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26th April 2008
Newquay Hornets XV 51 Bicester XV 24
With the league campaign behind them, promoted Hornets signed off their season in the sun at the Newquay Sports Centre on Saturday. They entertained tourists, Bicester, themselves promoted this season from the Berks Bucks and Oxon Premier League.
The rugby was as bright as the day. Both sides set out to enjoy the fixture and threw the ball around at every opportunity. Thirteen tries were scored, nine by Hornets and four by Bicester.
Hornets gave a start to young No.8, Simon Morgan in the back row with Dan Taylor and Jake Perkins. Kris Wicketts and Simon Lutey propped and Paul Martin packed down in the second row with Andy Burbidge. John Pease, came in on the wing, with Ashley Mann dropping back to full back for Sam Cullen, who was fly half for the day.
Hornets started at the gallop, with big Paul Martin making an immediate impact. Hooker Luke Bazeley touched down after five minutes and before half time, Jake Perkins, Ryan Johns, George Ferris and Jason Keyter had scored more tries for the home side. For Keyter, it was his first try for the club. No. 8, Dan Spencer ran in Bicester’s first try to make it 29-5 at the break.
Bicester raised their game after the interval. It was first half try scorer, Spencer who opened their second half account, with Chris Giles and their first team captain, Steve Risbridger adding further tries. Playing really expansive rugby, Hornets created four more tries, two for wing, James Ingle and one each for wing, John Pease and flanker, Jake Perkins.
Try scorers had to attempt the conversion too, so there were some interesting drops at goal. For the Hornets, Ferris, Ingle and Johns were successful and Risbridger and Spencer added points for Bicester.
After the match, Bicester nominated fly half, Sam Cullen as Hornets’ man of the match. Responding for the home side, Ashley Mann nominated Bicester’s Dan Spencer and the referee, for controlling the match in the true spirit of the occasion.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets Tries: James Ingle (2), Jake Perkins (2), Luke Bazeley, George Ferris,
Ryan Johns, Jason Keyter, John Pease.
Conversions: George Ferris, James Ingle, Ryan Johns.
Bicester Tries: Dan Spencer (2), Chris Giles, Steve Risbridger
Conversions, Steve Risbridger, Dan Spencer
Team: Kris Wicketts, Luke Bazeley, Simon Lutey, Paul Martin (Martin Pearce), Andy Burbidge, Dan Taylor, Jake Perkins, Simon Morgan, Ryan Johns, Sam Cullen, James Ingle, Jason Keyter, George Ferris, John Pease, Ashley Mann
On Friday the Hornets celebrate their season when they hold their Annual Presentation Dinner at Hotel Victoria.
19th April 2008
Honiton 0 Newquay Hornets 24
On the last Saturday of a long league season promoted Hornets ground out a win in the chill and damp of Allhallows Field. Their opponents, Honiton, already relegated, were playing for pride and they made it difficult for their visitors.
The Hornets' defence was tremendous. Their front five were solid in the face of a big home pack. The forwards put together some amazing driving mauls and the lineout, with Andy Burbidge and Andy Mummery outstanding, secured good ball. However much of their open play was tentative. The backs struggled for continuity and gave away lots of ball to Honiton.
Three tries and a penalty try broke the gloom for the travelling faithful, who with Hornets only five points up at half time were wondering whether they should have stayed in the pub. Centre, James Earp touched down in the first half, when the ball was spun following a massive driving maul. After the interval Ryan Johns made a lovely 20 metre run through the Honiton defence to set up a try for Steve Potter. James Bayley whetted his appetite for try scoring with his third in two weeks, when he ran in near the posts for Ryan Johns to convert. And in the dying minutes veteran winger, Ashley Mann fly hacked a ball out of defence and showed real pace when he followed up to run 75 metres to the Honiton line. With the ball on the ground in front of him, he was impeded on the way into the in-goal area and the referee awarded a penalty try, which Ryan Johns converted.
Honiton battled hard. Somehow Hornets cleared their lines after the ball was held up when the Honiton pack drove over the line in the second half and the home side just couldn’t convert two chances when they got behind the Hornets defence in the last quarter.
Ultimately the win secured second place for Hornets at the end of an amazing season. Cullompton made sure of the league title. They stayed a point ahead of Hornets after a convincing 37-8 win against third placed Tavistock.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets Tries: James Bayley, James Earp, Steve Potter, Penalty Try
Conversions: Ryan Johns (2)
Team: James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley (Simon Lutey), Ross Robins, Andy Burbidge, Steve Potter (Dan Taylor), Andy Mummery, Lee Woodhatch, Ryan Johns, Simon Horton, Ashley Mann, James Earp (Tom Bazely), George Ferris (Steve Potter), James Ingle, Sam Cullen
Next Saturday, the last of the season, tourists Bicester are the visitors to the Sports Centre. Kick off is at 3:00pm. Sponsors and Vice Presidents are invited to a Beer and Barbecue afternoon, which kicks off at 1:00pm with a presentation on the Acorn Surf Sevens arranged for the 18th-20th July 2008.
Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 0 Penzance/Newlyn Amateurs 13
Following their fantastic win last week at St Austell, Hornets came back down to earth with a bump in this their last game of the season. They started brightly with some good attacking positions coming to nothing due to a mixture of handling mistakes and resolute defence from the visitors.
The Pirates were able to lead by the narrowest of margins at half time following a penalty for offside.
Hornets’ cause was not helped when scrum half, Martin Dingle and fly half Andy Webster both left the field with injuries. However Hornets continued to compete, but with the visitors heads up they were able to increase their lead with a try following some poor home tackling. A further try all but sealed the win for them.
