Brighton 32

Liskeard-Looe 20

LISKEARD-LOOE put up a brave fight against Brighton Blues before going down 32-20 in the EDF Energy Junior Vase Final at Twickenham.

Brighton scored four tries to three in a game where the lead changed hands five times, the Blues only making sure of victory with an injury time try by player-coach Neil McGovern.

'It was hard work,' admitted McGovern. 'Fair play to Liskeard – they never stopped and kept us on our toes for the entire 80 minutes.'

Liskeard-Looe captain Tristan Nicholas said: 'They were very organised... when they got their breaks they took their chances, and we weren't clinical enough.

'Brighton got in our faces. They had obviously done their homework and knew where our strengths were and came out to ruin our driving game and our scrummaging.

'They were a fit bunch of lads – they knew how to play cup rugby and how to finish the game off by kicking to the corners and making us turn.

'When Andy Sheer crossed for that second try, we thought it could be our semi-final against Lowestoft all over again, but fair play to Brighton.'

While centre Sebastian Hocking put Liskeard ahead with an early penalty, defences held sway until the 25th minute, when a fine piece of individual skill by full-back Nick Buoy brought the opening try for Brighton.

He weighted his chip over the defence into the in-goal area perfectly and touched down for centre Alex Finch to convert.

Liskeard responded in first-half injury time with a try by No.8 Alastair Hill after a lineout catch-and-drive, but the pendulum continued to swing after the interval.

A Finch penalty briefly reclaimed the lead for Brighton, but a smart piece of centre play by Andy Sheer after good handling by his partner Hocking brought a try that Hocking put over.

McGovern then cut cleanly through for a try at the posts that Finch converted, before a fine backs move finished in wingman Ashley Hallett galloping away for a try.

A Finch penalty briefly gave Brighton some breathing space, but Sheer's second try kept the Cornishmen in the hunt – and it needed McGovern's finishing skills to wrap up the win in added time.

Liskeard-Looe: T Moon; R Morris, S Hocking, A Sheer, S Grant; J Robins, J Noel-Johnson; B Bettinson, T Nicholas capt, M Mander, A Driver, M Davey, Y Hutchings, L Elliott, A Hill; reps: C Sobey, R Moon, G Beaver, D Hannah, J Collins, M Hill, I Hicks.

Meanwhile, Sam Hocking, the son of Liskeard-Looe coach Chris and the brother of Lions player Baz, helped Cornwall to a 33-25 victory over Devon in the Bill Beaumont Cup. Also in the Duchy side was Ryan Westren, who trained at Liskeard-Looe as a junior.