Cornwall 60 Surrey 22

By Dick Straughan
May 20 2007

It has been two long years since Cornwall won a County match. Relegated to the Shield competition this year they finally tasted success at the third attempt running in nine tries against bottom of the table Surrey. However Cornwall have failed in their bid for promotion back to the County Championship and many questions remain unanswered.

The game was effectively over as a contest by half-time with Cornwall cruising to a 39-3 lead. Inspired by the tactical nous of Lee Jarvis and the sniping breaks of Ryan Westren, the home side attacked at will puncturing the Surrey rearguard every time. If there were any nerves in the Cornish camp prior to kick-off they were left in the dressing room.

Surrey, featuring eight players from Division One new boys Esher, showed little in a one-sided first half as Jarvis notched nineteen of his thirty-two point match tally.

As the sparse crowd relaxed in the sunshine discontent with the overall state of Cornish County rugby was all too evident on the terraces. With the Camborne Clubhouse off-limits to the paying spectators, it was reported that Officials from the the Camborne club were refused entry too. The near empty grandstand inhabited by the blazer clad Committee men of the CRFU and but a handful of others spoke volumes.

The contrast between the sick patient that is the County set-up and the fit and healthy athlete of the Cornish club scene was all too evident yesterday. Any of the administrators who considered yesterday a job well done totally deluded. The supporters were keen and colourful, the players committed to the full, but this was rugby of a by-gone age. The blazers may well have celebrated at the end but nobody was interested.

Cornwall will once again compete in the Shield next season and for the spectators that hurts. Cornish club rugby is vibrant but rather than embrace it some at the CRFU persist in petty sniping as their personal prejudices clutter their judgement. A quick glance around the ground yesterday turned up several players who would have graced the black and gold this season. Lewis Vinnecombe, Ricky Pellow, Matt Jess, Richard Carroll, Darren Dawiduik to name but a few. All talented local players. All watching and not playing.

To emphasise this complaceny Surrey opened the scoring in the second half as they finally decide to make a fight of the contest. Another close range score followed on 60 minutes from Blakemore after Cornwall had responded through Nonu. Jarvis` interception score from 22m stretched the lead to 53-15 with ten minutes to go before Charles, the Surrey full-back, was allowed to steal loose ball in his own half and run a mazey line through the entire Cornish defence to score under the posts.

Cornwall`s captain, Ben Hilton, fittingly had the final word when driven over for the final try deep into second half stoppage time.

The team did all they were asked to do. Yet there are no laurels worth resting on here.

Cornwall - Westren, Ley, Sweeney, Nonu, Faulkener, Jarvis, Wakfer, Bolt, Semmens, Stevens, Hilton, Wilce, Boase, Rawlings, Stevens,   Reps - Kearey, Morgan, Flyde, Jenkin, Woolcock, Outram, Hurdwell