As he prepares to step down after more than 40 years service on the CRFU, past President David Martin reflects on a unique season for Cornish representative rugby.
A time to reflect and appreciate the achievements of Cornwall’s County XVs. Never obtained before, Cornwall’s three representative teams brought back across the Tamar the Bill Beaumont Cup, the Jason Leonard Cup and the Gill Burns Division Three Trophy.
Congratulations must go, not only to the players involved, but to the Selectors, Coaches, Physios and Back-up Staff who so ably supported the teams on the field. Thanks go to Trelawny’s Army for their ever-loyal support at Camborne, Redruth, Launceston, Hayle, Dorchester, Hertford, Wigan, Worcester, Richmond and Twickenham.
None of this would be possible without the financial backing of St.Austell Brewery, Jewson, O’Neills, Kelsall Steele Investment Services Limited, Eden Project, Trelawny’s Army, Hopley’s and RRL. The CRFU is extremely grateful.
BILL BEAUMONT COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP CUP FINAL
CHESHIRE 24 POINTS – CORNWALL 37
Will Trewin try
Jack Oulton 2 tries
Fraser Honey 4 cons
3 pens
Cheshire’s squad comprised 15 players from Caldy RFC and 6 from Sale FC.
Caldy topped the National League 1, winning 23 of their 28 matches played and Sale were second winning 22 matches. Cornwall’s squad included 12 players from the Redruth Club that plays in National League 2 South. So, on paper, Cheshire were clear favourites, but this show-down was to be played on the hallowed turf of the RFU’s Twickenham Stadium not on paper! Cheshire’s confidence was clear to see – one of their committee told us to expect a 100 point beating!
Cornwall did not read the script! They quickly went into a 14 point lead with two magnificent tries, but, as was to be expected, Cheshire hit back and dominated the exchanges for long periods. However Cornwall’s defence was solid and well organised and stood firm.
A decisive factor was the immaculate kicking of Fraser Honey who not only landed 3 penalty goals but kicked all 4 conversions. The game was put beyond doubt by one of the best individual tries seen at Twickenham. In ‘time-added-on’ replacement scrum-half Mike Austin took a pass from his skipper Kyle Marriott in his own ‘22’ and ran 80 metres plus, shrugging off a number of would-be tacklers, to score under the posts and send the multitude of Trelawny’s Army into raptures!
This memorable victory took Cornwall’s total to seven Championship wins, adding to 1908, 1991, 1999, 2015, 2016 and 2019, and completed the treble – the Under 20s and the Women had already won their trophies.
JASON LEONARD UNDER 20 COUNTY FINAL
CORNWALL 24 POINTS – KENT 21
Sam Walker try, 3 cons, pen
Declan Prowse try
Pat Walton try
GILL BURNS DIVISION 3 COUNTY FINAL
CORNWALL WOMEN 36 POINTS – NOTTS. LINCS & DERBY 17
Tia Larsen 2 tries
AmyBunt 2 tries
Emma Stefanotti 2 tries
Holly Williams 2 cons
Faith Rowe con
