Cornwall President’s XV 50 – 12 Royal Navy Under 23s
Report to follow
CRFU President back at Camborne
CRFU President Andy Reed attended Camborne’s last home game against Lymm RFC in National League 2 West.
Whilst he was at Crane Park, Andy was delighted to present Camborne RFC with a plaque which acknowledged the club having nurtured a British & Irish Lion, namely Andy himself.
Also attending was Dave Saunter Cornwall Clubs Rep to the RFU Council.
Picture by Steve Monk
Cornwall President’s XV v Royal Navy U.23
Cornwall President’s XV will play the Royal Navy Under 23s at St. Austell RFC on Wednesday 29th October 7:30 pm. Gate entry £5, Under 16s free.
Introducing our new Rep of Cornish Clubs on RFU Council
Cornwall RFU would like to introduce David Saunter as our representative on the England Rugby Football Union Council.
For those of you who have not worked alongside Dave or had the privilege of meeting him, below is a little backstory.
Inspired by his PE teacher at secondary school, Dave has been involved in rugby for 50 years both on the field and off.
As a player at Bodmin RFC he is proud to have made over 1000 appearances in a club shirt. Off the field he has been on the Club Committee since 1988. He has held many offices and at present he is a trustee of the Club.
Whilst playing and since retiring he has also been a referee. When a little fitter, he was happy at level 7, now does any level match given, helping with the youth and women’s matches on a Sunday.
Driven to promote and support the community game Dave joined the CRFU Management Board as Chair of Youth and Education.
For the last five years he has been our County Chairman. A great believer in “change is good and not to give into stagnation” he has now handed this role to his successor.
Last season he was also Team Manager for the Cornwall Women’s team.
On a personal note, Dave is married to Jenny and has two grown up children.
Dave is very proud to have been elected on to the ERFU Council on behalf of the CRFU.
Contact Details:
Mobile: 07554010480
Please disseminate this information to your clubs and update your records accordingly. Many thanks in advance.
CRFU grateful for Army support
Attending this year’s Trelawny’s Army AGM CRFU Chair Steve Murley accepted a cheque for £600 in respect of colts rugby for the forthcoming season. The CRFU appreciate the ongoing support from Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club of the Colts finals day at the end of the season, as well as the other generous support they provide over the course of the year at various level CRFU officials were on hand to assist in the presentation of the various player awards made by TASC
Also present on the evening were CRFU Officers, Kevin and Tanya Thomas.
New CRFU Senior Men’s Team Manager
Cornwall RFU are delighted to welcome Alan Church as the County’s Senior Men’s Team Manager.
After a career in the Royal Navy spanning 37 years, Alan has spent the past 17 years working with the Royal Navy Rugby Union (RNRU) initially as Secretary, and latterly as their Sports Development Officer.
Throughout this time he has gained extensive experience in the many facets associated with management of a Constituent Body and is also vastly experienced in the planning and execution of fixtures. Through this work, he formed strong bonds with the players and coaches of all five RNRU representative teams.
Alan first moved to Cornwall in 1982 and, after a spell away, returned and took up permanent residence in 2007.
Kevin Thomas
Chairman of Representative Rugby
Two stalwarts of Cornish rugby honoured at CRFU AGM
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.
Roger Watson R.I.P.
It is with great sadness that the CRFU learned today of the passing of our former Honorary Secretary Roger Watson.
Roger’s passion for Cornish rugby was demonstrated by the many roles he undertook in the game.
As well as afforded Life Membership by his club Redruth RFC, he was also made a Life Member by Trelawny’s Army Supporter’s club
Our thoughts are with Nikki and all the family at this sad time.
The following appeared on Redruth RFC’s website earlier today;
Roger held many roles in his service to the game. Roger was the first Honorary Secretary of Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club and in 1994 Honorary Secretary of Cornwall Schools (16 Group) and sat on the CRFU Committee. From 2001 to 2014 Roger was the Honorary Secretary to Redruth RFC and travelled the length and breadth of the country in support of the Reds. In recognition of his service to the club, Roger was awarded Life Membership. In 2015 Roger became Honorary Secretary to the CRFU and held this position until 2018 whilst also holding the position of Secretary to Cornwall’s Disciplinary Committee. Soon after Roger and Nikki, along with their son Rawlyn moved to the Rhymney Valley in South Wales to be closer to their daughter Esyld and young Granddaughter Isla. Roger continued to love the game and was still attending matches locally last season.
Funeral details will be posted when available.
Cornwall Women win Tamar Cup
A stirring second half performance saw Cornwall Women overturn a ten point half-time deficit to win the inaugural Women’s Tamar Cup 31-27 at Polson Bridge.
Devon’s two bonus points from the game were enough to confirm them as group winners and progression to the semi-finals.
Match report below
GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2
CORNWALL WOMEN 31 – 27 DEVON WOMEN
By Bill Hooper at Polson Bridge.
On a glorious afternoon at Polson Bridge both sides served up a feast of attacking rugby for the four figure crowd.
For Cornwall the spoils of the game and with it the Tamar Cup that captain Amy Bunt proudly lifted in front of the grandstand.
Devon too had much to celebrate, two bonus points from the game enough to see them top the group and advance to the semi-finals.
Devon kicked off towards the Devon end and immediately put Cornwall under pressure.
Cornwall defended well but gave away too many penalties, eventually the Devon pressure told when the ball was worked wide to wing Charleigh Hopkin to dot down.
Having missed the conversion Devon’s Beth Plumpton kicked a routine penalty from in front of the posts to stretch their lead.
Cornwall needed to get into the game, Abi Smith sounded the charge with a good run, the first of many. Cornwall kicked a penalty to the corner from which scrum-half Amy Warman fed Michaella Roberts, the No.8 used her strength to power over for a try bettered by Georgia Hall.