Hornets finished the game the stronger side as a flurry of replacements laid siege to the Penzance line. Twice they were close to scoring. First a forward drive was held up over the line and then captain Jon Pease had the ball ripped from his grasp as he dived over. This result should not however detract from what has been a very successful season for the Newquay second string.
Team: Damien Fouracres, James Halfpenny, Chris Wicketts, Richard Martin, Aaron McPherson, Scott Trayner, Warren Barber, Tim Eustice, Martin Dingle, Andy Webster, Mark Hill, Jon Pease, Russell Milsom, Richard Evans, Ben Eustice, Paul Martin, Lewis Bowns, Martin Pearce, Ben Ambridge, Arran Pearson, Simon Morgan, Mike Cash, Jake Perkins, Ashley Underhill.
12th April 2008
Newquay Hornets 20 Okehampton 8
It was mission accomplished for the Hornets at the Sports Centre on Saturday. Having won the Skinner’s Brewery Cornwall Club’s Cup at St Austell the week before, they won again to secure promotion to Western Counties West after just one season in Cornwall and Devon League.
Okehampton had beaten them in Devon in both league and cup matches before Christmas, and on Saturday they dominated possession for long periods of the game.
Kicking off with the breeze at their backs, a strangely subdued Hornets side was on the back foot for the first quarter. They just couldn’t get their hands on the ball and when they did they looked tentative with passes not going to hand. They didn’t threaten their visitors’ line until 22 minutes when centre James Earp carved out an opening to set up a five-metre scrum. From the scrum, wing Ashley Mann took a blind side pass to score in the corner. Other Hornets attacks followed, but they just couldn’t find the finishing touches. Scrum half Ryan Johns extended their lead to 8-0 when he kicked a penalty on 32 minutes. It was a fragile lead and basic errors gave Okehampton the opportunity create the position from which to charge down a clearance kick close to the Hornets line. Centre, Alex Dennis followed up to touch down and make it 8-5 at the interval.
Okehampton were level after 60 minutes. Hornets were penalised at a ruck 30 metres out and Luke Wonnacott kicked the penalty. It was deja vu for the supporters as Okehampton threatened to spoil the party. They needn’t have worried, within five minutes the Hornets’ forwards were back on the visitors’ line. One drive was held up, but the second maul put prop, James Bayley over to relieve the tension. Then in a ten-minute period the Hornets’ were transformed, with centres Keyter and Earp bursting through the mid-field, forwards and backs threw the ball around and took the game away from Okehampton. Scrum half Ryan Johns made the half break and fed flanker Andy Mummery, who put James Bayley in the clear for his second try, this time under the posts. Johns converted to take Hornets away to a 20-8 lead.
Okehampton battled back into the home half with No.8, Bret Luxton setting up drives from the base of the scrum. But time was running out and with Mummery pinching crucial Okehampton lineout ball, the Hornets frustrated their visitors’ attacks to keep their season’s unbeaten record in the league at Fortress Sports Centre intact.
After the match team manager Steve Bazeley was delighted that the side had achieved its second objective, promotion, and delighted for the club. He said, “It took a very bold decision to ask Kevin Moseley to take on the coaching of the team three seasons ago in order to improve standards throughout the club. It proves that good rugby is possible without becoming a professional club.”
He thanked Kevin for the effort he had put in, he congratulated all the players who had contributed to the completion of the double of the cup win and promotion and he thanked the dedicated band of supporters for their loyalty, both at home and away during the season.
But the season isn’t over yet; with the pressure off, the Hornets travel to Honiton next Saturday to play their last league match.
League leaders Cullompton beat Truro 17-12 on Saturday and stay one point ahead of Hornets. They take on third placed Tavistock at home next Saturday. Hornets could still be champions, if they win on Saturday and Cullompton slip up against Tavistock.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets Tries: James Bayley (2), Ashley Mann
Conversion: Ryan Johns Penalty: Ryan Johns
Okehampton Try: Alex Dennis Pen: Luke Wonnacott
Team: James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley (Simon Lutey), Ross Robins, Andy Burbidge, Steve Potter (Dan Johns), Andy Mummery, Lee Woodhatch, Ryan Johns, Simon Horton, Ashley Mann (George Ferris), James Earp, Jason Keyter, James Ingle, Sam Cullen
St Austell 2nd XV 14 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 53
Saturday saw the Hornets in Merit table action at table toppers St Austell. It was an ominous start for the Newquay side as they went 14-0 down early on to the bigger Sinners side who showed their power in the scrums. However once the visitors realised that they had much more pace out wide, they set about demolishing the home defence with some devastating running. The Hornets made a mockery of the league positions as they ran in eight tries. Tim Grainger bagged three and Tim Eustice, Russell Milsom, Ryan de la Hunty, Kris Wicketts and Jon Pease one each. Andy Webster added five conversions and a penalty in a superb kicking display.
Team: Kris Wicketts, James Halfpenny, Jack Rutty, Aaron McPherson, Simon Barnes, Scott Trayner, Dan Taylor, Warren Barber, Martin Dingle, Andy Webster, Ryan de la Hunty, Jon Pease, Russell Milson, Tim Grainger, Ben Eustice, Josh Bullen, Martin Pearce, Tim Eustice, Richard Evans, Mike Cash.
