Dave Burrows poses the questions to Cornwall Women’s Captain Amy Bunt.
Cornwall name team for first County Championship game
CORNWALL NAME SIDE FOR COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER
By Bill Hooper
The selectors have announced the Cornwall side to face Somerset on Saturday May 6th at Redruth, kick-off 3 pm.
The side shows 13 players from last year’s Cup winning squad, amongst them new captain Fraser Honey.
As expected Redruth players make up the bulk of the side, with healthy contributions from both Camborne and St. Austell.
Chairman of Selectors Kevin Thomas said. “Training sessions have gone well, players have looked sharp and have all given the selectors and coaches a range of choice with most positions.
“It’s a big ask for players to commit to almost another full month of competitive rugby off the back of a long hard season.
“Cornish rugby is special, that’s why our players are so keen to commit, they can add to the Cornish legacy and help write their own bit of history.
He went on to add. “It’s a bit of a challenge bringing together players from all over the Country. We have filmed the sessions and sent videos to some players that couldn’t get to all sessions.
“Representative rugby is very different to club rugby, a bunch of players selected from different clubs thrust together to play competition rugby. It’s about if you are willing to fit in as much as your raw talent.”
Scrum-half Mike Austin, a product of Falmouth RFC, who scored the clinching try in last year’s final, makes the starting line up, whilst young Freddie Stevenson (Bude) comes in to partner Camborne’s Jack Heazelton in the second row.
Trelawny’s Army Player of the Year last season St. Austell’s Matt Shepherd, who has been in stellar form this season with the promotion winning Saints, starts at full-back.
The bench has experience; none more so than former captain Ben Hilton and prop Craig Williams. Sam Walker, another who began his playing with Falmouth and was pivotal in Cornwall Under 20’s Jason Leonard Cup win last season has a very good kicking game if required. Speed also from St. Austell wing Konnor Ewudzi, whilst Josh Semmens had a good outing in the Tamar Cup in March.
Ahead of Saturday’s game skipper Honey had this to say. “Training has gone very well over the past couple of weeks and the boys are chomping to get out on the pitch and put into practice the moves we have been learning. Hopefully, that will put us in a great place going into the game.
“We don’t know too much about the Somerset side, that allows us to concentrate on our own game, if we implement that then we will be in a good place.
“The squad are buzzing to be playing at Redruth in front of our supporters; we hope there is a good crowd to give us that extra 16th man to drive the boys on.”
Cornwall travel to Havant next week to play Hampshire before rounding off their group games at Camborne against Kent on May 20th.
Entry on the gate is £10 with Under 16s free.
Cornwall: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell), Jack Kessell (Camborne), Jack Simmons (Redruth), Duncan Tout (Tonbridge Juddians), Sam Parsons (St. Austell), Fraser Honey (Redruth, Capt), Mike Austin (Cinderford); Luke Barnes, Richard Brown, Jess Tompsett (all Redruth), Jack Heazelton (Camborne), Freddie Stevenson (Bude), Edd Pascoe, Sam Stevens, Ben Fox (all Redruth).
Replacements: Tommy-Lee Southworth (Camborne), Craig Williams (Redruth), Ben Hilton (Barnstaple), Jordan Nicholls (Camborne), Sam Walker (Exeter Uni), Konnor Ewudzi (St. Austell), Josh Semmens (Pirates Ams).
Cornwall Women name side to face Oxfordshire Women in Gill Burns opener
By Bill Hooper
As expected Cornwall Women have gone with a strong contingent from Launceston Ladies for their opening Gill Burns Division 2 game against Oxfordshire Women on Sunday May 7th at Polson Bridge Launceston RC kick-off 2 pm.
There are eight survivors from last season’s Gill Burns Division 3 final in Sunday’s match day squad, including Captain Amy Bunt.
Coach Jo Holden had this to say ahead of Sunday’s game. “After last year’s triumph, I am unbelievably proud to still be part of this amazing process. The buy in we have had from all the women this year has been incredible and they are constantly raising the bar. Our aim will always be to elevate women’s rugby and from the amount of women now involved across the county, I hope we are on the right track and can play this campaign with the same amount of passion we showed last year”.
Entry to the game at Polson Bridge on Sunday is £5 by programme, a first for a Cornwall Women’s match, a special souvenir in itself, with Under 16s free.
The ladies will appreciate a good crowd to come along and cheer them on, so don the black and gold and cheer like mad for Cornwall.
With Somerset Women having withdrawn from the competition a win on Sunday will see Cornwall Women through to the Division 2 semi-finals.
Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Lydia Hawkins (Falmouth), Jo Roberts (Plymstock AO), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Joey Sandercock (Launceston), Georgia Hall (Penryn), Amy Warman (Launceston); Mel Ruby (Launceston), Jenna Arnold (Launceston), Josie Ninnis (Penryn), Megan Arnold (Launceston), Sian Westgarth (Truro), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Rhiannon Thomas (Launceston), Katherine Wherry (Ivybridge).
Replacements: Kim Upcott (Launceston), Lara Wallace (Camborne), Caitlin Milliken (Camborne), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock AO), Lisa Allin (Bude), Rebecca Bennett (Truro), Bryher Freight (Truro).
Travelling Reserves: Oz Brazier (Truro), Laura Outten (Camborne)
Cornwall make one change for Dorset & Wilts
Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship campaign 2023 continues as we enter the knock-out stages of this seasons Jason Leonard Cup. Cornwall travel to North Dorset RFC on Sunday 7th May to take on Dorset and Wilts who were SW regional pool 1 winners.
CRFU President John Sumnall said “This is an opportunity for these guys to progress within this year’s competition. Last week the table showed us second after a fantastic victory over Somerset which meant that we were out of this season’s competition however, with several counties being deducted points included our neighbours Devon, it means Cornwall top Southwest pool 2”.
Cornwall narrowly lost their first game away to Devon 35 – 29 but came away with 2 losing bonus points. The second game Cornwall earned maximum points with a 38 – 28 victory over Gloucestershire whilst denying them a losing bonus point. Cornwall won handsomely in their last pool game 79 – 19 over Somerset.
Coach Rich Kevern said .“We asked for a massive performance against Somerset and the boys certainly put in a great shift and produced a superb win. We now must travel to Dorset and Wilts who topped Southwest pool 1 on Sunday and need another big performance. We are now into knock-out rugby, win and we progress or lose and end of season”.
The game will be played at North Dorset RFC with a 1400 kick off time.
Cornwall Captain Joss Pascoe said. “Every game we play now is crucial and we will not get another second chance. For several players including myself this is our last season with the U20 and so we must perform on the day. I know the boys are up for the challenge, but we also know some face a club v county dilemma. At the end of the day we will put out the best team available to us and give 110% whilst wearing the black and gold shirt”.
Cornwall make one change with Joss Pascoe moving to the bench and Jack Statton who had a powerful performance from the bench on the last outing earning the starting 13 shirt. Will Perkin (pictured above) takes over the captaincy role whilst Matt Pritchard at hooker takes up the vice captains’ role for this game. The winner of this game will face the winner of the Essex v Hampshire game and will be played on Sunday 21 May.
CRFU Chair Dave Saunter said. ” Logistically this causes all teams some headaches, with the senior men playing on the Saturday the senior women and the U20’s playing on the Sunday and of course this is the same day as the Papa John’s finals, which several Cornish could be involved in! A big thank you to all our supporters and sponsors, the players, coaches, and backroom staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support all our teams”.
Cornwall U.20: H Penhallurick (Falmouth), L Bostock (Truro), J Statton (Launceston), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), N Dart (Camborne), J Walker (Falmouth); M Cardwell (Pirates Ams), M Pritchard (Falmouth), M Boothby, J Maunder (both St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives, Capt), W Eddy (Pirates Ams), B Jones (Perranporth), C Triggs (Truro).
Replacements: P Harris (St. Austell), A Harris (St. Just), R Lawrence, J Peck, B Rosevear, F Deavin (all Falmouth), J Pascoe (Truro).
Cornwall U20 through to the Quarter-finals.
Cornwall U20 progress to the quarter-final of the Jason Leonard Cup after local rivals Devon
were deducted 7 points. Devon narrowly beat Cornwall 35 – 29 in the pool stage of the
competition to initially top the table.
Several changes to the regulations this year seems to have caught counties out and 9 of
them have had points deducted by the RFU disciplinary panel. All counties were informed
many times about the level from which they could select players with no player registered at
a level 4 club or above being eligible for selection. Counties also had to supply not only their
team list, which contains name, date of birth and club at which the player is registered but
also the individual RFU player registration numbers.
The RFU Competitions-Development committee also informed all counties that they would
be checking these lists to ensure compliance with the new regulations. Sadly 9 counties
have fallen foul of this regulation and have subsequently had point deducted.
Cornwall now go on to face south-west 1 pool winners Dorset and Wilts in the quarter-finals.
The game will take place on Sunday 7 may at North Dorset RFC with a 1400 kick off time.
Unfortunately, this weekend also clashes with the coronation, the senior men’s first match in
the Bill Beaumont Cup and the senior women’s first match in the Gill Burns Cup, and of
course the finals of the Papa John’s Cup!!
Colin Hatch, Cornwall Under 20 Team Manager
From St Agnes under 5’s to representing England in the deaf World Cup 7’s in Argentina!
