JASON LEONARD CUP UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
CORNWALL U.20, 46 – 15 DEVON U.20
By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground Redruth.
Cornwall Under 20s produced a storming second half performance to shock last season’s finalists in this competition and in the process reclaim the Brunel Cup played for between the two sides.
In front of a packed grandstand Cornwall began playing up the slope.
Devon looked the stronger side early on taking the lead through a try scored by Rob Hennessy, who also added the conversion.
A penalty kicked to the corner by skipper Oscar Marr put Cornwall 5 meters out, from the catch and drive Ted Hocking went close. Devon gave away a penalty and from a tap man-of-the-match Jack Sherratt crashed over for an unconverted try.
Hennessy nudged Devon further ahead with a penalty before Alfie Brooksbank intercepted a Devon pass on half-way making good ground before his well-timed pass put Marr in for the try, which was bettered by Robbie Paul.
Cornwall defended just before keeping Devon out as they stormed the line, Hocking seeing yellow for an infringement. The score remained 12-10 to Cornwall at the break.
Cornwall came out fired up for the second half, Barney Lewis put in a great run following turnover ball from Sherratt.
A Cornish scrum 5 meters out saw a big drive from the black and gold pack with Fin Robinson scoring on his home ground, Paul missed the conversion but he made up for it moments later with a penalty to put Cornwall two scores ahead.
Devon weren’t finished back they came with a superb try in the corner finish off acrobatically by Nyakallo Makate.
That was as close Devon would get as Cornwall scored twenty-six unanswered points during the final quarter. Sherratt bagged his second, with Lewis Riley Raikes and Bracken Headland all crossing the line. Conversions from Paul and two from Headland completed the scoring.
Cornwall Under 20’s head coach Richie Kevern was delighted with his side’s showing. “I am delighted with this win, Devon have been finalists for the last two seasons, so to beat them is a feather in our cap. We knew this was going to be a tough one. We have worked hard the last few weeks and I was pleased the boys stuck to the game plan giving us the reward at the end.
“First half I thought our half-backs Alfie Brooksbank and Oscar Marr controlled the game well, Oscar put us in good positions. The pack also put in a huge effort, second half our forwards really put us on the front foot, the whole squad fully contributed today with the replacements bringing energy at the right time.”
Cornwall U.20s: Barney Lewis, Bracken Headland (both Newquay H), Sam Blake (Truro), Robbie Paul (Redruth), Jack Jones (Penryn), Oscar Marr (Penzance & N), Callum Phillips (Wadebridge C), Ted Hocking (Penzance & N), Callum Jones (Launceston), Ed Boaden (Helston), Oli Wells (Redruth), Jack Sherratt (Helston), Oli Mount (Penryn), Fin Robinson (Redruth)
Replacements: Leo Armstrong-Lever (Helston), Archie Beetles (Wadebridge C), Riley Raikes (St. Austell), Dan Kent (Helston), Joel Pryor (Wadebridge C), Alfie Brooksbank (Camborne), Ethan Taylor (Redruth), Dan Navas (St. Austell).
Cornwall U.20 scores: Tries Sharratt 16, 69 Marr 26, Robinson 49, Lewis 71, Raikes 73, Headland 78, Cons, Paul 27,72, Headland 74,79 Pen Paul 64