11th April 2008
Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 10 New Cross 14
Hornets had to call on all their playing resources for this Friday night game; the first of two over the weekend. New Cross, a touring side from South Devon, are in their first season since formation. They showed that they will be no mugs when as expected they enter the Devon leagues next season. New Cross showed early on that they are a well-drilled side with some excellent rucking from the forwards with the ball being recycled to the backs to open the scoring. Hornets pulled three points back with a penalty by Andy Webster before the visitors again broke to increase their lead. The second half saw Hornets come into the game more, but too often they were turned over in the ruck when in an attacking position. However they were able to pull one back when the ball was fed out to winger Ryan de la Hunty to score on his senior debut. Webster added the extras to set up a tight finish However New Cross were able to hold out for the win.
Team: Jack Rutty, James Halfpenny, Mark Poole, Simon Barnes, Richard Clarke, Ben Griffiths, Mike Cash, Tim Eustice, Adam Kedzerski, Andy Webster, Mark Hill, Andrew Dixon, Andy Blears, Ryan de la Hunty, Dave Pendreich, John Pease, Russell Milsom, Ben Eustice.
5th April 2008
Newquay Hornets 33 Saltash 8
(Skinner’s Brewery Cornwall Clubs’ Cup Final – played at St Austell RFC)
As many would have anticipated, Cornwall & Devon League front runners Newquay Hornets proved too strong for Cornwall Division One leaders Saltash in a sporting cup final played in good, if windy, conditions at Tregorrick Park. Despite being without a few key players, lower-league Ashes competed well throughout and did themselves great credit.
Newquay applied pressure from the kick off and within the first minute captain and flanker Steve Potter charged down an attempted Saltash clearance on their twenty-two and won the race to gather and touch down in the right corner to open the scoring.
The East Cornwall Club responded and the Hornets were picked up for offside within range for fly half Will Virgo to reduce the deficit with a well-struck penalty on 9 minutes. Saltash continued to enjoy a period applying the pressure but failed to convert this into points.
On 28 minutes Newquay took their turn to attack and kicked a penalty to touch in the right corner. The forwards drove at the line before scrum half Ryan Johns sniped from the breakdown to cross and converted his own try for 12-3.
Hornets had the better of the territory and approaching half time centre Jason Keyter made a big break up the middle from loose play. He was finally pulled down just short but the ball was recycled quickly to the left for wing Ashley Mann to touch down in the corner. Johns struck a great conversion from the touchline for 19-3 at the interval.
Starting the second period Ashes attacked in the Newquay 22. On 50 minutes they used their big forwards to good effect and mauled over the line. No 8 Dominic Hill was credited with the touchdown to maintain his side’s interest. However, Newquay bounced straight back and 6 minutes later the ever-alert Johns was quick to pounce and dot the ball down to the left of the posts off the back of a ruck.
On 69 minutes Hornets won the ball at a scrum on their opponents’ ten-metre line; No. 8 Lee Woodhatch picked up and drove through the defence, before sprinting away to finish off behind the posts in extravagant fashion for the try of the match, if not the season. Johns converted both second half tries for a personal contribution of 18 points, earning him the Skinner’s Man of the Match award.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: tries Steve Potter, Ryan Johns (2), Ashley Mann, Lee Woodhatch; cons Ryan Johns (4); Saltash: try Dominic Hill; pen Will Virgo
Newquay Hornets: Sam Cullen, James Ingle, George Ferris, Jason Keyter, Ashley Mann (Tom Bazeley), Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, James Bayley (Kris Wicketts), Luke Bazeley (Dan Taylor), Alex Bazeley (Damien Fouracres), Andy Burbidge, Scott Trayner (Dan Johns), Ross Robins, Steve Potter (capt) (Matt Orton), Lee Woodhatch.
This Saturday the Hornets play their penultimate league match at home to fifth placed Okehampton, kick-off 3 pm. Having narrowly lost away to the Devon side on their previous two league and cup clashes this season, Newquay will be focussed on retribution in what promises to be a hard-fought encounter. Victory, or a draw, would make the Hornets a certainty for promotion.
Helston 2nd XV 10 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 29
Hornets reserves travelled to Helston to fulfill their fixture with just fourteen players due to various unavailability issues. With a borrowed player from the Isles of Scilly offering his services, they were at least able to start the game with a full team. The makeshift Hornets side started strongly, but a loose pass allowed Helston to score an interception try. Not to be put off their stride, Hornets laid siege to the Helston line, Lewis Bowns eventually charging over to score the try. Hornets again went on the attack to take the lead with Warren Barber adding his name to the score-sheet; Andy Webster converted his try. Helston pulled one back before half time, but with the borrowed player going off injured, team manager Rod Jackson was brought out of retirement to make up the numbers. Jackson showed that he had lost none of his class and Hornets were able to take control of the game. Winger Richard Evans scored his first try for the club when he beat the Helston defence to pounce on a loose ball. Again Webster added the extras. Paul Martin was punching big holes in the home team defence and he added the final try when he broke from 25 metres out to run unchallenged to the line. Webster added the conversion and a penalty to complete the scoring.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries; Warren Barber, Lewis Boyns, Richard Evans, Paul Martin, Conversions: Andy Webster (3), Penalty; Andy Webster
Team: Lewis Bowns, James Halfpenny, Mark Poole, Paul Martin, Rod Jackson, Warren Barber, Martin Pearce, Tim Eustice, Martin Dingle, Andy Webster, John Pease, Tim Grainger, Mike Cash, Richard Evans, Ben Eustice.
29th March 2008
Teighmouth 5 Newquay Hornets 64
Whilst it remains theoretically possible for Tavistock to challenge Hornets for one of the promotion places, it would now take miracles for that to become a reality. So the Hornets effectively sealed promotion with this convincing win at the basement club, bagging ten tries in the process.
