JASON LEONARD CUP

CORNWALL U.20, 38 – 28 GLOUCESTERSHIRE U.20

By Bill Hooper at the Recreation Ground Camborne

In front of a good size crowd Cornwall put in a much better display in defeating Gloucestershire to give them a chance of making the knockout stage of this year’s Jason Leonard Cup competition.

When the visitors lost their back row forward Ben Kindred to a yellow card on 31minutes Cornwall took advantage scoring three tries before half-time.

Gloucestershire kicked off with a stiff breeze at their backs, however they failed to make proper use of the elements, which also cost them dearly.

A couple of early penalties from their fly-half Will Hammonds gave the visitors a 6-0 lead. But when Kindred was sent to the sin-bin Cornwall turned on the pressure.

Truro No.8 Connor Triggs scored the opening try following some good play from the forwards, Falmouth full-back Harvey Penhallurick added the extras, the first of his five successful conversions, in a faultless kicking display.

Penhallurick then bamboozled the Gloucestershire defence with a dazzling run to score by the posts.

Moments later hooker Matt Pritchard seized on an interception to gallop in under the posts.

Penryn’s Freddie Trewin had another big game for Cornwall, always a handful at the breakdown and putting in some big tackles on the heavy Gloucestershire forwards.

Just before half-time Gloucestershire scored from a catch-and-drive with hooker Harry Legg credited with the score. Hammonds adding the conversion for a score of 21-13 to Cornwall at the break.

Almost immediately after half-time Cornwall secured the bonus point score following further good forward play with Pritchard showing good strength to bag his second try.

Kindred made up for his earlier misdemeanour when he scored for the visitors from a catch and drive.

It was Cornwall’s turn to find themselves down to fourteen men when the excellent Pritchard was shown a yellow card.

Wing Owen Notley went in at the corner to cut the deficit to just five points, but that was as close as Gloucestershire would get.

Fresh off the bench St. Austell’s Peter Harris scored Cornwall’s fifth try and when Penhallurick kicked a penalty late on, Cornwall led by 15 points.

Gloucestershire had the final say scoring a 4^th try at the death through skipper Lloyd Thomas to secure a try-scoring bonus point, which may prove useful in the final shake up.

Cornwall had the win they needed to have a chance of qualifying when they play Somerset in two weeks time, but they will also require Gloucestershire to beat Devon.

Coach Richie Kevern was pleased with his side’s performance. He said. “I thought that was a controlled performance from us, and we took our opportunities well. We kept our discipline during the first half but in the second we were guilty of giving away too many penalties. But all credit to the boys they deserved the win and know they have a chance in two weeks time to progress if results go our way.”

Cornwall U.20: H Penhallurick (Falmouth), L Bostock (Truro), J Statton (Launceston), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), J Pascoe (Truro,Capt), J Walker (Falmouth); M Cardwell (Pirates Ams), M Pritchard (Falmouth), M Boothby, J Maunder (both St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives), G Blacklock (Newquay Hornets), F Trewin (Penryn), C Triggs (Truro).

Replacements: P Harris (St. Austell), A Harris (St. Just), R Lawrence (Falmouth), B Jones (Perranporth), B Rosevear, F Deavin (both Falmouth), W Eddy (Pirates Ams).  

Cornwall scores: Tries, Triggs, Penhallurick, Pritchard  2, Harris, Cons, Penhallurick 5, Pen, Penhallurick

Cornwall Rugby Football Union (CRFU) Under 20 County Championship home campaign 2023 gets underway with their second fixture in the Jason Leonard Cup. The team host Gloucestershire U20’s for their second pool game of the competition on Sunday 9th April. The game will be played at Camborne RFC with a 1400 kick off time.

Cornwall narrowly lost their first game away to Devon 35 – 29 but came away with 2 losing bonus points. Gloucestershire had an emphatic win away to Somerset 17 – 61 to top the table. Entry on the day will be £5 which includes a programme with U16 gaining free admission.

This Sunday Cornwall will be looking for the win that will keep their chances of progressing to the knockout stages of this season’s competition alive.

The coaches have made a number of changes to the side to face Gloucestershire.

In the pack, there is one change with Connor Triggs of Truro starting at No.8 in place of Jowan Peck.

There is a shake up in the backline, whilst the back three remain unchanged, skipper Joss Pascoe moves from centre to fly-half with Joe Walker at scrum-half to forming a new half-back partnership. The mid-field combination sees Launceston’s Jack Statton step up from the bench to pair up with Jamie Stanlake, who started against Devon last time out.

Onto the bench come Peter Harris (St. Austell), Rowan Lawrence (Falmouth) and Ben Jones (Perranporth).

Coach Rich Kevern said. “We know that any Gloucestershire side will be a strong test, and after their result against Somerset they will be full of confidence. We did not play to our strengths on the last outing and have had to come away licking our wounds. It is now up to the guys to go out and perform against Gloucestershire if they want to proceed in this year’s competition”.

Cornwall Captain Joss Pascoe said, – “After the Devon game we came away and did a lot of soul searching! That was not the way we had trained, or been expected to play, and we owe it to the travelling supporters of Trelawny’s Army to put that right. The players know what is expected, what is needed, and we must as a group perform to progress within this year’s competition. For some guys this is their second year and have previously tasted success, for others this is their first and only year of being eligible and we need to put in a performance”.

Cornwall’s last pool game will be against Somerset at Camborne RFC on Sunday April 23rd with a 1400 kick off time. This season only the winners of the pool go through to the quarter-final which is another change from last season.

The CRFU Chair Dave Saunter said. “The team need to learn from their mistakes and move forward. We as a county know that they have trained hard and as last year proved Cornwall guys can and will give 110% to wear that Black and Gold shirt, this year’s set of players are no different.”

Cornwall U.20: H Penhallurick (Falmouth), L Bostock (Truro), J Statton (Launceston), J Stanlake (St. Austell), L Surridge (Camborne), J Pascoe (Truro,Capt), J Walker (Falmouth); M Cardwell (Pirates Ams), M Pritchard (Falmouth), M Boothby, J Maunder (both St. Austell), W Perkin (St. Ives), G Blacklock (Newquay Hornets), F Trewin (Penryn), C Triggs (Truro). Replacements: P Harris (St. Austell), A Harris (St. Just), R Lawrence (Falmouth), B Jones (Perranporth), B Rosevear, F Deavin (both Falmouth), W Eddy (Pirates Ams).