the Cup

The Women’s Rugby World Cup at Helston RFC