🏉 St Austell's Shepherd admits disappointment despite clinching first win
Plus, we have reaction from Cornish Pirates, Redruth, Camborne and Launceston after their matches, and we list the fixtures for this weekend.
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🔴 St Austell: Shepherd admits disappointment despite clinching first win
By Gareth Davies
Matt Shepherd was left with mixed emotions after his St Austell side defeated Exmouth 19-3 at Tregorrick.
It was Saints’ first ever win at Level Five after Shepherd’s side had suffered defeats to Chew Valley and Devonport Services so far this term, while drawing 34-34 with Brixham on the opening day.
The home player-head coach got the Saints underway against the Cockles with a try – which he duly converted – after just two minutes. George Meadows reduced the arrears with a penalty for Exmouth before Cam Taylor’s unconverted score gave St Austell a 12-3 interval lead.
Meadows missed a penalty attempt in the second stanza before victory was secured by prop Charlie Nicholson’s score and Shepherd tagged on the extras.
“It is a relief but more a disappointment that we didn’t get a bonus point,” Shepherd said at full-time. “We left three or four tries out on the pitch in the first half but that shows that we can deal with the top end of the table.
“We showed in the first week that we belong at this level before we lost to Chew Valley and then Devonport was a bit of a wake-up call. We have been scoring tries but our main focus before this game was defence and they didn’t score.
“Exmouth had some dangerous runners and we nullified their threat. We had good line speed and we controlled the areas of the pitch that we needed to. The wind also played a big factor in us not being able to exit from certain areas like we wanted to.
“Overall, looking at both sides of the sword, we were better in both attack and defence so I am really happy.”
🏴☠ Pirates: Paver ‘over the moon’ after Cambridge triumph
Joint head coach Alan Paver was ‘over the moon’ to see his Cornish Pirates side record their first win of the season over Cambridge in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
After pushing Bath close on the opening weekend of Pool matches, the Pirates were then defeated by local cross-Tamar rivals Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park last time out.
They made a stuttering start against the Championship newcomers and only led 17-12 thanks to tries from Kyle Moyle, Alex Schwarz and Harry Dugmore after 40 minutes.
But the second half was a different story as the Pirates dominated and crossed a further seven times through Will Trewin (2), Morgan Nelson (2), Iwan Jenkins, Matt McNab and Will Gibson to prevail 64-17.
“We’re over the moon as to go on the road and get a convincing victory is always nice,” the Mennaye chief said. “I was not happy [at half time] as I knew we didn’t have the bite in the contact and both sides of the ball.
“I wouldn’t say that I read the players the riot act, but I had some firm words that we had to pick things up because I knew we were capable. Once we got out and got into our stride, you could see our quality as we were finding all the holes and ended up scoring some decent tries. We have shown a lot of development but we are not where we want to be.
“Exeter was pretty tough and this week we were in an arm wrestle. I believe the work we are putting in will pay dividends, but when that comes, we just don’t know.
“Once we get into the league, all our combinations will have bedded in and it is just a case of getting the right men, in the right place at the right time.”
🔴 Camborne: Larkins relieved after late surge snatches win
Camborne boss Steve Larkins was relieved to see his side sneak past Chester 34-26 at the Rec after almost blowing a commanding position for a second consecutive week.
At Clifton seven days previously, Town led 17-0 early in the piece and 31-17 going into the final stages. However, Clifton took advantage of three Camborne yellow cards and were 39-31 winners.
Alex Ducker, who scored a wonderful four-timer at Clifton, continued where he left off against Chester to bag another brace. But despite Ducker’s hot streak showing little sign of abating, another two yellow cards cost the Cherry and White’s who found themselves trailing 26-24 with time ticking down.
Camborne dug deep, though, and a penalty try, along with a Josh Matavesi penalty sealed a victory that had Larkins watching on anxiously.
“After last week, I thought we can’t do this again,” he revealed. “The way we stuck at it and the way the boys did so in the last 10 minutes, to turn things around again, was nerve racking to say the least.