The hosts competed well in the scrum in the first half and vainly tried to stay in the competition, but they were outclassed in most departments. In the closing stages, after they had tackled themselves to a standstill, the visitors’ superior fitness put the icing on the cake that they had made in the first half.
Newquay scored from the opening play when captain and flanker Steve Potter took play down the right side. Ball was recycled for centre George Ferris to cross under the posts. Scrum half Ryan Johns converted for 0-7 after two minutes.
With forwards and backs combining well, despite the strong cross wind and wet conditions, Hornets added a try by hooker Luke Bazeley, converted by Johns, before Teignmouth responded and managed to score from a concerted effort, when fly half Lawrence Cowen was mauled over on the left.
Newquay re-established control and added first half tries by centre James Earp, fly half Simon Horton, a second for Bazeley and an opportunist charge-down try for Potter, the first two converted by Johns, for 5-38 at half time.
The third quarter was scoreless with the visitors enjoying the better of territory and possession. The final quarter saw further dividends for the Hornets with a penalty try and touchdowns by wing James Ingle, a second for Earp and a final try by replacement full back Tom Bazeley. Top scorer Johns slotted three more conversions for a personal tally of 14 points.
Scorers: Teignmouth: try Lawrence Cowen; Newquay Hornets: tries George Ferris, Luke Bazeley (2), James Earp (2), Simon Horton, Steve Potter, pen try, James Ingle, Tom Bazeley; con Ryan Johns (7).
Team: James Bayley, Luke Bazeley (Dan Taylor), Alex Bazeley (Simon Lutey), Ross Robins, Andy Burbidge, Andy Mummery, Steve Potter (Captain), Lee Woodhatch, Ryan Johns, Simon Horton (Tom Bazeley), Ashley Mann, James Earp, George Ferris, James Ingle, Sam Cullen
Bodmin 2nd XV 10 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 26
Hornets 2nds travelled to a wet and windy Bodmin for a merit table game on Saturday. As was to be expected the pitch was heavy, but both sides stuck to the task well and made the most of the conditions. Although Hornets made the early pressure, but Bodmin came away with the ball to score a breakaway try. Hornets came back with a try and conversion from Andy Webster to take a short lived lead until Bodmin broke away again to score. Webster was again the scorer as Hornets took a slender lead into the break. The second half saw the Newquay side playing down the hill. As conditions deteriorated Hornets started to get the upper hand and increased their lead with tries for centres Russ Milson and John Pease, with Milson converting his own try and Webster adding the extras to that of Pease.
Team: Damien Fouracres, James Halfpenny, Kris Wicketts, Richard Martin, Aaron McPherson,, Ben Ambridge, Ben Griffiths, Scott Trayner, Martin Dingle, Andy Webster, Tim Grainger, John Pease, Russell Milson, Mark Hill, Ben Eustice, Richard Evans, Mike Cash
28th March 2008
Newquay Hornets Vets 37 Cambridge Old Vanguards 5
A cold and windy Friday evening saw Hornets wheeling out their legends for a game against the touring Old Vanguards. To their credit both sides managed to produce a very entertaining game with the assistance of oxygen on tap and a few Zimmer frames. Newquay, with the help of a smattering of youngsters, were able to win the game comfortably with a steady stream of tries Scorers were Mark "hamstrung" Pearson, Dan "I am not that old" Johns, Paul "don’t get in my way" Martin, Gary "I retired too early" Williams & John "I should be in the first team" Pease, who also kicked the solitary conversion. The players then retired to their normal position in the bar for rest and recuperation.
Team: Gary Williams, Derek Johns, Mark Poole, Paul Martin, Simon Barnes, Rob Shaw, Dave Pendreich, Dan Johns, John Dingle, Martin Dingle, Mark Pearson, John Pease, Tim Donlan, Paul Price, Phil May
22nd March 2008
Newquay Hornets 20 Hendon 0
(75th Anniversary Match)
Both clubs were celebrating their 75th anniversaries and the game was played in appropriate spirit and refereed with a smile by Cornwall Society man Ian Pengelly. However, the rugby was taken seriously and the visitors from the lower Herts & Middlesex Division 2 North competed well throughout.
Hornets rang the changes and fielded an ‘A’ side featuring a smattering or regular first teamers with a number of fringe players. The very strong wind was to make a total lottery of the line-out and long passes difficult but the visitors’ big strong pack made the close encounters competitive.
Playing with the wind, Newquay were quick to set up camp in the visitors’ 22. On 5 minutes, they attacked at a scrum 20 metres out on the right. No8 Warren Barber picked off the back and the ball was worked to centre Dan Johns on the crash to burst through and touch down to the right of the posts. Brother, scrum half Ryan Johns, kept it in the family with the conversion.
With the home side enjoying the best of the territory but the visitors taking an equal share of the possession, a period of stalemate followed. Not until the 32nd minute was the Newquay lead extended when Ryan Johns stroked a penalty for 10-0 at half time.
From the restart the Hornets put together a concerted effort when they regained possession and fed quick ball to young fly half Sam Cullen, looking quite at home in the number 10 shirt on his switch from his usual full back berth. Cullen made a sharp break through a small gap to get behind the defence and feed the outside players. Wing John Pease hoofed on and won the follow-up chase to touch down in the left corner on 41 minutes.
Hendon responded and asked some questions of the Hornets defence but were unable to achieve a breakthrough.
Going into the final quarter, Newquay came back and were held up under the posts. Scrum half Johns took recycled ball on 63 minutes and jinked around to cross on the left for 20-0.
