CORNWALL RFU UNDER 20 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

2024 The Jason Leonard Cup.

Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship campaign 2024 gets underway with their first fixture in the Jason Leonard Cup. The team hosts neighbours Devon for their first pool game of the competition on Sunday 10 March. The game will be played at Camborne RFC with a 2 pm kick off.

CRFU President Andy Reed said “It is great to get this year’s campaign off with a local tie against our neighbours Devon. We thank all our sponsors for their support and assistance with this group of players in this important game representing Cornwall. It is fantastic to see so many different clubs represented, and we thank them for their support to enable these fixtures to be played”.

Admission is by programme £5, with Under 16s free.

Cornwall and Devon will also be playing for the Brunel Cup in this fixture.

Cornwall have named Will Perkin (St Ives), pictured above as the captain for the season, alongside him is another player from last season, Jack Statton from Launceston, who is the vice-captain.

Coach Rich Kevern said – “This will be a good test for this new set of young players. We start a fresh with a whole group of new players entering the competition for the first time. Playing Devon is never easy, playing Devon in the very first game of the season will be an even bigger challenge for these guys”.

Cornwall has a new coaching set up this season, so joining well established Rich Kevern is ex U20 player and current Cornish Pirates lock Steele Barker as the forward’s coach. Always keen to encourage young coaches into the game we see ex senior county player David Mankee assisting the backs with Rich, and Jago Sheppard another ex U20 and member of the winning 2022 team and current Camborne player assisting Steele with the forwards.

Cornwall Captain Will Perkin said, – “It is an honour to be asked to be captain the side for this season. I know the guys are up for a tough campaign as always and have trained well in preparation for this game. This is my second season with the 20’s and I know that it is a tough competition, and we will have to perform at our best in every game. We have had great numbers at training, and I know some guys will be disappointed not to be in the team, but this is a squad for the season so keep pushing us for those places, nobody’s shirt is fixed. For those who will run out with me on the 10th, we have a big task ahead of us but I’m confident in our ability”.

Cornwall ‘s second pool game will be Somerset away on Sunday 21^st April at Taunton RFC with a 2 pm kick off time and then Gloucestershire at Cheltenham RFC on Sunday 5th May again with a 2 pm kick off.

The CRFU Chair Dave Saunter said, -” The vagaries of U20 rugby mean we can lose up to 50% of our squad every year through age qualification. So, we start to build again with a mixture of players transitioning from the U18’s, new players identified and nominated from clubs around the county. There are a number of these players who will be around for the next two seasons, and we are always on
the lookout at new talent who can come into the squad and join them over the coming seasons”.

There will be marketing and sponsorship opportunities with the Under 20’s team and matches, any individuals or companies that may be interested are asked to contact Tanya Thomas of the CRFU in the first instance, her email is : commercial-development@crfu.co.uk

We will be monitoring the weather this week. If there are any changes regarding the venue of the match this will be advised on the Cornwall RFU website and social media channels.

Cornwall U20 v Devon U20 Sunday 10th March @ Camborne RFC 1400 kick off.

TEAM
1 ROWAN LAWRENCE (FALMOUTH RFC)
2 PETE HARRIS (ST AUSTELL RFC)
25 ANGUS WILLIAMS (PENRYN RFC)
4 CHARLIE KNIGHT (SALTASH RFC)
5 WILL PERKIN (CAPTAIN) (ST IVES RFC)
6 FINN LISTER (PENRYN RFC)
7 WES EDDY (PIRATES AMS RFC)
8 DOM ELLERY (NEWQUAY HORNETS RFC)
9 JACOB CHAPPLE (REDRUTH RFC)
10 DEAN WILLS (REDRUTH RFC)
11 JACK KEOGH (ST JUST RFC)
12 ALFIE HAMMERSLEY (FALMOUTH RFC)
13 JACK STATTON (VICE CAPTAIN) (LAUNCESTON RC)
14 BEN ROSKILLY (PENRYN RFC)
15 HARVEY PENHALLURICK (FALMOUTH RFC)

IMPACT PLAYERS
16 DAN POPE (CAMBORNE SCHOOL OF MINES RFC)
17 FINN HOLT (REDRUTH RFC)
18 GEORGE OAKLEY (ST AUSTELL RFC)
19 OLLY DERRY (WADEBRIDGE CAMELS RFC)
20 WILL SYMONS (WADEBRIDGE CAMELS RFC)
21 HARRY WALSH-NEWTON (FALMOUTH RFC)
22 RHYS RICHARDS (REDRUTH RFC)

TRAVELLING RESERVES
TR ALEX WATKINS (CAMBORNE SCHOOL OF MINES RFC)
TR JAMES SUTTON (SALTASH RFC)
TR AYDEN EARNSHAW (PENRYN RFC)
TR AMORI MATANATABU (HELSTON RFC)

Coaches – Rich Kevern, Steele Barker, David Mankee + Jago
Sheppard
Team Manager Colin Hatch, Assistant Terry Williams
Medical cover – Hen Gard + Ronnie Bartlett
Kit – Paul Hurrell, Photographer Simon Bryant, Match Day filming
David Burrows, Multimedia – Kevin Bishop

Cornwall U20 Team v Cornwall Clubs XV

Wednesday 21 February 2024 – Match Cancelled due to predicted weather warning.