“We were down with the wind in the second half and despite the penalties and yellow cards, our discipline in the first half was unbelievably good in attack and defence.
“Everyone has an opinion on our discipline, which is at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds. We just need to ensure at the breakdown that we don’t go for every ball, we alter our tackle height and just play sensible rugby which is what we did 100 per cent in the first half.”
🔴 Redruth: Clifton draw ‘a fair result’ — Kevern
Redruth coach Richie Kevern said his side’s 31-31 draw on the road at Clifton ‘was a fair result’.
The Reds, who have struggled in National League 2 West this term, were rescued by the second of two Frankie Nowell tries and Jordan Gott’s fourth conversion of the afternoon.
Nowell, the younger brother of former Exeter, England and British Lions star Jack, also scored in the first half but Redruth trailed 21-17 at half-time.
The visitors scored first after the turnaround through Mackenzie Oliver to lead, but a Mitchell Spencer and Ricardo Cano try put Clifton back in command. Nowell’s converted try saw the teams locked together and despite both having chances to win, a share of the spoils was the final outcome.
“To come away from a place like Clifton with some points is always a plus,” enthused Kevern. “A draw was a fair result and maybe we can look a bit disgruntled at the end, when we had opportunities to win it, we dropped the ball close to their line, but Clifton also had opportunities to win it.
“It was a closely contested game and one that we always look forward to. We have lost games with the last kick and won them at Clifton in similar circumstances so it was exactly what we expected.
“We wanted a reaction [from previous games] and I think we saw a huge improvement. It hurt last week [a 45-16 home defeat against Luctonians] because it wasn’t the result the boys wanted after the effort they put in. But we took it on the chin and worked hard in training and addressed things.
“I am a happy man because it was a performance we can be proud of.”
⚫ Launceston: Goldsmith praises All Blacks’ ‘best performance’
Head coach Ian Goldsmith has admitted his surprise at Launceston’s flying start to the 2023-24 season.
The Cornish All Blacks have a perfect record of four wins from as many games and currently top the Regional 1 South West standings.
With nearest early pacesetters Chew Valley, Devonport Services and Exmouth all defeated in the latest round of games, Launceston prevailed 35-20 at Matson.
A brace of tries from Brandon Rowley, alongside single Lloyd Duke and Tom Bottoms scores paved the way for a hard-fought victory. Dan Pearce’s individual tally of 15 points from the tee — three penalties and three conversions — saw all five points head back to Polson Bridge.
“It is something we probably weren’t anticipating,” said Goldsmith post-match, when asked about his side’s perfect start. “We began pre-season really well and it has just continued. Matson was easily our best performance of the season with lots of really good control throughout the game.
“We controlled tempo, emotions, the ball and this made for a very satisfying win.”
🍿 What’s on this weekend
🏆 Premiership Rugby Cup: Friday, 7.30pm: Cornish Pirates v Jersey Reds.
🏉 National League 2 West: Saturday, 2pm (unless stated): Hornets v Camborne (2.30pm); Redruth v Bournville.
🏉 Regional 1 South West: Saturday: Launceston v Okehampton; Ivybridge v St Austell.
🏉 Regional 2 South West: Saturday: North Petherton v Wadebridge Camels; Sidmouth v Truro.
🏉 Counties 1 Western West: Saturday: Falmouth v Bude; Kingsbridge v Penryn; Pirates Amateurs v Tavistock; St Ives v Tiverton.
🏉 Counties 2 Cornwall: Saturday: Camborne SoM v Veor; Helston v St Just; Illogan Park v Redruth II; Liskeard-Looe v Newquay Hornets; Perranporth v Saltash; St Austell II v Bodmin.
🏉 Counties 3 Cornwall: Saturday: Bude II v Redruth Albany; Lankelly-Fowey v Camborne II; Roseland v Hayle; Saltash II v Falmouth II; St Austell III v St Agnes; Wadebridge Camels II v Launceston II.
We’re back next week. See you then!
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