GILL BURNS CUP
CORNWALL WOMEN 28 – 27 SOMERSET WOMEN
By Bill Hooper at Hayle RFC
Cornwall Women staged a tremendous second half comeback to secure their place in this season’s Gill Burns Division 3 final, thanks in part to four successful conversions from tries scored close to the posts.
It was Somerset who settled the quicker ably marshalled by their fly-half Holly Edmonds who caught the eye throughout.
Somerset took the lead with a good try from lock Cleo Fawcett converted by Daisy Pearce- Lyons.
Cornwall’s reply was not long in coming, a break by centre Lisa Allin saw her get the ball to wing Emma Stefanotti, who cut a great angle to score at the posts, fly-half Faith Rowe added the extras.
The mid-field collisions were intense on both sides. Somerset got a penalty they kicked to the corner they worked the ball well to set up a try for full-back Lucy Peters.
The visitors then got themselves two score ahead when wing Nina Samocki was put in at the corner. Both scores remained unconverted but Cornwall found themselves trailing 7-17 at half-time.
Cornwall had a good chat at half-time looking to put matters right, however the second half was barely underway when the game was interrupted for a good half an hour following a serious injury to Somerset prop Beckie Glover, which required a trip to hospital.
When the game resumed it was Somerset who got the first score as Peters bagged her second of the game.
Cornwall needed a quick response and it came from classy full-back Amy Bunt who sliced through the cover to dot down under the posts for Rowe to add the conversion.
Cornwall needed a couple of tries and they came from one of the stand out performers during the campaign, centre Tia Larson, she carved a great line to score the first and then calmly took a loose kick to speed in under the bar, both tries were bettered by Holly Williams to put Cornwall 28-22 ahead.
A late try by Fawcett gave Somerset the chance to win the game but the conversion from wide proved too challenging for their kicker. Cornwall secured the ball with time up and booted it into touch confirming their win, to huge cheers from the large crowd.
After the final whistle Cornwall’s forwards coach Jo Holden was so proud of the team. “They put their heart and soul into that game, I am so proud of them, even when we were trailing I felt they could find a way to get back in the game and they did just that.”
Cornwall Women: Bunt, Stefanotti (both Ivybridge), Allin, Larson (both Bude), Towers (Truro), Rowe (Camborne), Warman; Ruby (both Launceston), Carbis (Devonport Services), Upcott (Launceston), Gallagher (Bude), Westgarth (Truro), Roberts (Plymstock AO), Holden (Capt, Ivybridge), Hampton (Penryn).
Replacements: Rowland (Ivybridge), Milliken (Camborne), Eddy (Launceston), James (Bude), Perry (Helston), Hawkins (Penryn), Williams (Launceston).
Cornwall scores: Tries, Stefanotti, Bunt, Larson 2, Cons, Rowe 2, Williams 2
Somerset Women (Bath unless stated): Peters, Shandley-Edwards (N Petherton), Hutchinson (Hornets), Guerrini, Szamocki (Bristolians), Edmonds, Donaghy (N Petherton); Wynne, Stevens (Chew Valley), Glover (Yeovil), Spencer (N Petherton), Fawcett, Burgess, West, Pearce-Lyons.
Replacements: Harding (Yeovil), Foley (St. Mary’s), Wetherall (Bridgwater A), Bamsey (N Petherton), Taylor (N Petherton), Blakely (Hornets).
Somerset scores: Tries, Fawcett 2, Peters 2, Szamocki, Con, Pearce-Lyons