1. Rowan Lawrence (Falmouth)

2. ⁠Pete Harris (St Austell)

25. Angus Williams (Penryn)

4. ⁠Charlie Knight (Saltash)

5. ⁠Will Perkin Captain (St Ives)

6. ⁠Finn Lister (Penryn)

7. ⁠ Dom Ellery (Newquay Hornets)

8. ⁠ Jowan Peck (Falmouth)

9. ⁠James Marsden (St Ives)

10. ⁠Harry Walsh-Newton (Falmouth)

11. ⁠Jack Keogh (St Just)

12. ⁠Alfie Hammersley (Falmouth)

13. ⁠ Ben Roskilly (Penryn)

14. ⁠Ayden Earnshaw (Penryn)

15. ⁠Harvey Penhallurick Vice Captain (Falmouth)

16. Dan Pope (Camborne School of Mines)

3. Alex Watkins (Camborne School of Mines)

17. Kane Ikete (Camborne School of Mines)

18. George Oakley (St Austell)

19. Giddy Blacklock (Falmouth)

20. Will Symons (Wadebridge Camels)

21. Ieuan Evans (Wadebridge Camels)

22. Tom Hollyman (Saltash)

23. Amori Matanatabu (Helston)

24. Max Jenkin (Hayle)

Dorset and Wilts 27 – 23 Cornwall

Cornwall U20’s travelled to North Dorset RFC to face Dorset & Wilts U.20’s in the quarter-final of the Jason
Leonard Cup.
A good crowd with lots of black and gold on display from Trelawny’s Army joined the players
in a minute’s silence at the start of the game to recognise the tragic events that occurred in
Bodmin earlier in the month.

Cornwall pegged the twin counties in their own half for the first 20 minutes and lead 0 – 9 thanks to 3
Nat Dart penalties. Just before the half hour mark D+W No.13 Fin Raworth broke the
Cornwall defensive line and scored a try which was converted by their No.9 Connor Moore. Five
minutes later a powerful run by D+W No.5 Oliver Wills saw him pass to No.6 Stan Vincent to
score their second try with again Connor Moore adding the conversion 14 – 9.

With the first half drawing to a close, D+W No. 9 Moore was sent to the sin bin for 10
minutes and Cornwall took advantage when Cornwall hooker Matt Pritchard charged through
for a try which Nat Dart converted.
Half-time D+W 14 – 16 Cornwall.

The second half commenced, and Cornwall were caught cold after 4 minutes when
replacement No.20 Rhys Godling scored a try which was converted by No.10 Jamie Foskett.
D+W took charge for the next period and Cornwall gave away 2 penalties which D+W put
over the crossbar to lead 27 – 16 with just over a quarter of the game to go.

Indiscretion again by D+W saw No.5 pick up a yellow card and Cornwall tried to get into the ascendancy.
Cornwall were dominating the lineouts. And set up several powerful driving mauls with D+W
trying to disrupt them. By strong defensive work and a bit of cunning play they held up Cornwall
over their line 4 times in 10 minutes. With 2 minutes to go Cornwall’s No. 23 Joss Pascoe
crashed over the line which Nat Dart dropped kicked the conversion. Just two minutes left four points
behind, a cautious slow restart from D+W helped to run down the clock and when Cornwall
knocked on the referee from Somerset blew the final whistle to break Cornish hearts!

D+W were a big mobile side and now go on to represent the SW in the Southern final
against Hampshire on the 21 May.

For Cornwall U20’s the season is over, as in previous years we say goodbye to several the
players, but we look forward to welcoming new players’ next season. A massive thanks to
the CRFU and Trelawny’s Army for their support over the season. A big thanks to all the
players including those who have trained but not been selected along with the coaches,
medics, and back-room staff who all contribute to make the team and the season function.
Special thanks to Jo Holden, Kevin Bishop, Simon Bryant, and Dave Burrows for the
multimedia items.
Colin Hatch
Cornwall U20 Team Manager