Rugby Football Union
We are delighted to announce that Man Down Cornwall has been chosen as our charity to support during 2020.
The announcement was made at the Cornwall team get-together held at the Eden Project on Sunday 9th February.
In addition we will also be supporting Wooden Spoon during 2020.
We look forward to raising as much as possible during the year for these worthy causes.
Subsequent to an earlier post made on 23rd January, it is evident that some clubs are still not following the format as detailed below;
The other great news is that the groups will have a conclusion top 4 will play each other on 18th April 1v4, 2v3 with final for each group on 25th April, highest placed finalist in each group will host.
Dave Saunter
Chairman Cornwall RFU
It is with great sadness I have to share the news that Ray Hunt, President of Bodmin RFC has passed away.
Ray died peacefully on Sunday in Bodmin Hospital. Bodmin RFC is in its 50s season and Ray has been part of the club for 49 of those years.
Holding many offices within the club and a permanent fixture in the club dug-out.
Dave Saunter County Chairman paid tribute to Ray. “It’s a very sad time for both Ray’s family and the club, Ray has been a part of so many players lives within not only Bodmin RFC but the county as a whole. He was the perfect gentleman, always welcomed the opposition and referees. also happy to give advice to young players. Our thoughts go out to Mary and his family”.
Details of the funeral arrangements;
St. Petroc’s Church Bodmin on Wednesday 19th February 2:30 pm
Please wear a club tie, if you can.
Followed by refreshments at Bodmin RFC.
Dates for the selected players;
Monday 17th Feb: Training at Callywith College, Bodmin, PL31 2GT (Meet at 1800)
Sunday 23rd Feb: Trial match at Callywith College, Bodmin, PL31 2GT (Meet at 1130 for a 1230 Kick Off).
Selected Players
The RFU want to hear from players to find out what sort of competitions you want to play in the future.
Click on the link to go to the survey and follow the instructions.
Cornwall U18 SW Counties Trial:
Following the trials held in Bristol last Sunday we are delighted to announce that the following 6 players were selected for SW county 23 man squad:
Tyler Dower – Hooker Camborne
Declan Prowse – Tight-head Prop Penzance and St Just
Finn Richards – Loose-head Prop Truro
Sam Walker – Fly-half Falmouth
Dom Tresidder – Winger Camborne
Eddie Pearce – Full-back Newquay
A further 3 players were selected for the shadow squad:
Huey Campbell – Scrum-half St Austell
Kit May – Centre St Austell
Eli Williams – Back-row Penzance
Congratulations to all players selected, Cornwall had more players selected than any other county.
The CRFU are delighted to give young aspiring journalists the chance to cut their teeth reporting on our county games
Report by Eliott Trotman, Falmouth University Media Student & Falmouth RFC Player
Cornwall suffered their first defeat of the Jason Leonard Cup campaign, as they fell short to Devon at Ivybridge.
Cornwall came out firing in the first 15 minutes and put a significant amount of pressure on Devon, however, a disallowed try due to a forward pass seemed to switch the momentum and saw the green and whites take the first points with a penalty kick.
Cornwall skipper Aaron Simmonds levelled the scores, as he slotted a near halfway line penalty kick to get his team on the board and back in the game.
Both teams had opportunities in the first half to score, but poor hands and a lack of execution was the Achilles heel for the two sides. A 6-6 tie at the half seemed to be a fair result. It was then up to the coaches to spark some wonder.
It was certainly a game of two halves, as Devon saw the opportunity to draw first blood. Their number eight Adam Northcott went over from a pick and go to take the scores to 13-6 with Harry Ottaway adding the extras.
Soon after Devon was in again following a successful driving maul. Cornwall found themselves trailing 18-6 with 13 men on the pitch as both back rowers had been sin-binned.
Cornwall was pinned up against the wall as Devon yet again went over for their third consecutive try and the game very much in their hands. It would require a certain level of character if Cornwall was going to bring it back from 25-6, with 15 minutes to go.
A change of personnel led to Mishka Fibbens barrelling over from the back of the maul to take the score to 25-13, with the captain Simmonds adding the extras. This sparked some more belief in the Cornwall side as Mawgan Osborne the second-rower, found himself with space on the wing. A quick turn of pace and a firm hand-off, Cornwall were back in the game with little time to play. The scores were 25-18, with five minutes to go.
Unfortunately, Devon had the last laugh as second-rower Ethan Pearce scored wide from a miss pass to take the scores to 30-18 and secure the victory for Devon.
Talking to coach Rich after the game, he said:
“We let the gap become too big with Devon and that put all the pressure on us to chase the game.
“It’s not the end of the road for boys, but losing that first game is tough. It certainly makes that job harder!”
Furthermore, Richard spoke about the character of the boys by saying:
“The character we’ve got, I am sure the boys can put on a show at home and get the win we need going into our decider against Gloucestershire.”
The lads take on Berkshire on the 23rd of February in the next round of the cup at Camborne RFC with a 1:30 pm kick-off.
By Bill Hooper
Defeat to Devon’s Under 20s was not the way Cornwall’s coach Richie Kevern had hoped his side would start their campaign in this season’s Jason Leonard Cup. “We were up against it in the second half when we lost both our flankers to yellow cards in the space of a few minutes. Devon took full advantage to score two converted tries to pull out a 20-6 lead.