Hendon never gave up and enjoyed some passages when they should have scored. However, the final pass went astray and they were left disappointed not to have avoided the whitewash.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: tries D Johns, J Pease, R Johns; con R Johns; pen R Johns.
Newquay Hornets: J Mateer, T Grainger, J Pease, D Johns, A Mann (capt), S Cullen, R Johns, K Wicketts, D Taylor, D Fouracres, A Burbidge, R Martin, S Trayner, M Orton, W Barber. Replacements (all used): O Yelland, M Pearce, A Kedzierski, G Ferris.
15th March 2008
Helston 17 Newquay Hornets 7 (Skinners Cornwall Clubs Cup semi-final 2nd leg)
Newquay would have been hard pushed to cede a 27--point advantage going into this Skinner's Brewery Cornwall Clubs' Cup semi-final 2nd leg, but they seemingly did their best to do just that. On the day, the Cornwall & Devon league leaders were deservedly beaten by a better side, which is placed third in the lower Cornwall 1 league.
If, as is now likely, Hornets achieve promotion to Western Counties West, they will have to perform to their potential week in week out, not occasionally when it is absolutely crucial, as they have this term.
On the other hand Helston, playing like this, could comfortably enjoy life in a higher league. There remains a chance they may achieve promotion this season and, now they have the facilities to match, they must surely have their sights set on it.
Helston fielded a solid pack and a lively set of backs with experienced decision makers in key positions. Former St Ives, Penryn and Cornwall player Steve Trethowan directed proceedings at fly half and his superb kicking from hand consistently relieved the pressure in defence and exerted it in attack.
In contrast, Hornets were rudderless and haphazard. Passes were sprayed in all directions and ridiculously adventurous pop-passes to non-existent players contributed to probably their worst handling performance this season. Their lineout failed to function in the first half and they proved unable to do the basics right, surrendering possession with monotonous regularity.
On eleven minutes Helston took the ball on near half way. Livewire full back James McInnes ran through a gaping hole in the Newquay mid-field and linked with flanker Jeff Kitto who provided the pass for fellow flanker Lee Hoskin to score under the posts. Trethowan converted for 7-0.
The half progressed with each side having its chance to attack but with much of the play in mid-field and no further scores came prior to the interval.
The third quarter was much the same as the sides wore out the middle of the pitch but the hosts were still striving for a 28-point victory. On 65 minutes Helston attacked at a lineout 25 metres out on the left. The ball was spun along the backs to put wing Barry Williams clear on the overlap and he obliged with a touchdown in the right corner. Trethowan’s superb conversion from the touchline made it 14-0.
However, the home side’s hopes were dashed only four minutes later when the Hornets were finally spurred into some effective action as flanker Andy Mummery broke clear into the Helston 22. Replacement hooker Luke Bazeley took play on and linked with scrum half Ryan Johns who provided the scoring pass for full back Tom Bazeley to score to the left of the posts from close range. Johns converted.
Helston had the final word when, in injury time, Newquay were penalised near their own 22. Trethowan maintained his 100% record with a well-struck kick for 17-7.
The result means Hornets progress to a final against Saltash owing to an aggregate 34-17 score in their favour.
Scorers: Helston: tries L Hoskin, B Williams; cons S Trethowan (2); pen S Trethowan. Newquay Hornets: try T Bazeley; con R Johns.
Newquay Hornets: T Bazeley, J Ingle, G Ferris, J Keyter, A Mann (T Grainger), S Horton, R Johns, K Wicketts (D Fouracres), D Taylor (L Bazeley), A Bazeley (K Wicketts), A Burbidge, R Robins, A Mummery, S Potter (capt), S Trayner (M Orton).
This Saturday an ‘A’ XV will host Hendon at the Sports Centre on the occasion of the 50th/75th anniversary lunch and former-players reunion.
8th March 2008 Newquay Hornets 21 Wellington 0
“Three to go” was Newquay Team Manager Steve Bazeley’s comment as he continued the countdown on his side’s run in to the end of the season, having watched them extend their 2008 unbeaten run in the league to seven matches.
The sensible money must now be on the mid-Cornwall side to secure promotion for the second season running. With other main title contenders Cullompton having much stiffer fixtures facing them on the run-in, the Hornets could also be looking at a second league title on the bounce. Add the likelihood of a Cornwall Clubs Cup final appearance looming, they take a 27 point advantage into the second leg of the semi-final next week, and we could yet see a league and cup double as their just reward for this season’s efforts.
This match certainly wasn’t 80 minutes of scintillating, running rugby, the conditions weren’t right for that, but it was a display by the home side of typically miserly defence coupled with enough efficiency in attack to secure the desired result.
Playing with the significant wind in the first half, the Hornets enjoyed the early territorial advantage. After 12 minutes, Wellington were penalised on their own 22 and Newquay scrum half Ryan Johns kicked the goal from wide on the left.
When the visitors failed to release in the tackle seven minutes later, Johns repeated the dose as his side looked to build a buffer while they had the benefit of the elements. However, that never materialised as Wellington enjoyed a period on the attack. It took until first half stoppage time before top-scorer Johns added a third kick to bring up a personal haul of 200 points so far this season but giving his side only a 9-0 lead at the interval.
This was to prove safe enough as, ten minutes into the second period, Newquay attacked again on the Wellington 22 on the right. They did the basics right and spun the ball along the backs to put wing Ashley Mann over in the left corner.
