TAMAR SHIELD
CORNWALL CLUBS XV 59 – 5 DEVON CLUBS XV
By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground Redruth
Cornish cream rose decidedly to the top on a bright sunny afternoon in Redruth as Cornwall Clubs comprehensively defeated their Devonian opponents in this inaugural Tamar Shield fixture for players from level 8 down.
Just twenty-four hours after the Flora Day celebrations it was the Helston boys who led Devon a merry dance as they scored between them seven of Cornwall’s nine tries with man-of-the-match Amori Matanatabu scoring three spectacular scores.
Skipper Damien Cook proudly led out the side to the cheers of the good sized crowd as they eagerly awaited the cross-tamar clash.
Playing down the slope first half Cornwall soon got on the scoreboard. Devon infringed in their twenty-two, Cook took charge popping the ball in the corner himself. From the initial drive the ball went wide for Harry Walsh-Newton to send a cross kick out to Matanatabu to dot down an unconverted try.
Despite Devon losing a player to the sin-bin, for repeated high tackles, Cornwall didn’t add to their tally until the final ten minutes of the half. Tom Townsend, who kicked seven conversions during the match, put Matanatabu away for his second try of the match.
A 50:22 by Townsend gave Cornwall great field position in the twenty-two, the excellent Luke D’eath soared high to claim the ball allowing Walsh Newton to dart over for a try.
Cornwall still had time to score a fourth try when Liskeard-Looe Lion Archie Doidge went over following another powerful maul by the forwards. Half-time Cornwall Clubs led 24-0.
Devon got the opening try of the half when Tavistock’s Vaughan Glover was driven over by the pack. That was as good as it would get for the visitors as Matanatabu gleefully collected another cross-field kick, side-stepping the cover to dot down his third try.
Jack Jenkins came off the bench to dot down a couple of tries before getting a yellow card with fellow Helstonian Heydon Dark also bagging his score.
Cornwall’s final try came from Saint Dan Navas just before the final whistle to cap a marvellous occasion.
Cornwall Clubs XV (Helston, unless stated): Tom Townsend, Dan Navas (St. Austell II), Will Jenkin, Finn Deavin (Falmouth), Amori Matanatabu, Harry Walsh-Newton, Stevie Trenoweth; Andrius Zacharovas (Camborne II), Archie Doidge (Liskeard-Looe), Beau Danks (Newquay Hornets), Luke D’eath (Lankelly-Fowey), Damien Cook (Camborne II, Capt), George Smith (Newquay Hornets), Andy Rowe (Liskeard-Looe), Freddie Saxton (Bude).
Replacements: Finn Deveson (Newquay Hornets), Callum Looker (Camborne II), Hugh Noott (St. Austell II), Will Hockridge (Bude), Simon Bailey (Falmouth), Jamie Trewin, George Tregilgas (St. Austell II), Hayden Dark, Jack Jenkin, Luke Howe (Launceston II).
Cornwall Clubs scores: Tries, Matanatabu (3), Walsh-Newton, Doidge, J. Jenkin (2), Dark, Navas. Cons, Townsend (7)
Referee: Ben Sanders Crook (Cornwall RRS)