Kevern felt his side should have made more of their chances in the first half. “We just wern’t clinical enough during the first half when we had opportunities to build pressure, if we had built a lead we could of ridden out the yellows.
Kevern conceded that the lineout had been far from perfect on the day. “We had problems in the lineout all afternoon and that undid a lot of our good approach work, it’s something both Tyler and I will have a look at and look to put right ahead of the next game.
“There were some good positives out there today and I think some of our lads put their hands up to the South West selectors present today.
Kevern though was proud of the fact that the boys didn’t let their heads drop and fought back to score two good tries to put them in a position to salvage something from the game. “The boys showed some good character to come back and score those tries, Mishka showed what a handful he can be, whilst Mawgan did very well to score that try, we had a chance to snatch something from the game but Devon forced back and then took a chance that came their way to seal the game.
Thoughts now turn to the Berkshire game at Camborne on Sunday 23rd February. “We will go back to training next week and look to prepare for that game which now takes on a slightly different perspective; it’s a game that we have to win ahead of our trip to Gloucestershire in March. It’s not the end of road but it makes the task a little bit harder, if we win we can still be in the battle to qualify and I think this group of lads have got the talent to win at Camborne.
JASON LEONARD CUP
UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
DEVON U.20Ss, 30 – 18 CORNWALL U.20 s
By Bill Hooper at Cross-in-Hand, Ivybridge
Cornwall got their campaign off to a disappointing start with this defeat to Devon.
Sadly, Cornwall were the architects of their own demise with indiscipline costing them dear with two yellow cards in the space of 4 second half minutes.
Devon scored two tries during the sin-binning making it a mountain to climb for the Cornish youngsters, who to their credit responded with a couple of tries.
Frustratingly, Cornwall had the better of the first half, enjoying good territorial advantage, but crucially unable to turn it into scores.
Cornwall coach Richie Kevern was naturally disappointed at the final whistle. “Indiscipline cost us today, going down the thirteen men made it very difficult. We really didn’t make the most of our chances in the first half and that was equally frustrating. We will go away now and prepare for the Berkshire game at Camborne in four weeks time.”
There were positives for Cornwall Skipper Aaron Simmonds looked very accomplished at fly-half, Tom Spiers was a handful in the back row, both the Osborne brothers in the boiler house went well, Eliot Salt carried well, whilst Mishka Fibbens made a big impact off the bench.
Simmonds gave Cornwall the lead after 31 minutes with a penalty. This was cancelled out by Harry Ottaway for the hosts. The fly-half then nudged Devon ahead with his second penalty that was matched immediately by Simmonds to leave the scores tied 6- all at the break.
Ten minutes into the second half was when it started to unravel for Cornwall. Open-side flanker Tom Spiers was harshly carded for a ruck offence.
Devon capitalised laying siege to the Cornwall line with eventually hooker Reece Bartlett forcing his way over, Ottaway adding the conversion.
It was then that fellow back row Cameron Taylor was binned, Devon took full-advantage launching an unstoppable forward drive with No.8 Adam Northcott scoring, Ottaway’s conversion putting Devon 25-6 up.
With the clock against Cornwall fresh legs came on, prop Mishka Fibbens made an instant impact ploughing through the Devon defence to crash over, Simmonds on the money with the extras.
Cornwall gave it a good go creating a chance for Mawgan Osborne out wide, the lock danced along the touchline to squeeze in for an unconverted try.
Now trailing by just seven points could Cornwall snatch a draw? They had chances but couldn’t take them, instead Devon made the game safe as lock Ethan Pearce made good ground evading some tired tackle before finding wing Devon Jewsbury who finished well to score Devon’s bonus point try.
Cornwall U.20: Adam Long (Camborne), Guy Brooks (Penryn), Ben Plummer (St. Austell), Isaak Welsh (Truro), Max Bullen (St. Austell), Aaron Simmonds (Capt), Ali Stacey (both Redruth); Callum Looker (Cardiff Met), Rory Mead (Bude), Eliot Salt (Cardiff Met), Mawgan Osborne, Toby Osborne (both Pirates Ams), Cameron Taylor (St. Austell), Tom Spiers (Truro), Aden Brassington (Redruth).
Replacements: James Lambourn (Pirates Ams), Mishka Fibbens (Penryn), Jack Wickham, Devon Bennett-Murray (both Saltash), James Tucker (St. Austell), James Murray (Redruth), Fraser Nottle (St. Austell).
Cornwall scores: Tries, Fibbens, M Osborne, Con, Simmonds, Pens, Simmonds 2
Daubroy Delahunty from the Camels explains. “It’s happening on the 13th of March and I am hoping to get players from all clubs to come together and raise awareness and funds for Its in the bag men’s testicular cancer.
“Rugby against cancer is a charity side made up of players who have battled cancer or have close family members who have battled with the disease these players come together and play charity games. I was lucky enough to have played in the first-ever game in Portsmouth and its something I have been passionate about bringing to Cornwall.
“Please spread the word about this event, even better see you there on the night.”
