Liskeard-Looe v Honiton report

Cornwall & Devon League:

Liskeard-Looe 3, Honiton 7

FOR this fixture Liskeard were able to call on the services of half back pairing Mike Charlwood and Andy Sheer, both returning from injury.

The home side started quietly and within the first 15 minutes could have found themselves 12 points down, following four penalty kicks, but luckily for them the Honiton kicker was wide with all the attempts.

Liskeard's best chance came late into the half following a break by Mike Charlwood who put young wing Brad Burchell clear, Burchell's strong run took him to the Honiton 22 but his inside pass went to ground, instead of to hand, and the chance was missed.

At this stage in the game it was nip and tuck but both defences held firm and at the half time whistle there was no score.

Two minutes into the second half Liskeard found themselves a man down, with a prop in the sin-bin, but everybody worked hard and kept Honiton at bay and in the 55 minute the home side was awarded a penalty and Baz Hocking slotted the kick to put the first points on the board.

Both teams were making chances but the next points came from Honiton in the 65th minute, where from a ruck, about six metres from the home try line, Josh Rice drove over for a try; this was converted by Oliver Cave.

Back came Liskeard and for the next ten minutes or so put Honiton under pressure, battering away in the visitors 22 looking for the try, taking a scrum instead of a kick at goal as time was running out.

Unfortunately for Liskeard, the Honiton defence stood firm thwarting all attempts to cross the line and the match finished with Liskeard still pressing.

It had been a good, hard game, that had been well refereed by Cornwall Society's Kevin Williams and enjoyable to watch, but also a case of 'if only', as the Honiton coach admitted afterwards that the home side deserved to win.

Liskeard-Looe: Mike Mander, James Collins, Phil Morford, Tom Blake, Yestin Hutchings, Bas Hocking, Gareth Cooke, Lewis Elliott, Mike Charlwood, Andy Sheer, Emerson Allen, Dan Hill, Ben Kitto, Bradley Burchell, Kieran Underhill. Reps: Ali Hill, James Dolman, Mike Porter.

Liskeard 2nd XV lost 26-0 at Veor in the CRFU merit table.

Cornwall One:

Stithians 0, Saltash 61

SALTASH continued their march through Cornwall Division One with an 11-try demolition of out of sorts Stithians.

Saltash scored pretty much at will, with a brace of tries each for wing James Moriarty, fly half Joe Skinnard, centre Rich Skinnard, and No.8 Steve Hillman. Full back Max Venables also went over to add to his three conversions.

There were also solitary scores for wing Will Morton and scrum half Shaun Crawford to complete the rout.

Saltash: N Grose, R Rayner, S Nance, T Rixson, A Merritt, B Venables, J Webb, S Hillman, S Crawford, J Skinnard, J Moriarty, J Carroll, R Skinnard, K Morton, M Venables. Subs: J Rich, J Correllis, P Neville.

Friendly match:

Newquay Hornets 22, Wadebridge Camels 2nds 10

WITHOUT a league match because of Hayle's involvement in a National Vase match at Crediton, Hornets took up Camels' offer of a fixture with their Seconds.

Hornets gave starts to two young players; hooker, Jack Daniels and wing, Jake Kelly; and made six changes from the 15 that started the league match at Falmouth a fortnight earlier.

They made a bright start, but could not breakdown the Camels' defence. The second quarter belonged to the Camels. Their pack monopolised ball and mauled very effectively driving Hornets back into their 22.

On 27 minutes, following three phases of play, flanker, Dicky Dawe found space and ran in their first try. It only took a few minutes for Hornets to respond; they ran the ball down the left and should have scored, but they recycled and spun it right.

Wing Matt Burt had the overlap and ran in the first of his two tries. In injury time at the break Hornets followed up a clearance kick by fly half, Mark Robins. They got their hands on the ball and Burt forced his way over for try number two.

Hornets brought on young scrum half, Alex Whitchurch for Connor Riley and they pressed again after the restart with full back, Brad Rossborough being hauled down five metres short.

Then with Camels pressing, good passing by Hornets created two excellent tries. First on 50 minutes, Matt Burt and hooker, Jack Daniels put Rossborugh away down the left and he wrong footed the visitors' defence to go over under the posts for centre, Liam Freeman to convert.

Then, from a turnover in their half, the Hornets backs released Freeman down the right. With Burt as a foil outside him Freeman cut inside for his side's fourth try.

Within two minutes the Camels' pack had got a try back, they forced a five yard scrum and from the ruck that followed, prop Adam Coleman dived under the defence for a try.

The Camels' pack ended the second half, much as they had the first, in dominant form. However, their backs could not take advantage of the possession and despite all their efforts the Hornets' defence, somehow, kept them out during the 12 minutes of injury time.

Hornets have no fixture on Saturday. Their next league match is on March 3, away at Honiton.

Newquay Hornets: Phil Holby, Jack Daniels, Tim Glue (Phil Cornes), Tom Rainey, Neil Rescorla, Adam Rainey, James Alexander, Tim Eustice, Connor Riley (Alex Whitchurch), Mark Robins, Matt Burt (Connor Riley), Frazer Kellythorn, Liam Freeman, Jake Kelly, Brad Rossborough.

Scorers: Tries: Burt (2), Freeman, Rossborough; Conversion: Freeman.

Cornwall Merit Table:

Saltash 2nds 29, Newquay Hornets 2nds 20

THE Hornets Seconds continued their excellent 2012 form at Saltash on Saturday, albeit in defeat. In a match played in a howling wind and rain each side scored four tries.

Playing into the conditions from the off, Hornets were soon behind when the heavier home pack scored a push-over try, which was converted.

Within five minutes Hornets had a try of their own after scrum half, Lee Ambridge made good ground to set up the position from which, following a quick tap penalty, the ever alert hooker James Taylor went over for the first of his three tries.

Saltash dominated the second quarter and scored three more tries, two of which were converted, to go to the interval 26-5 ahead.

With the wind at their backs Hornets began the second half with real purpose. From a lineout close to the Saltash line, good work by Matt White and Paul Martin set up father of the team Martin Pearce, who went over for a try in the corner.

Hornets' man of the match James Taylor scored his second try and a strong run from skipper Ben Eustice then set him up for try number three.

Saltash brought on fresh legs and they began to dominate territory. Pressure told and a late penalty made the game safe for the home side.

After the match Hornets' manager, Rod Jackson was delighted with his team's performance. He said: "It was a very good game of rugby, with all the boys playing with a lot of heart."

Newquay Hornets: Kevin Badger, James Taylor, Richard Brewer (Martin Pearce), Paul Martin, Jacob Brain, Taylor Stevens, Matt White, Phil Elkins, Lee Ambridge, George Ferris, Paul Mercer, Rob Philp, Jack Hutton, Andy Blears, Ben Eustice.

Scorers: Tries: Taylor (3), Pearce.