Roberts was again involved when Cornwall took the lead, she linked with Smith who’s pass found Bunt who scored an unconverted try in the corner.
Smith then showed her defensive qualities with a crunching tackle on a Devon player that left her square on her back!
The threat from Devon on the wings was still there and when the ball reached Issy Edworthy the Okehampton wing showed her speed to outpace the cover and score under the sticks allowing Plumpton a simple conversion.
Despite losing No.8 Megan Heath to a yellow card Devon scored again before half-time through the impressive Edworthy, Plumpton’s extras giving the visitors a 22-12 lead at half-time.
The break allowed the Cornwall Women’s team from 1994 to parade around the ground, players that Cornwall head coach Jo Holden described as “true pioneers who laid the foundations for what we have now.”
Cornwall came out for the second half in determined mood. An early try-scoring chance just failed to go to hand with line beckoning.
The Cornish forwards through Roberts, Kim Upcott and Izzy Burrows were making ground.
A quick tap penalty from Warman near the Devon line led to Meg Okey charging over near the posts allowing Hall the conversion.
Just as Cornwall had Devon in their sights a moment of lapse concentration allowed Edworthy to escape the clutches to score her third try.
With both sides turning to their respective benches, it was Cornwall who finished the stronger. Leading by example Bunt shrugged off a tackle to score in the corner to bring Cornwall to within three points.
Devon then lost Plumpton to a yellow card as Cornwall now pressed hard.
The winning score came from another quick tap penalty from Warman who found Smith who scored near the posts, Hall’s conversion completed the scoring as Cornwall saw out the game.
Speaking after the match head coach Jo Holden said. “They put everything out there today I am so proud of each and every one of them.
“Winning the Tamar Cup is a huge milestone for us as we strive to improve each season, this is a very good Devon side we beat today. I can’t wait for next season and where it can take us as a group.”
Cornwall Women (Launceston unless mentioned): Amy Bunt (Ivybridge, Capt), Tia Larson (Bude), Abigail Smith, Georgia Hall (Penryn), Lisa Allin (Bude), Meg Okey (Ivybridge), Amy Warman; Libbie Cole, Teigan Aitkin (Penryn), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold, Rhiannon Thomas, Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Izzy Burrows (Truro), Michaella Roberts (Ivybridge).
Replacements: Janna Arnold, Jessica Varker (Helston), Josie Ninnis, Vinnie James (Bude), Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Faith Rowe (Camborne), Lydia Hawkins (Falmouth).
Cornwall scores: Tries Roberts 19, Bunt 24, 56, Okey 52, Smith 74, Cons, Hall 20, 53, 75
Referee: Rob Lowe (Plymouth RRS)
Crowd: 1,054
Cornwall Star Player: Michaella Roberts
Cornwall finish on a high
BILL BEAUMONT CUP
HAMPSHIRE 32 – 41 CORNWALL
By Bill Hooper
Cornwall travelled to Havant looking to finish their programme on a high following the defeat to Kent last Saturday.
In the event both sides looked to serve up some running rugby to royally entertain the crowd. Cornwall’s second half performance saw them build up a good lead and see off a late Hampshire revival.
It was the homeside who scored first, a cross-field kick from fly-half Lewis Dennett found wing Jack Phillips who crossed in the corner.
Cornwall eventually responded when Matt Shepherd made a good break feeding wing Harry Larkins for an unconverted try.
Cornwall were falling foul of the referee as the penalty count against them mounted, it was no surprise that Hampshire re-took the lead when prop Dan Sargent crashed over.
Shepherd was again involved in Pat Walton’s try and this time he added the extras. Good play from Shepherd and Jordan Nicholls set up Jack Counter for Cornwall’s third try.
Nicholls was constantly looking to jackal the ball at the breakdown.
Hampshire levelled the scores before the break when Phillips bagged his second try which was bettered by Dennett.
Hampshire made the better start to the second half, a good run from wing Jack Colbourne led to a Hampshire penalty from which hooker Cam Boa scored.
Cornwall now began to get the upper-hand. Tom Cowan-Dickie took a quick tap from 5 meters out which led to a Dan Rutter try under the posts, with Shepherd adding the conversion.
Rutter then kicked a fine 50/22 which set up Shepherd for a try that he bettered. It was then the turn of Ben Hancock to get on the scoresheet with Shepherd’s conversion Cornwall led 38-22.
Luke Barnes thought he had scored but the referee ruled it out. Shepherd added a penalty as Hampshire scored two late tries through Phillips and Sargent, but Cornwall had enough in hand to see out the game.
Cornwall: Matt Shepherd (St. Austell, Capt), Harry Larkins (Camborne), Ben Plummer (St. Austell), Sam James (Redruth), Jack Counter (Wadebridge C), Dan Rutter (Redruth), CJ Boyce (Camborne); Luke Barnes, Tom Cowan-Dickie (both Redruth), Sam Rodman (Camborne), Dan Goldsmith (Launceston), Pat Walton (Barnes), Adam Hughes, Jordan Nicholls (both Camborne), Hugo Culverhouse (Tonbridge J).
Replacements: Pete Harris, Matt Boothby (both St. Austell), Rohan Ewels (Falmouth), Ben Hancock (Bude), Brandon Rowley (Launceston), Adam Powell (St. Austell), Will Hennessy (Camborne), Archie Bees (St. Austell).
Cornwall scores, Tries, Larkins 13, Walton 20, Counter 22, Rutter 46, Shepherd 52, Hancock 58, Cons, Shepherd 21, 47, 53, 59, Pen, Shepherd 68