By Colin Hatch, Cornwall Under 20 Team Manager
Nat Dart is the current U20’s flyhalf and has featured in 2 of the 3 pool games this season. He missed the game v Gloucestershire as he was selected to represent England deaf 7’s in the World cup in Argentina.
Nat was born deaf and has had to learn how to play and adapt with the condition. He wears hearing aids and lip reads to assist him in his game play, and a scrum cap to protect the hearing aids.
Nat started his career in his home town of St Agnes with their Under 5’s. He then played at Falmouth colts, Truro College and is currently register with Camborne RFC.
Nat had a call to go for the trials and travelled to Moulton College in Northamptonshire along with several others hoping to make the final 12 players selected to travel to Argentina. His skills and personality shone through, and he was selected in the final 12 to represent England. He was also the youngest member of the squad so as is tradition he had the honour of carrying and guarding the team
mascot throughout his time away!
Argentina was a great experience being played in its second city Córdoba, with a population of about 1.4 million and is the capital of Cordoba province. Nat said the weather was hot, the steaks fantastic and he managed to find some liquid refreshments to keep himself hydrated.
England came third in the competition losing in the semi-final to the eventual winners Wales. He did receive a trophy but more importantly an England shirt and Cap. This is his first season playing with the U20’s and several other players he has played with in different age groups, Joe Walker, Wes Eddy, and Jack Statton, and it is great to be able to play with them competitively in the Jason Leonard Cup this
season. It is an enjoyable learning environment and a great way to finish the season says Nat.
Nat is studying Sports and Exercise Science at Cardiff Met University which is a 3-year course, and he hopes to put to good use in his future career. Nat would like to play rugby at the highest level his skills will allow and of course one day add a senior Cornwall tie to his collection.
Nat would like to put a big thanks out to both St Agnes and Perranporth rugby clubs who raised money to fund his trip to represent the England deaf squad.
In total he had to raise £1500 which is a considerable amount of money in these current times and from one of the poorest areas in the country. The thanks must also go to all the people who assisted Nat during his career and encouraging him to go for it, that starts from at home to all the teams mentioned above.
It just shows how from humble beginnings with a disability it is no bar to what you can achieve if you believe, make sacrifices, and are prepared to put in the work. Nat has certainly proved he has all those attributes and joins a long list of Cornwall players who have earned international honours.
The whole Cornwall U20 squad and the wider rugby community salute Nat for his achievements.
Cornwall Under 20s shirt & cap presentations
Billy Searle was present at Camborne RFC on Sunday to make the shirt presentations to the players ahead of their game against Somerset Under 20s.
Following the game CRFU President John Sumnall made cap presentations to the following players;
Matt Pritchard, Connor Triggs, Lachlan Surridge and skipper Joss Pascoe.
As this was John’s final Under 20’s home game under his Presidency of the CRFU, the Under 20s made a framed shirt presentation to John as well as a good bottle of red wine, to thank him for his support during his term of office.
Cornwall’s try bonanza falls short of play-off place
JASON LEONARD CUP
CORNWALL U.20, 79 – 19 SOMERSET U.20
By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground Camborne
Despite Cornwall running in an impressive 13 tries in this big win, Devon’s single point victory against Gloucestershire in Cheltenham confirmed them as pool winners and it they who now advance to a South-West play-off against Dorset & Wilts on May 7th.
One interested spectator at the game was the recently appointed Cornwall Women’s captain Amy Bunt.
Knowing that their fate was not totally in their hands, Cornwall set about the job in-hand, to win and by as many points as they could score.
It did not take long for Cornwall to put the Camborne scorer to work. Good play from No.8 Connor Triggs put his wing Lewis Bostock clear, the Truro flyer finished in style, fly-half Nat Dart kicking the first of his six successful conversions.
Bostock then turned provider for Dart just 2 minutes later with some good play from forwards and backs in the build up.
Ollie Lamb made a good break for Somerset, but flanker Ben Jones did remarkably to cover for Cornwall.
Hooker Matt Pritchard and Bostock were involved in the build up to scrum-half Joe Walker’s try, before Pritchard secured the bonus point score with aplomb under the posts.
Cornwall’s free-flowing rugby saw further tries before half-time from skipper Joss Pascoe, from a quickly taken tap and impressive St. Ives lock Will Perkin.
Somerset finally troubled the scoreboard on half-time with a good try from their No.8 Kieran Leach bettered by Lamb to leave the score 38-7 to Cornwall at half-time.
Cornwall began the second period strongly with the impressive Jones scoring after several phases.
3 pm arrived with a cacophony of mobile phones sounding the national alert, to the great amusement of the crowd.
