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)