Left to right: TASC webmaster John Prowse, Veor captain John Dower, Pirates Amateurs' captain Sam Heath, and TASC Vice Chairman Dave Broadhurst. Photo by Viv Broadhurst.
| Page last updated 30th January 2012 |
NEWS |
Coach Tom Rawlings may well have a weekend off from playing, along with the rest of his team mates at Launceston, but the all-action flanker will have his coach's cap on this Sunday as his Cornwall U.20 side makes its debut in this season's U.20's County Championship against reigning champions Gloucestershire next Sunday, 5th February, at Camborne Recreation Ground, kick-off 2-30 pm.
The back three selection certainly has pace about it with Dean Bonds, Tom Notman (both Redruth) and Aron Struminski (Cornish All Blacks) all proven try-scorers at National League level.
In mid-field, Sam Chapman and Liam Yeo form a club partnership from the All Blacks, whilst at half-back Launceston's Kyle Moyle links up with last season's scrum-half Luke Asbridge, now at Bath Uninversity.
Loose-head prop Malcolm Hearn skippers the side, with last season's skipper Jordan Rose in the back row adding experience. Tight-head Ryan Brown (St. Austell) is also a survivor from last season's squad.
With tickets available at the gate it is hoped a big crowd will turn out at Camborne on Sunday to cheer the boys on in this vital opening fixture.
Cornwall U20's: D Bonds, T Notman (both Redruth), L Yeo, S Chapman, A Struminski, K Moyle (all Cornish All Blacks), L Asbridge (Bath Uni); M Hearn (capt) (Penryn), T Pascoe (Truro), R Brown (St. Austell), B O'Keeffe (Truro), D Hales (Cornish All Blacks), J Rose (Penryn), C Instance (Redruth), A Dickinson (Truro Coll).
Replacements: J Keat (Cornish All Blacks), E Allsopp (Truro Coll), J Cass (Newquay Hornets), J Murphy (Truro Coll), C Riley (Newquay Hornets), C Chew (UWIC & Cornish All Blacks), A Welland (St Austell).
Referee: Sara Cox (Devon RRS)
Each year, Trelawny’s Army Supporters Club shows its support for Cornish rugby by awarding equipment to a selection of Cornish clubs. This year, the awards go to the promoted clubs from the 2010/11 season:
On Saturday 28th January, TASC webmaster John Prowse and Vice Chairman Dave Broadhurst were at Pirates Amateurs match against Veor to present two match balls to each of the captains. (Pirates Amateurs won the match 37-10.)
Left to right: TASC webmaster John Prowse, Veor captain John Dower, Pirates Amateurs' captain Sam Heath, and TASC Vice Chairman Dave Broadhurst. Photo by Viv Broadhurst.
For details of TASC's presentations to the other clubs mentioned above, see here.
The Cornish Pirates made it three wins in a row as they dispatched Nottingham 33-3 at the Mennaye Field yesterday to progress to the semi-finals of the British and Irish Cup.
With Irish sides Munster and Leinster, along with Welsh Premiership outfit Cross Keys, completing the final four in this season's tournament, the Pirates will face stiff opposition whoever they meet after the draw on January 30.
Yesterday, it took them 20 minutes to get the scoreboard moving but they eventually ran in five tries, including a debut score for their new loan signing from Worcester Warriors, Andy Short, and the Pirates' high performance manager Chris Stirling was happy with the display.
"I think the word comfortable sums it up well," he said. "Nottingham played well in the first ten minutes and asked some questions of us, but defensively we were pretty sound and then, when we finally got our hands on the ball, we got field position and scored points.
"I questioned the guys on some of the work-rate in the first half when we got control but then seemed to slip back to just going through the motions a wee bit. But, in the second half, we came out and upped the intensity."
Nottingham brought a much-changed side to Cornwall to the one which lost a hard-fought Championship game here two weeks ago. But, after starting well and briefly threatening as wing James Stokes broke clear only to be felled by a Rob Cook try-saving tackle, they lost their way in attack and began to suffer at the hands of the Pirates' pack.
The opening try came after 20 minutes following an attack in which Tom Cowan-Dickie had forced his way over the Nottingham line only to be held up by a desperate defence.
From the resulting five-metre scrum Pirates No.8 Ben Maidment controlled the ball superbly at the tail before driving over himself to score. Cook converted and then five minutes later set up the second try of the match, this time for Andy Short.
Cook broke clear midway inside his own half and raced 60 metres down the right flank before being hauled down by Stokes just short of the line. Quick recycling fed Short and he cantered home for a simple score, again converted by the Pirates' full-back.
A penalty late in the half for a breakdown offence slotted by former Plymouth Albion fly-half Kieran Hallett finally opened the Nottingham account as they trailed 14-3, but it would take until the final quarter before the scoreline changed again.
The Pirates lost Short with a twisted ankle early in the second half and then flanker Chris Morgan left the field looking dazed after taking a blow to the head in a midfield collision.
Both sides took the opportunity to ring the changes and it was replacement hooker Dave Ward who increased the Pirates' lead after 64 minutes as he rounded off a sustained period of pressure on the Nottingham line, squeezing in at the Newlyn Gate Corner.
With Aaron Penberthy again influential in midfield for the Pirates, Nottingham's attacking prowess diminished as the game wore on but full-back Andy Savage did spurn a golden try-scoring opportunity as he broke from deep only to inexplicably fall over with only Cook to beat.