Triggs was the next to get his name on score-sheet following a powerful break from Perkin.
Zach Driscoll-Pike pulled a try back for the visitors with Lamb again on the money with the extras.
Both sides turned to their benches; some close quarter work near the Somerset line was finished off strongly by prop Rowan Lawrence.
Further Cornish tries came from Harvey Penhallurick, Peter Harris,Fin Deavin and finally Jack Statton, with Ben Rosevear adding a conversion.
After the game coach Richie Kevern was pleased with his side’s performance. He said. “It was a great way to finish, we went out to do a number today, we knew we had to run up a big score and hope Gloucestershire could do us a favour, we did our part but Devon scored a late try to win their game and it is they who go forward. I think we saw today the fruits of the hard work put in by the lads, some of their play was simply breath-taking. I am sure some will be looking to Divisional representation going forward.”
Cornwall U.20: H Penhallurick (Falmouth), L Bostock (Truro), J Pascoe (Truro, Capt), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), N Dart (Camborne), J Walker (Falmouth); M Cardwell (Pirates Ams), M Pritchard (Falmouth), M Boothby, J Maunder (both St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives), W Eddy (Pirates Ams), B Jones (Perranporth), C Triggs (Truro).
Replacements: P Harris (St. Austell), A Harris (St. Just), R Lawrence, J Peck, B Rosevear, F Deavin (all Falmouth), J Statton (Launceston).
Cornwall scores: Tries, Bostock, Dart, Walker, Pritchard, Pascoe, Perkin, Jones, Triggs, Lawrence, Penhallurick, P. Harris, Deavin, Statton, Cons, Dart 6, Rosevear.
Duchy Cup Finals Day at Falmouth RFC – Results
This season’s Duchy Cup Finals will be held at the Recreation Ground Falmouth on Saturday 22nd April.
At 2 pm Falmouth RFC will be playing Alton in the quarter-finals of Papa Johns.
The programme of matches are listed below;
Duchy Shield Final
Saltash II, 36 – 7 St. Ives II @ Tregenver Pitch, Old Grammar School
Senior Duchy Shield Final
Bude II, 19 – 16 Wadebridge Camels II @ Main Pitch
Duchy Cup Final
Veor-Holman II, 6 -13 St. Austell Spartans @ Main Pitch
Duchy Senior Cup Final
St. Austell Sinners, 74 – 0 Redruth II @ Main Pitch
Congratulations to the winners, commiserations to the runners-up.
Falmouth President’s XV pip Cornwall President’s XV in Anniversary Game
Report by Stuart Hood
Playing with the wind a strong Falmouth squad applied early pressure with some good phase play. Cornwall President’s XV showing three changes from the original squad displayed some strong defence and held Falmouth at bay for the first quarter of an hour when Harry Walsh-Newton jinked over to give Falmouth President’s and early 5-0 lead.
Cornwall President’s struggled with keeping the ball and Falmouth wing Ollie Evans dived in the corner to take the score with the conversion to 12-0.
Cornwall started to find their feet before half time and strong running from the Perranporth trio of Ollie Roots, Kris Evans and Ben Jones led to Jones racing in from the 22 with Justyn Irons converting which was quickly followed by an Irons penalty to leave the game in the balance at half time at 12-10.
Cornwall rang the changes at half time with Wadebridge Camels props Daubroy Delahunty and Dan Coleman replacing the hard-working Eaton and Penrose. Ashley Lawton also returned to County action with Simmonds replacing Hodge in the back row and Saltash’s strong running centre Sam Snell making his debut for Cornwall President’s.
Whilst the changes led to some strong runs from Snell and Job in the centres Falmouth showed good continuity with two tries in the third quarter.
Cornwall found some gaps in the final 15 minutes with Roots searing breaks leading to a well deserved try on 72 minutes leaving the final score 24-15 to Falmouth Presidents XV.
Cornwall President’s XV:
15. Ollie Roots, 14. Kris Evans, 13.Tommy Job, 12. Ben Jones (all Perranporth), 11. Steve Trenoweth (Camborne), 10. Justyn Irons (Perranporth), 9. Jack Pritchard (Saltash); 1. Akiva Eaton (Veor-Holman), 2. Axel Nicks (Saltash), 3. Matt Penrose (Camborne), 4. Aaron McPherson (Newquay Hornets), 5. James Harrison-Evans (Camborne), 6. Sam Hodge (Wadebridge Camels), 7. Sam Bartle (Veor-Holman, Capt), 8. Morgan Gatrix (Camborne).
Replacements: 16. Dan Coleman, 17. Daubroy Delahunty, 18. Oliver Simmonds (all Wadebridge Camels), 19. Ashley Lawton (Perranporth), 20. Sam Snell (Saltash).
