Gill Burns Cup

Hampshire Women 41 – 19 Cornwall Women

By Steve Murley at Havant RFC

In a fantastic game at Havant  on Sunday, Cornwall Women gave a great display and were always in the game against a Hampshire team who have won the past two Gill Burns County Championship Division 2 titles, before succumbing 41-19 following a late flurry of tries.

Hampshire started the game  and almost immediately, skipper Amy Bunt fielded a long clearance and set off on a side-stepping, careering 50m run taking play deep into the Hants 22m. If there was ever any doubt about it, it was now clear that Head Coach, Jo Holden and her coaching team had sent her team out to take the game to a Hants team dominated by 14 players from Championship 2, including 7 from league champions, Trojans who now move onto Championship 1.

Stung into action Hants responded with wave after wave of attacks inching closer to the Cornish line. A penalty for a high tackle, a momentary loss of concentration and live wire Hants scrum half,  Hannah Kemish, darted over for the opening  try after 8 minutes Hants 5 – 0 Cornwall.

Hants were settling to their work. Outstanding outside centre, Rose Brown, launched a 40m penalty kick to touch into the Cornish 22 to set up a prime attacking opportunity. Hants fly half Hannah Wilson made a cute break and it was Brown on her shoulder to finish the move and add the conversion. 10 minutes gone Hants 12 – 0 Cornwall.

Through all of this early pressure, the Cornish had been steadily building and asserting their  scrum dominance. with Kim Upcott, Teigan Aitken and Libbie Cole having the upper hand.  The forwards took a scrum against the head and forced a penalty from the next scrum for standing up which was kicked to the corner.

Cornish backs and forwards drove hard at a Hants defence which was standing firm but conceding penalties resulting in their hooker being shown a yellow card for a high tackle. Cornwall, now in the ascendancy, kept up the pressure and it was Libbie Cole who charged over under the posts for a well deserved  Cornish score, converted by Georgia Hall. 20 minutes Hants 12 – 7 Cornwall.

The next 15 minutes saw Hants just shading the possession stats but coming up against a determined and aggressive Cornish defence while the Cornish themselves has several good attacking opportunities with Upcott prominent close to the line with her bullocking runs hard to hold.

With 5 minutes to go, strong running Hants no 8 Tash Bullock drove hard at the Cornish defence making good ground and from the resulting ruck hooker Forry dived over. 36 minutes Hants 17 – Cornwall 7

Upcott was replaced by Jessica Varker in the 36th minute and the half ended with a determined Cornwall pounding away at the Hants line but just not able to get the ball down.

Half time Hants 17 – 7 Cornwall

It was Hants who got the first second half score with a magnificent, width flowing backs move that saw their right winger touch down into the corner. 43 minutes Hants 22 – 7 Cornwall

Coach Holden decided to freshen up her team on 45 minutes with Cornish number 8 Roberta Smith-Scotland replaced by Nic Rowland and Suz Franks taking over from Meg Tucker.

Hants pushed hard for the next 10 minutes but could not find  a way through. From a turn over a brilliant break from outside centre Abigail Smith carried play deep into the Hants half, from the quick ruck the Cornish backs showed quick hands to get the ball to winger Tia Larson who bravely finished in the corner requiring several minutes of attention after her great effort. 58 minutes Hants 22 – 12 Cornwall

Holden again went to her bench after this try with Jenna Arnold on for Teigan Aitken and Josie Ninnis replacing Libbie Cole

Cornwall now had their tails up and with debutant flanker Izzy Burrows putting in the hard yards with some eye catching drives,  Hants found themselves again under pressure. So severe was the Hants defence tested that they found themselves down to 13 players after the ref issued 2 yellow cards in quick succession.

In what was probably the key period of the match Cornwall attacked time and again but 13 woman Hants showed their Champions credentials with their determined defence as the Cornish just could not make the numerical advantage pay. Several times the black and gold were held up over the line, while there were key turn overs with Hants number 8 Bullock prominent. Cornwall just could not find the gaps in the Hants defence.

Cornwall made their final replacements on 70 minutes with Lisa Allin replacing veteran Amy Warman, Vinnie James for Rhiannon Thomas and Faith Rowe for Megan Okey.

Drawing inspiration from their titanic 13 woman defensive effort Hants launched into the attack in the final 10 minutes scoring tries in the 72 and 75 minute against a tiring Cornish side

72 minutes Hants 27 – 12 Cornwall

75 minutes Hants 34 – 12 Cornwall

In the 70th  minute Suz Franks saw yellow for a deliberate knock on

Cornwall took a deep breath and launched their final attack working the ball wide for inspirational skipper Bunt to touch down wide on the right

78 minutes Hants 34 – 19 Cornwall

Hants were not to be denied and deservedly had the final say when a lovely blind side move saw quick hands allow them to score wide out on the left. Centre Brown converted brilliantly from near the touch line to give a final score of Hants 41 – 19 Cornwall 

FT Hants 41 – 19 Cornwall

This was always going to be a tough ask against a side dominated by 14 players from Championship 2 teams Havant and Trojans who as champions move up to Championship 1. Cornwall once again punched above their weight and can take great heart from a skilful, gutsy and determined performance. They were held up over the line 4 times and will be working hard on ways of converting  half chances into tries.

This is a young and developing side while they can be proud of their performance against an experienced title winning Hampshire,  their desire and drive to improve will push them on to achieve even more in the black and gold, starting at Kingsholm on Saturday when they face Gloucestershire Women.

Cornwall Women (Launceston unless stated): Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Tia Larson (Bude), Abigail Smith, Georgia Hall (Penryn), Megan Tucker, Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Teigan Aitken (Penryn), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold, Rhiannon Thomas, Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Izzy Burrows (Truro), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Devonport Services).

Replacements: Jenna Arnold, Jessica Ann Varker (Helston), Josie Ninnis, Vinnie James (Bude), Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Faith Rowe (Camborne), Lisa Allin (Bude), Suz Franks

Cornwall scores: Tries, Cole 16, Larson 53, Bunt 77, Cons, Hall 17, 78

Thirty players have been named in this season’s Gill Burns Cup squad by the coaching team headed by Jo Holden.

Unsurprisingly there are 11 players from Launceston Ladies who this season have won promotion to Championship 2 next season.

Cornwall Women have a challenging pool to navigate commencing with a trips to Hampshire and Gloucestershire before their home game at Polson Bridge against Devon, which will also see a Women’s Tamar Cup competed for for the first time.

“Congratulations to the players who have come through the trials, now we get down to preparing that first game against Hampshire at Havant.”

Jo Holden had this to say. “Once again it’s been a difficult selection process with many players trialling to get into the squad. This shows the progress the Women’s game is making throughout the length and breadth of Cornwall. This will only grow with the Women’s World Cup this summer.

FIXTURES

Sun 18 May, Hampshire Women v Cornwall Women @ Havant RFC, 2 pm

Sat 24 May, Gloucestershire Women v Cornwall Women @ Kingsholm, Gloucester RFC 2 pm

Sun 01 Jun, Cornwall Women v Devon Women @ Launceston RC 2pm