Saltash were handed a Tetley Bitter Vase, second round walk-over by Devon opponents North Tawton and last Saturdays results leave them among the nine Cornwall and Devon clubs - including near neighbours Liskeard/Looe in the third round draw. Which, assuming the competition is still at a relatively local regional stage. Could mean a long distance away match for the odd man out.
Meanwhile, at home for the first time in five weeks, tomorrow sees Saltash start their first home Cornwall Division One fixture of the campaign. This after three consecutive away matches. Saltash are in second place on points difference behind visitors Wadebridge Camels. Even at this early stage of the season the result could have a bearing on the championship, and will be worth four points to either side.
With no injury or availability problems, Saltash will name from a strong squad of Nick Rich, James Rich, Rob Eatwell, James Woodward, Dave Honey, Phil Masters, Nick Venn, Steve Hall, Jamie Westaway, Peter Congo, Rob Bewes, Nigel Owen, Graham West, Julian Oakes, Steve Ryan, Neil Westerman, Anthony Ruby, Ian Davis, James Vickery and Andrew Hall.
Falmouth Res 60 pts
Lankelly-Fowey 7
After their win in the opening game of the season, Lankelly's form and results have reverted to that of last year's early matches and once against Jason Penprase has contributed the only points scored by the Fowey side in the last five encounters. This time it was a converted try, Lankelly's only reply to the 10 tries scored by Falmouth, half of them being converted.
Youth Rugby - East rivals team up
Lisk/Launceston U16s 5
Devonport Services U16s 36
Once again the gross lack of consideration offered by Cornwall Schools RFU towards club rugby was evident. A pointless training exercise on Sunday left both Liskeard and Launceston short of enough players to completely ruin the arranged fixture between the clubs. Fortunately, Devon champions Devonport Services stepped into the breech enabling a game of combined Lisk/Launcs to take place.
As befits county champions against a scratch side the first half was slightly one way with Services taking a 37-0 lead. But a pleasant chat at half time and the introduction of Jon Strand seemed to help. The L/L pack smashed their much vaunted opponents in the loose and county reject Strand, patently the best hooker in Cornwall took numerous balls against the put in.
The pressure finally told when captain Matt Twornicki was swept over for a well deserved try. Unfortunately L/L had taken far too long to realise Services weren't too special up front and the game was lost. However, a spirited effort from L/L certainly gave Services a second half jolt in a quite entertaining game superbly refereed by Sam Brown.
Next week is half term and the Cornwall Schools RFU have decided to take their county squad to Wales at the weekend, thus once again ruining fixtures for junior clubs. So it looks like Liskeard and Launceston will turn out together again, this time against Ivybridge at Launceston. I suppose it was far too easy for Cornwall to go to Wales during the half term weekdays. Roger Gailer
Liskeard-Looe U-13 5
Crediton U-13 28
Liskeard-Looe played their first home game against a team which they have had no previous experience. However it soon transpired that the visitors were a class act and had some very quick runners in the three-quarters.
In spite of Liskeard applying alot of forward pressure for extended periods, they only managed to cross the line once courtesy of Jake Gillbard crashing over from a ruck. Crediton scored four tries which were all converted. It was revealed after the match that Crediton had won all their previous games and none by less than 50 points and they praised Liskeard-Looe for putting up a strong challenge.
Truro U-13 24
Liskeard-Looe U-13 17
Liskeard-Looe travelled to Truro knowing that they had lost heavily to the same side last season. It was with great satisfaction then that the visitors dominated the first half with some great ruck ball. Liskeard scored the only two tries of the first half the first by Chris Lewis, who picked up from the base of a ruck close to the try line and squeezed over on the blind side.
The second followed a great passage of play starting from a set piece move behind the scrum. Scrum half Daniel Bent, dummied to Bas Hocking going open and passed to Kevin Ridgers running blind, his run up the touch line, was kept going by a drive from the forwards followed by two further phases of play with quick recycling finished off by Dylan Devaney who scored the second try, to make the score 0-10 at half time.
Further domination in the second half followed with some good positional kicking by fly-half Hocking. Following one of these kicks, the Truro full-back knocked on giving Liskeard-Looe the scrum 30 metres out from the home teams try line. Daniel Bent fed Hocking on the blind side, who used his pace to round the defence and run in under the posts. This try was converted by Bryn Jenkins.
Following this, Liskeard seemed unable to play the ball without being penalised for some minor infringement or other. Frustrations crept in and allowed Truro to come back into the game. In loose play Truro now looked dangerous and the visitors failed to tackle the quicker runners. A poor clearance kick from the goal area gave Truro a gift of a first try, which they converted. They then scored three further tries as Liskeard's heads dropped, one of these was converted.
The visitors were now losing by a converted to try and put in a conserted effort in the last minutes of the game. Having pushed play to within five metres of the Truro try line, it was almost predictable that the referee blew for full time when the ball went to touch with a couple of minutes still to play.
Liskeard/Looe U-15 24
Crediton U-15 3
Liskeard/Looe U15 either struggled or were asleep in the first half. They only scored one try through Jamie Robbins just keeping them ahead of Creditons three penalty points.
However in the last 15 minutes of the game Liskeard/Looe woke up in no uncertain terms, much to Creditons shock. James Brown scored his first try of the season, signalling to his team to step up a couple of gears. Two more tries were scored quickly by Robert Hosken and Sam Hocking, both tries were converted by Phil Bennett and Hocking.