GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2

HERTFORDSHIRE WOMEN 5 – 42 CORNWALL WOMEN

By Bill Hooper

Cornwall Women put in a tremendous performance at a blustery Tabard to keep their hopes of progress in this season’s competition alive until the final round of matches next Sunday.

It was Herts Women, known as the Stags, who scored first when a stray kick into the Herts half was fielded by their wing Lydia Edwards, she showed a great turn of speed to out flank the Cornish cover and score under the sticks, the conversion however was missed, but Cornwall had been given a warning regarding any loose kicks.

Cornwall levelled matters following great work from skipper Amy Bunt, Millie Chaston  and Emily Kneale before Kim Upcott powered over.

Gradually Cornwall began to get the upper hand through the forwards, the breakdown was much improved from the Hampshire game with good ball secured creating attacking platforms.

Kneale and Upcott kept carrying the ball to good effect, whilst the centre pairing of Lily Relton and Tia Larson were full of running. Lisa Allin at scrum-half was industrious, probing and sniping around the fringes with same again when Amy Warman came on during the second half.

Cornwall took the lead from a tap penalty which saw Megan Okey score by the posts, she also converted her own try.

Herts pressed in the Cornwall twenty-two, the play broke down, suddenly Amy Bunt was on her way charging some 60 meters, evading tackles to dot down a memorable try.

Just before half-time, Allin got her due reward when she spotted a gap to bag the bonus point try for a 22-5 advantage.

Georgia Hall came on after half-time as Cornwall were forced to reorganise the backs and she immediately got on the score-sheet to extend the lead.

Larson put in several of her trademark charges, almost getting her just reward, Okey completed her brace of tries before Joey Sandercock completed the scoring with her own couple of tries to seal a resounding victory.

After the game coach Jo Holden was understandably very pleased. “We have built on the Hampshire game and today we have seen the fruits of the hard work the girls have put in. We will enjoy the trip home and then back to training and preparation for the trip to Somerset. There is still a job to be done, we will roll the dice up at Taunton and see how they land after 80 minutes.”

Cornwall Women travel to Somerset next Sunday knowing that a win could give them a potential semi-final place depending on results elsewhere.

Herts Women: Clare Cranfield (Hitchin), Sarah Bello, Cayla Du Plessis, Livi Grace Hunt (all Welwyn), Lydia Edwards (Hitchin), Ella Whytock (Capt), Anabel Pidgeon (both Harpenden); Sophie Battams (Cheshunt), Heather Holmes (Harpenden), Millie Rennell (Bedford Blues), Emma Powdrell (Harpenden), Mercy Onu, Laura Stephens, (both Hitchin), Abbie Ambrose, Natalie Randall (both Welwyn).

Replacements: Verity Kennett (Cheshunt), Courtnay Burns (Tabard), Nina Wilkinson, Jemimah Orphanou (both Welwyn), Millie Coulbeck (Sudbury), Charli  Knibbs (Welwyn), Amelia Jenkins (RVC).

Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Capt), Millie Chaston (both Ivybridge), Tia Larson (Bude), Lily Relton (Truro), Joey Sandercock (Launceston), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Lisa Allin (Bude); Jenna Arnold (Launceston), Emily Carbis (Devonport S), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (both Launceston),Caitlin Milliken (Ivybridge), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Emily Kneale (Launceston)

Replacements: Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Caitlin Eddy (Helston), Abigail Smith (Launceston), Georgia Hall (Penryn),  Amy Warman, Rachel Hicks (both Launceston),

Cornwall scores: Tries Upcott 12, Okey 22, 59, Bunt 28, Allin 36, Hall 44, Sandercock 66, 79, Cons, Okey 23

GILL BURNS CUP DIVISION 2

CORNWALL WOMEN 10 – 24 HAMPSHIRE WOMEN

By Bill Hooper at St Clements Hill Truro

Cornwall Women gave reigning Division 2 Champions Hampshire Women a far tougher game than perhaps they envisaged as they made their way down to Truro on the coach.

Against a side that was made up of players predominately from Havant and Trojans clubs, the Cornwall side played their hearts out.

Captain Amy Bunt proudly led her side out through a guard of honour made up of the children of past and current Cornwall Women players.

The early stages of the game saw both defences tested with Cornwall putting in some crunching tackles.

Eventually the visitors got a chance when Abi Pearson slipped a great pass to Becky Fenn who scored in the corner an unconverted try.

Hampshire looked to press home their advantage, but the Cornish defence was equal to them with Bunt putting in a crunching tackle typifying their spirit.

Despite losing a player to a yellow card Cornwall held out, clearing their lines and it remained 5-0 to Hampshire at half-time.

Early in the second half Cornwall slipped off a tackle allowing the speedy Pearson to dot down Hampshire’s second try, Rose Brown added the conversion.

To keep in the hunt Cornwall needed the next score and it came following great work from forwards and backs, notably Kim Upcott and Becky Bennett before Jenna Arnold cleverly scored an unconverted try to huge cheers from the crowd.

Cornwall backs were looking hungry, both centres Tia Larson and Lilly Relton put in some good breaks, but it was Hampshire who went further ahead when Kesha Drain went over from close range, Brown again adding the extras.

With the game now in the final 10 minutes Cornwall pressed for another score, Upcott was again involved in the build-up as were Relton and Joey Sandercock, the ball was fired out to Larson, her power beat the tackle to dot down Cornwall’s second try to even more rousing cheers.

With the final play of the game Hampshire, to their huge relief, scored a fourth try through Cerys Ralph to ensure the bonus point win, the drained look on their faces testimony they had been in a battle.

Coach Jo Holden was full of praise for her side’s performance. “We’ve come a long way from last season’s score line, 0-38. The girls have taken on board everything we asked of them. Hampshire were shall we say surprised by our play today, they didn’t expect that and it rattled them.

“They put their bodies on the line tackling everything that moved, then showing tremendous guts to fight back and get those two scores, a never say die attitude. I couldn’t be prouder of them all.

“We will build on today going into next Sunday’s game against Hertfordshire.”

Cornwall Women: Amy Bunt (Capt), Millie Chaston (both Ivybridge), Tia Larson (Bude), Lily Relton (Truro), Rebecca Bennett (Ivybridge), Megan Okey (Ivybridge), Amy Warman; Jenna Arnold (both Launceston), Emily Carbis (Devonport S), Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold (both Launceston),Caitlin Milliken (Ivybridge), Rosie Ninnis (Penryn), Elizabeth Langton (Ivybridge), Roberta Smith-Scotland (Plymstock)

Replacements: Nicole Rowland (Ivybridge), Zeta Penrose (Truro), Vicki Doidge (Launceston), Paige Clarke (Penryn), Lisa Allin (Bude), Joey Sandercock, Abigail Smith (both Launceston)

Hampshire Women: Abi Pearson, Nina Hoadley (both Havant), Rose Brown (Trojans), Jay Sime (Havant), Rebecca Fenn, Hannah Wilson (both Trojans), Lauren Gillingham (Havant); Kesha Drain, Thea Kilby, Ashleigh Robertson (all Trojans), Carol Tennant, Tessa Gale, Eloise Shrimpton (all Havant), Hannah Blount (Trojans) Natasha Bullock (Havant).

Replacements: Katie Casey, Lucy King (both Havant), Ciera Forry, Georgie Harris (both Portsmouth), Cerys Ralph (Havant), Jenna Berretta (Trojans), Ella Spacey (Winchester)

Referee: James Milliner-Woodcock