As the second half progressed the visitors began to tail off, dropping with injuries, and the home side used their fitness to turn the screw. On 63 minutes an attempted Wellington clearance was charged down on their 22 and Hornets centre Jason Keyter gathered the ball to put Mann over wide on the left to complete his second brace of tries, while dodging the costly hat-trick, in consecutive weeks. Johns kicked an excellent conversion to complete the scoring.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: tries A Mann (2); con R Johns, pens R Johns (3).
Newquay Hornets: Sam Cullen, James Ingle, George Ferris (Tom Bazeley), Jason Keyter, Ashley Mann, Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, James Bayley, Dan Taylor, Alex Bazeley (Kris Wicketts), Andy Burbidge, Simon Lutey, Ross Robins (Scott Trayner), Andy Mummery, Lee Woodhatch.
1st March 2008 Crediton 9 Newquay Hornets 25 (Cornwall & Devon League)
League-leading Hornets’ promotion prospects were done no harm by this deserved victory over eighth-placed Crediton with a four to nil try count, especially with promotion contenders Tavistock slipping up at Wellington. In a match played in good spirit and fine conditions, the visitors eventually prevailed against a game home side that managed to stay within a single score until the final quarter approached.
The Devon side opened brightly and had the best of the first few minutes, but the Hornets responded to attack at a lineout five metres out on the right. They spun the ball along the backs for full back Sam Cullen to join the line on a miss-move and get behind the defence before releasing wing Ashley Mann to cross in the left corner and open the scoring on seven minutes.
Crediton came back and enjoyed the best of the territory for the rest of the first quarter but without seriously threatening the line. Their lineout was productive and they were somehow able to get an inordinate amount of turnover ball at the tackle. On 19 minutes Newquay conceded a penalty on the 22 wide out on the right and home fly half Ross Toms goaled for 3-5.
Six minutes later the Cornwall side returned for only their second visit to the home 22 and kicked a penalty to touch for a 5-metre lineout on the left. Their lineout was also working with hooker Luke Bazeley combining effectively with lock Andy Burbidge and flanker Andy Mummery. Good ball was again worked along the line for wing James Ingle to cross near the right corner.
On 28 minutes Newquay were picked up for crossing in the backs and Toms stroked another good kick to reduce the deficit from 32 metres out in front of the posts. A similar infringement by the hosts gave Hornets scrum half Ryan Johns the chance to reciprocate from 30 metres approaching half time for a 6-13 interval score-line.
Two minutes into the second half the influential Toms was again the man to punish a Newquay offside with his hat-trick penalty from 20 metres to peg back the lead. However, as the second period progressed, his side was to fade as the visitors took charge of proceedings.
On 57 minutes, Newquay won scrum ball on halfway and again used all of their backs to good effect. Centre Jason Keyter and Cullen were prominent before sending Mann over in the left corner to re-establish a safer buffer.
The visitors exploited their superior fitness throughout the last quarter and camped in their hosts’ half. The Crediton players were beginning to suffer with injuries galore and were kept on the rack as the Cornishmen maintained their advantage. Going into injury time Newquay attacked up the middle through some direct running and forward drives. Live-wire hooker Bazeley, who had, himself suffered a worrying knee injury at the beginning of the match, showed power and pace as he broke from 22 metres and brushed aside the defence to cross on the left. Johns converted to conclude the scoring.
Scorers: Crediton: pens R Toms (3);
Newquay Hornets: tries AshleyMann (2), James Ingle, Luke Bazeley; con Ryan Johns; pen Ryan Johns.
Newquay Hornets: Sam Cullen, James Ingle, George Ferris (Tim Grainger), Jason Keyter, Ashley Mann, Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Andy Burbidge, Simon Lutey (Kris Wicketts), Andy Mummery, Steve Potter (capt), Lee Woodhatch (Scott Trayner).
Newquay continue their league campaign on Saturday when they host ninth-placed Wellington, who will arrive with only one away league win to their name, at the sports centre, kick off 2.30. The Hornets, unbeaten at home all season, will be looking for pay back with interest after a narrow defeat under dubious circumstances in Somerset back in September.
Truro 2nd XV 25 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 22
After three superb wins on the trot, Hornets lost out to Truro in a very close run contest. Newquay once again travelled with a much-changed team, but with the welcome return of some old faces, Hornets began strongly with the forwards playing a quick, rucking game to grab an early lead through captain Tim Eustice. However poor tackling allowed Truro to quickly draw level with try, which resulted from a rapid attack from their centres. The City team were soon able to take the lead as Newquay did their best to press the self-destruct button with some more, poor tackling. With Truro looking dangerous whenever the ball went to their rapid set of backs, Hornets decided to keep it tight and use their superiority in the forwards to good effect, this soon paid dividends when Eustice again scored, Truro however scored a penalty to lead by the narrowest of margins at halftime. A promising restart was spoilt when a poor pass allowed Truro to breakaway and score a converted try under the posts.
The Newquay forwards dug in to pull one back through flanker Jack Hutton, superbly converted from the touchline by Andy Webster before Truro added another try from their speedy back line. Not to be downhearted Hornets once again launched an attack to put winger Mark Hill over for a try. With the score at 25-22 to the home side Hornets had a penalty in front of the posts, which if kicked, would have levelled the score. However they elected to run it after mistakenly being informed by the referee that they were leading. The attack came to nothing, as did a late drop goal attempt from Webster, no doubt trying to emulate his exploits of the previous week. However this was a good contest between two well-matched sides and a good refereeing performance adding to the encounter.
