Liskeard/Looe U-17s ................36
Wadebridge U-17s......................17
LISKEARD'S first game of the St Austell Floodlight season disappointingly saw only 14 players take to the field. The return of Chris King out of retirement was a bonus but the effort expended by the team was a real surprise, it normally takes at least three games to reach the standard against Wadebridge.
With so many absentees from training, line out and scrummage practice has been almost non existent. Fortunately the experience of past seasons held Liskeard in good stead. The line out play of Mark Davy was and Steve Yeo was quite magnificent. The catch and drive work constantly had Wadebridge in trouble and only a lack of practice prevented Liskeard from really capitalising on these surges.
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The lightweight Wadebridge scrum also suffered badly and only the referee saved them from total capitulation. The law which says one scrum can only push the opposing scrum 1.5 metres saved Wadebridge on numerous occasions. Indeed Liskeard stopped pushing to save further penalties which was very disapointing for such a dominant force.
Liskeard were just as imposing in their loose play. Wadebridge were swept away at ruck and maul and were living off crumbs. The first half saw tries from Mark Collins, Chris King and two from Ben Daniel. Dave Hannah converted two. A bout of playing as statues helped Wadebridge score a consolation try.
The second half was more competitive as Wadebridge realised Liskeard were very slow up on them when they saw any loose ball. This spirit of adventure was rewarded with two well taken tries, one converted.
However, trying to run everything successfully is fraught with danger and when Wadebridge were caught the power of Liskeard inevitably saw the ball change hands and as is the case of running everything, alignment goes out the window leaving big holes in one's defence. Liskeard exploited these holes with tries from Tommy Gillbard and Dudley Rowe, Hannah converting one.
Despite drawing the second half, Liskeard, apart from the odd panic, had the game under control.
However, the moments of playing as statues allowed the opposition to run round them was worrying and will be fixed.
Still, for a first game it was very encouraging. Let's hope that Exeter at home this Sunday, 1pm kick off, are as accommodating as Wadebridge were. Spectators always welcome. . . . . Roger Gailer
Division One
Unlucky L/Looe
BODMIN ......................................10 pts
LISKEARD/LOOE..............................7
LAST Saturday Liskeard/Looe travelled to Bodmin for their second League match of the season, and were desperately unlucky not to have drawn the game.
The match was played in almost continuous rain on a pitch waterlogged by heavy rain earlier in the week. These conditions made handling difficult and promising moves by both sides came to nothing when the slippery ball failed to stay in their hands.
The absence of Phil Goldsmith saw Nathan Gilbert move to hooker and Danny Curgenven return at prop while at half back Steve Edmonds came in for Marcus Hill.
Early exchanges were evenly contested with neither side obtaining any real advantage. Scrums and lines out were equally shared and both sets of backs tackled well.
It was Bodmin who broke the stalemate, Mark Diamond crossing for a try wide on the right.
The half came to a close with Liskeard/Looe very much on the attack, but held out by the Bodmin defence.
At the beginning of the second half Liskeard/Looe again opened strongly and were unlucky on a number of occasions. It was Bodmin, however who increased this lead with a surge upfield which allowed Diamond in for his second try.
Liskeard/Looe never gave up and once again went on the attack. Again failure to hang onto the slippery ball cost them possession. However the three's spun the ball wide to Kevin Bunkham on the wing. He ran in a good try from about 20 yards. The conversion kick fell to scrum half Andy Harris who duly obliged with a great kick.
Liskeard/Looe now inspired by that success came at Bodmin but strong tackling and good clearance kicks denied the visitors any further in roads.
Not the most attractive game ever seen, but in the conditions, it was never going to be. Liskeard/Looe can take some satisfaction from the fact that the scrum was firmer and more effective than in the last couple of weeks.
Once again Dave England and Sam Spearing took a fair share of the set ball, but lost in an area which could be improved. The back row where Mark Goldsmith returned proved to be effective. Tim Jackman had another big game at flanker, ably supported by skipper Kevin Lorenz who move to the flank from number 8.
This is a game which Liskeard\ Looe could so easily have won if only the ball had stayed to hand.
Next Saturday Liskeard/Looe travel to Plymouth to take on Old Techs in the second round of the Tetley Bitters Vase. Kick Off is at 3:00pm.
Wadebridge Camels........20pts
Saltash..........................................3
CORNWALL League One high flyers Saltash had their wings clipped at the Molesworth Field in a closer contest than the scoreline suggests.