The error again proved costly for the visitors as McAtee and Ward led an assault down the right wing and, from the breakdown deep in the Nottingham 22, James Doherty and then Penberthy fed Tom Cooper for his maiden Pirates try in the corner. Cook slotted the extras from a difficult angle.
With time running out, another Nottingham counter-attack saw Phil Eggleshaw sprint from the base of a scrum well inside his own half, only to be halted by Cook just short of the try-line.
Then, five minutes into added time at the end of the game, Cook got the try he richly deserved.
Nottingham centre Joe Munro chipped the ball into space as he attempted to lead a final desperate attack from his own try-line but was beaten to the loose ball by Cook, who returned it with interest, throwing a cheeky dummy to wrong-foot Savage on his way to score under the posts.
Cook banged over the conversion to complete the scoring, leaving Stirling, who now heads back to New Zealand for his daughter's wedding, satisfied.
"I have to say that this Nottingham team never gave up," he said. "Now I just fancy someone at home in the semi-final. I don't care who!"
Cornish Pirates: Cook; McAtee, Short (Cooper 47), Hill, D Doherty (Evans 64); Penberthy, Cattle (capt) (J Doherty 52); Rimmer, Cowan-Dickie (Ward 59), Brits (Fairbrother 67); McGlone (Myerscough 67), Nimmo; Ewers, Morgan (Marriott 59), Maidment
Pirates' scorers: tries Cook, Short, Maidment, Ward, Cooper; conversions Cook (4)
Nottingham: Savage; Jack Cobden (Greenhalgh 56), Streather (Hough 69), Munro, Penn; Hallett, Barnham (capt) (Jones 56); Olive, Taylor (Holloway 47), Shields (Holford 45); Todd (Eggleshaw 56), Morley; Cooper, Calladine (Baird 47), Levi
Nottingham scorers: penalty Hallett
Referee: I Davies (WRU)
Attendance: 1,492
Our annual dinner & dance will be held on Saturday 25th February at the Ponsmere Hotel, Perranporth at 7-00 pm for 7-30 pm.
Ticket prices are £21.00 per adult, £12-00 per child.
To book tickets and choose your meal from the menu please phone Carol Seymour on 01872 571241.
| Chilled Fruit Juice or |
| Prawn Cocktail on a bed of crispy salad or |
| Cream of Tomato Soup with roll and butter |
| ~~~~~~~ |
| Roast Cornish Beef served with a red wine jus or |
| Roasted Chicken Supreme with mushroom, white wine and cream sauce or |
| Nut Roast with a Spinach Cream |
| Served with seasonal vegetables and potatoes |
| ~~~~~~~ |
| Selection of Sweets or Cheese and Biscuits |
| Coffee and Mints |
Forced to sit out Saturday's Cornish Derby win by his club Launceston over old rivals Redruth due to a cracked rib, club skipper Tom Rawlings -- who is also Cornwall U.20s coach for a second season -- gave us an update on preparations for the forthcoming County Championship which begins in February.
"It's looking very positive at the moment. This time last year I had a trial in December with just eighteen turning up: this year we had a trial East v West with thirty eight guys turning up, which is very encouraging."
"On Sunday we have got a trial match against Launceston. I've got some players returning who featured last season, like Jordan Rose, Luke Ashbridge, Tom Notman, Ben Gregor, and Sam Matavesi, plus some new talent who are knocking on the door this season. It's looking very positive, so if we can get it all in place now prior to the championship, then we could be a force this season".
"We have a massive opening game with Gloucestershire at home, so we have to be ready for that and prepare well. Last season we won our opening game and then lost the two following. I feel that was down to the preparation that Devon and Gloucestershire had -- it really showed when they played us. So I am hoping we can turn the tables this season".
Rawlings put out the call to the Cornwall crowd to get down to Camborne for the opening game and get behind the team. "We had a thousand plus crowd here today at Polson and I would really love to see all that were here and few more get down to Camborne and get behind the team. There will be plenty of boys representing clubs from all over Cornwall. So if all the clubs' supporters turn up we could have a wonderful atmosphere at Camborne to cheer the boys on in that vital opening fixture. With a Cornish crowd behind you that really lifts the boys and makes such a difference, especially against Gloucestershire. If we can win that one then we will be on a roll".
| POOL STAGE | |||
| Sunday 5th February 2012 | Cornwall v Gloucestershire | Camborne RFC | 2:30 |
| Sunday 19th February 2012 | Somerset v Cornwall | Wellington RFC | 2:30 |
| Sunday 4th March 2012 | Cornwall v Devon | Hayle RFC | 2:30 |
The Trelawny's Army Player of the Year Award for the 2010-11 season was presented to Launceston's Ben Hilton at the All Blacks' home match against Henley Hawks. The award was presented by TASC committee member Hugh Penna (seen on the left below).
Ben Hilton receives the TASC Player of the Year award from TASC's Hugh Penna. Launceston Chairman Anthony Chudleigh is on the right.
The Trelawny's Army Under 20s Player of the Year Award for the 2010-11 season was presented to Redruth's Aaron Penberthy during half-time at Redruth's match against Hartpury College on Saturday 8th October. The award was presented by CRFU President Dave Martin and TASC Press Officer Bill Hooper (seen above wearing a rather natty French beret!).
Aaron Penberthy receives the TASC U20 Player of the Year award from CRFU President Dave Martin and TASC Press Officer Bill Hooper.
Trelawny's Army are now on Twitter! You can find us at http://twitter.com/trelawnysarmy91.