Scorers: Tries; Tim Eustice (2), Jack Hutton, Mark Hill. Conversion; Andy Webster
Team: Jon Hall, Warren Barber, Lewis Bowns (Martin Pearce), Richard Martin, Aaron McPherson, Jack Hutton, Ben Ambridge, Tim Eustice (capt), Max Rundle, Andy Webster, Mark Hill, Russ Milsom (Jake Partridge), Jake Partridge (Aaron Pearson), Morgan Clatworthy (Mike Cash), John Pease
23rd February 2008 Newquay Hornets 27 Helston 0
(Skinner's Brewery Cornwall Clubs' Cup: semi-final first leg)
The score-line does not do justice to Hornets’ overall advantage in possession and territory but does reflect Helston’s failure to let their heads drop and concede the match without a fight. Both sides lacked a number of regular first-pick players but the visitors’ pack was still a formidable outfit and the whole side competed to the end without reward against their higher-league hosts.
Newquay dominated the first half but it took 15 minutes before they were able to score. They attacked with a number of forward drives close in on the left before ruck ball was popped out for centre Tom Bazeley to touch down near the posts. Fly half Simon Horton converted. The home side were paying due respect to their visitors but spurning some try-scoring chances along the way with the final pass going to ground. On 24 minutes Helston were penalised for joining a ruck from the side and Horton kicked the goal from 15 metres.
Hornets were living in their opponents half and five minutes later won ruck ball 25 metres out on the right. The ball was moved along the line and found wing James Ingle still with three men to beat. Somehow he powered and twisted his way through and crossed in the corner for 15-0 at the interval. Helston restarted brightly and competed on level terms through the third quarter. They enjoyed periods in control of the ball on the attack in the Hornets’ half but were unable to break down the stingy home defence and open their account.
The final quarter saw Newquay reassert themselves, forcing the Cornwall 1 side to concede penalties and earn yellow cards. On 65 minutes flanker Andy Mummery managed to squeeze through a morass of Helston defenders and stretch out to touch down at the base of a post. Horton added the conversion. With everybody wanting to get on the score-sheet, the basic skill of drawing the defender and passing became the exception rather than the rule resulting in massive overlaps being squandered and huge scoring opportunities slipping by.
Nevertheless, it was prop Alex Bazeley who was in place to collect a popped ball from brother Tom and cross from a whole metre out to complete the scoring with five minutes left.
No other side has managed to achieve a 28 point win over the Hornets this season so this win ought to be enough to guarantee a final place for Newquay come the semi-final second leg in Helston on 15 March.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: tries T Bazeley, J Ingle, A Mummery, A Bazeley; cons S Horton (2); pen S Horton.
Newquay Hornets: S Cullen, T Grainger (A Mann), G Ferris, T Bazeley, J Ingle, S Horton, M Rundle, K Wicketts (J Bayley), L Bazeley, A Bazeley, A Burbidge, R Robins, A Mummery, S Potter (capt) (S Trayner), L Woodhatch.
This Saturday the First XV switches its focus back to the league with an away match against Crediton while the 2nds visit Truro. Both matches kick off at 2.30.
Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 22 Penryn 2nd XV 20
In a pulsating second team game at the Sports Centre, it took an audacious Andy Webster drop goal from the halfway line in the dying seconds to give Hornets the edge.
The game began at an electric pace as the Penryn side, fielding several regular first team players, ran the ball wide at every opportunity. Their intent was soon turned into points as they ran in a converted try. Not to be outdone, the Hornets, showing good forward domination were able to drive No 8, Warren Barber over for a try. A couple of moments of indiscipline from Newquay saw Penryn go further ahead as they converted the resulting penalties.
Soon after the interval, and very much against the run of play, Penryn were able to increase their lead with another converted try. With the game slipping away from them, Hornets decided to give some of the numerous replacements a run out, this proved decisive as the forwards trundled towards the Penryn line to release Aaron McPherson, on for Richard Clarke, to dive in for a try from almost his first touch of the ball. With the Hornets forwards piling on the pressure, Penryn were forced into desperate defensive measures and gave away several penalties. From one of the penalties, Hornets arrears were reduced to one point when Simon Lutey barged his way over and Webster converted. The Newquay forwards then threw everything into a final flurry to try to grab the spoils. The ball was released the ball to the backs and everyone looked on in disbelief as Webster lined up for his Wilkinson moment from the halfway line and saw the ball sail between the uprights to secure the win.
Scorers: Tries Barber, McPherson, Lutey, Conversions Webster (2), Drop goal- Webster
Team: Jack Rutty, Andy Cornes (Dan Taylor), Lewis Bowns (Jon Hall), Simon Lutey, Richard Martin, Dan Taylor (Martin Pearce), Richard Clarke (Aaron McPherson), Warren Barber (captain), Aaron Pearson, Andy Webster, Ashley Underhill, Jason Mateer, John Pease, Mark Hill (Andy Blears), Russell Milsom (Adam Kedzerski)
Other replacements: Josh Bullen, Richard Evans, Matt McKenna
16th February 2008 Newquay Hornets 17 Falmouth 7
The league leaders knew they faced a stiff challenge at the Sports Centre on Saturday, when they took on the side they had beaten by a single point in their previous encounter at Dracaena Avenue back in September.
With both sides under-strength, the Hornets again proved that they wanted it more than their visitors. There was another immense effort from the pack, which has moulded into a formidable unit. The front five produced the goods again and the back row unit of Mummery, Potter and Woodhatch were in the face of the opposition all afternoon, both in defence and attack.
Kicking off with the strong easterly breeze, Hornets kept the ball tight and kicked sensibly to force Falmouth back into their twenty-two. They dominated possession and territory for much of the first half, with the maul again a very effective part of their armoury. They kept Falmouth pinned in their own half for long periods. Indeed it was half an hour before Falmouth mounted any serious attack.