A prolonged pre-match cloudburst left two inches of standing water over large areas of the pitch. With constant rain throughout the ball wouldn't bounce and would simply lay dead in the surface water.
Despite the absence of flowing rugby normally expected there was some good catching and handling to enjoy. Wadebridge deserved their win by adapting better to the conditions and fashioned tries through 'Boo' Tancock, Jodie Ross and Bryn Philips, while Saltash got their one penalty through Nigel Owen.
Division Two
Excellent start
ILLOGAN PARK............................15
CALLINGTON................................17
CALLINGTON got off to an excellent start to their league campaign with this hard fought victory at Illogan Park, who had shown early season form in securing an easy victory against Veor the previous week. Callington took the game to Illogan from the start and used their strong forwards to good effect to maintain pressure inside the Illogan half. Eventually this pressure straightforward told and an offside decision at a ruck presented outside-half Jeremy Jones with a penalty opportunity.
Callington continued to drive Illogan back and used the ball presented by the forwards to kick into the corners and hold Illogan in their own 22 metre area. From a lineout close to the Illogan line, Callington secured the ball and after initial drives from prop Clive Stokes and second row Kim Campbell, the ball was popped to flanker Paul Cioffi who crossed for a try, which was converted by Jones.
Illogan came back strongly during the remainder of the half, kicking effectively with the wind and trying to develop continuity with driving forward play. However, the defensive tackling throughout the Callington side was excellent and Illogan were limited to a single 35 metre penalty, kicked by outside-half Andy Hawkey.
Illogan started the second half with greater intent and put initial pressure on the Callington line. However, their attempts to use their backs were always thwarted by powerful tackling to relieve the pressure comfortably. Callington had limited opportunities of their own in the second half but on one rare excursion into the Illogan 22 metre area, with Clive Stokes again setting up clean ruck ball, Kim Campbell broke through the Illogan defence and sprinted over close to the posts. Jeremy Jones added the conversion for what appeared a secure lead.
However, Illogan did not drop their heads and increased the pressure on the Callington line, forcing a succession of penalties, until they eventually battered over the line for a try scored by Chris Matthews and converted by Andy Hawkey.
It appeared that time would run out on Illogan but again they demonstrated strong commitment and mounted a final assault on the Callington line. They moved the ball to both sides of the pitch, looking for a gap in the Callington defence and, despite heroic tackling from Callington, were eventually rewarded for their efforts when, with the last play of the match.
Andy Luscombe squeezed over for a try in the corner. Andy Hawkey was left with a conversion from the touchline to tie the match. However, his well-struck kick drifted just wide of the posts and Callington celebrated a victory that was won with a level of character and skill that augurs well for the rest of the season.
On Saturday, Callington face a difficult Tetley Bitter Vase second round match at home to Gloucester League Division One side, Westbury-on-Severn. The match at Duchy College kicks off at 3:00pm.
CORNWALL ONE
Saltash 3 2 0 1 115 35 4
Bodmin 3 2 0 1 38 39 4
Helston 2 1 1 0 22 15 3
Wadebridge 2 1 0 1 33 21 2
St Agnes 3 1 0 2 49 48 2
Lisk\Looe 2 1 0 1 15 15 2
Falmouth 3 1 0 2 42 46 2
St Day 2 1 0 1 26 92 2
Redruth Alb 2 0 1 1 21 50 1
CORNWALL TWO
Mounts Bay 2 2 0 0 71 20 4
Illogan Park 2 1 0 1 76 17 2
Callington 1 1 0 0 17 15 2
Camborne S 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
Stithians 1 1 0 0 0 0 2
Veor 2 0 0 2 8 93 0
*Lankelly 1 0 0 1 0 0 -2
*Roseland 2 0 0 2 14 39 -2
Wizards are stunned
Saltash II...............................50pts
DHSOB Wizards......................7pts
Even with late first team call ups from their numbers, the Saltash reserve pool were able to loan the visitors four players and a replacement, therefore filling a blank afternoon with a fixture against the recently formed Wizards.
With Ben Jones and Nick Woffenden getting two a piece, Swampy Marsh, John Nicholls, Steve O'Melia and Paul keen all chipped in with one try each for the Ashes.
Conversions came from the boots of Keen and Bideford returnee Rob Bewes. The Wizard's try came from Andrew Martin, who set up by one-time ashes outside half, Chris Goodman to convert.