Bill Hooper’s Cornish Roundup

Whether it was still the effects of French hospitality from my lightning trip acoss the channel for the opening game of RWC 2007 on Friday night at the Stade de France or a lack of sleep over the previous 48 hours but at half-time on Sunday there was a sense that this could be the day that the Cornish Pirates turned over one of the big boys on their own turf. with score 19-10 to the Pirates courtesy of four Gareth Steenson penalties and a try scored by hooker Rob Elloway converted by Steenson you could sense that this time they might just pull it off.

Adryan Winnan had another stormer for the home side his vision creating the Pirates opening try when he chipped the ball ahead, Winnan was impeded in his chase by Saints winger Paul Diggin not once, nor twice but three times which should have seen the Saints’ winger spending 10 minutes in the ASK Secruity sin-bin.

The illusion was shattered soon after the start of the second half by Northampton as their fly-half Barry Everitt scored a fine try which he converted to pull his side back to within two points. The game then turned as the Pirates kicked a penalty to the corner and then launched from the lineout a massive assult on the Saints line. The period of pressure and resulting penalties were repulsed by the Saints pack who turned the ball over and set off downfield for Diggin to rub salt into the Pirates wound with a third try, now they trailled 24-19. It must have soul destroying for the home side, the Saints sensing the moment grabbed the try scoring bonus point with a fourth try from Dutchman Tim Visser for a 32-19 lead. James Moore on for Rhodri McAtee scored a second try for the Pirates which Steenson converted to leave the Pirates with a losing bonus point at 32-26, but even that slim reward was snatched away as the Pirates transgressed towards the end for Everitt to kick his third penalty of the game to leave the Saints 35 - 26 winners.

Almost 6,500 saw a great game.

The Cornish All Blacks made the long trip to Doncaster and had to give second best to the Knights 26-8. Matt Jess with a try and Stuart Alred scored the CAB’s points. Next week’s home game against Sedgley Park Tigers is one that the Cornish All Blacks will hope will kick-start their season.

With no games in National League 2 due to England Counties participation in the FIRA-AER Festival in SW France, Mount’s Bay once again stole the limelight with another impressive display in National League 3 South winning 42 - 18 at Bridgwater & Albion. With another five tries scored Bay now top the table with maximum points

News this week that Joff Rowe coach of the County side has stepped down from the position just weeks after having been confirmed in the post for a second season! Interesting to read conflicting reports from both camps as to the reasons why Joff Rowe resigned!!

Apologies for the lack of a review of our SW league clubs on the opening day of their league season, due to trips to the Rugby World Cup, once the tournament is over it will be back to buisness as usual.

THE CORNISH PIRATES took the honours on the opening day of the National League 1 campaign with a hard fought 26 - 12 at new boys the Cornish All Blacks.

Whilst the Cornish Pirates will be satisfied with the win they will no doubt be less than satisfied with their second half performance which the East Cornwall side shaded by 12-7.

Leading 19-0 at half-time thanks to a try from winger Brian Tuhoy converted by fly-half Gareth Steenson who also kept the scoreboard ticking over with four well struck penalty goals, the travelling Press Gang faithfull would have been contemplating their side finishing the job during the second half and travelling back West with all five points in their booty. The Cornish All Blacks had other ideas. A trademark pushover try was scored by CAB’s No 8 Dave Kimberley to cut the Pirates’ lead to 19-7 with Stuart Alred kicking the conversion. Former Pirate Matt Jess scored a spectacular try on his competative debut for the CAB’s, the flying winger chipped the ball over Pirates’ Nick Buckley and Adryan Winnan to score in the corner, Alred couldn’t add the extras at 19-12 Launceston could sense at least a losing bonus point.

The Pirates made the game safe with their second try scored by skipper Tim Cowley following a break from Iva Motusaga, Steenson’s conversion completed the scoring.

Both sides will take positives from the match, however the Cornish Pirates will have their sternest test of the season already on Sunday when Northampton Saints roll into Camborne.

On Sunday, Redruth got their National League 2 campaign off to a fine start with a 21-14 win away at Nuneaton. This the first of three away matches for the Reds during September before their first home match against Blackheath on October 6th!!

Clive Griffiths kicked a couple of penalties to give the Reds a 6-0 lead before Huw Thomas cut the deficit to 6-3, there was no more scores during the first half. Nuns then took the lead with a try scored by flanker Ian Critchley. Redruth proceeded to score three tries in a 15 minute burst, the first from winger Nathan Pedley followed by a brace from fellow winger Lewis Vinnicombe, further penalties from Griffiths completed the Reds tally.

Next weekend the Redruth front row head to SW France for the FIRA-AER International Festival as part of the England Counties squad to play against Russia, Spain and France Amateurs.

And so to perhaps the most emphatic scoreline of the day and one which I couldn’t have forecast MOUNT’S BAY 63 - 10 BARKING.

Bay could not have wished for a more glorious debut as a National League club then this demolishon of a club that last season played in the league above. 35-3 up at half-time, Bay turned the screw mercillously during the second half running in a total of NINE tries ALL converted by fly-half Lee Jarvis. Australian Tim Mosey lead the way with a hat-trick of tries with the other tries coming from Jarvis, Nick Burnett, former Barking skipper Jon Marlin, Andrew Cheung-Fook, John Griffiths and Ben Hilton, Barking’s full-back Harry Bryan scored all their points with a try, conversion and a penalty.

This scoreline will have sent shockwaves throughout the whole division, with Bridgwater next up to tackle Bay on Saturday.

In the two EDF-Energy Senior Vase 1st Round ties involving Cornish clubs on Saturday there were mixed results. Falmouth progressed defeating Bideford 30 - 20 at the Recreation Ground, whilst Newquay Hornets bowed out 31-10 at Okehampton.