Hornets produced two tries within a ten-minute period during the first quarter. A drive by Hornets’ man-of–the match, No. 8, Lee Woodhatch set up the position for full back, Jason Mateer to send in young winger, Tim Grainger for his first try on his first appearance in chiefs’ rugby. Prop, Alex Bazeley got the second from a rolling maul and Ryan Johns converted.
Falmouth substituted James Instance in the centre for the injured Hambly before half time.
Playing into the breeze after the break, Hornets were still getting to the Falmouth runners behind the gain line. Instance missed a long-range penalty attempt before Hornets delivered the real blow. From a scrum half way out on the right, near touch, scrum half Johns fashioned an opening on the blind for Steve Potter to run down the touchline and give Lee Woodhatch the inside pass for the touch down.
The match was sixty minutes old before Falmouth really got into their stride and put severe pressure on the Hornets. They got their maul together and the home side were lucky to clear their lines.
The last quarter was pretty tense for the home supporters. James Instance moved to fly half for Falmouth, and having moved into the centre, Aki Bundi made a lovely break, which gave the visitors their try. He went to go wide, cut through the centre and off-loaded to hooker Tim Gay, who scored under the posts.
Hornets attacked again, Grainger came close to getting a second try and a lovely dummy and break by Simon Horton almost made a try for Jason Mateer.
Needing two converted tries to win, Falmouth ran the ball and tested the home defence. Late on, Hornets’ Richard Martin came on for Kris Wicketts and whenever possible the home pack stuffed the ball up their jumper drove at the visitors and they ended the match in the Falmouth twenty-two.
After two hard matches in Devon had sidelined key players with injuries, team manager Steve Bazeley was delighted that the guys who came on had stepped up to the mark and made sure of the win. “Five to go”, he added.
With their rivals for promotion, Cullompton and Tavistock also winning, this was a key victory for the Newquay side. They have a break from the league next Saturday, when improving Cornwall One side Helston visits the Sports Centre for the first leg of the Skinners Brewery Cornwall Clubs’ Cup semi-final. Kick of is at 2:30pm. The next league fixture is away at Crediton on 1st March 2008.
Scorers: Falmouth Try: Tim Gay, Conversion: James Instance
Newquay Hornets Tries: Alex Bazeley, Tim Grainger, Lee Woodhatch
Conversion: Ryan Johns
Team: James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Kris Wicketts (Richard Martin), Ross Robins, Steve Potter (Captain), Andy Mummery, Lee Woodhatch, Ryan Johns, Simon Horton, James Ingle, James Earp, George Ferris, Tim Grainger, Jason Mateer. Other substitutes: Dan Taylor, Scott Trayner
Illogan Park 2nd XV 12 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 22
Due to a lack of a first team fixture Illogan fielded a side against Hornets predominantly made up of their Cornwall Two table-topping team. To further complicate matters Hornets were forced into fielding a much-changed side due to first team demands and unavailabilities.
Newquay started brightly, hoping to take full advantage of the slope and wind direction in the first half. However twice the ball was lost with the Hornets threatening the Illogan line. On both occasions the home side managed to counter attack and they opened up a 12-0 lead. Although the signs were ominous Newquay dug in and following some great forward pressure, captain, Tim Eustice popped up to reduce the arrears, Andy Webster added the conversion. The second half saw a fired up Hornets side throw everything at the home side. They used the full width of the pitch at every opportunity and added two tries from winger Mark Hill and a late charge down from John Pease completed the scoring. This was a most satisfying victory for the team with every player, regardless of experience, working his nuts off.
Scorers: Tries: T Eustice, M Hill x 2, J Pease. Conversion: Webster
Team: Gary McMaster, Jack Rutty, Lewis Bowns, Anthony Whyte (Martin Pearce), Simon Barnes, Jason Taylor, Jack Hutton, Tim Eustice (Captain), Max Rundle, Aaran Pearson, Richard Evans (Russell Milsom came on at 12 with Webster moving to 13 and Pease moving to 11), Andy Webster, John Pease, Mark Hill, Ben Eustice
9th February 2008 Bideford 12 Newquay Hornets 27
With just seven league fixtures remaining and tension building, the Cornwall and Devon League leaders were in Devon on Saturday to take on Bideford at King George’s Field. Having won the previous encounter at the Sports Centre 32-19, the Hornets returned home with a very valuable double thanks to a dominant display from their pack.
Hornets began brightly. Excellent work by the forwards put Bideford on the back foot and Simon Lutey burst into the home sides’ 22. Only last-ditch defence cleared the threat. But Hornets came back down the right with lovely handling from forwards and backs to create the position that set up a try for Lee Woodhatch on the left.
It didn’t take long for Bideford to respond. They threw the ball around and came close to breaking through a couple of times, before a kick into the Hornets’ 22 was followed up by Sam Olde, who beat the defence to the ball for the try that levelled things up.
Bideford found it difficult to cope with Hornets’ awesome rolling mauls. From one of them Hornets set up a five-metre scrum on the far right. And from the maul that followed, Ryan Johns went over for Hornets’ second try that he also converted.
Before half time, Hornets’ captain and influential No.8, Stuart Williams left the field with an injury to be replaced by Steve Potter and crucially for the home side two of their penalty attempts went past the post to give Hornets a 5-12 interval lead.
The Hornets pressured the Bideford line from the restart. Again a maul was held up by desperate home defence, but from the ensuing scrum, debutant centre James Earp went over on the blind side to extend the visitors’ lead.
Within minutes the ability of the Bideford backs to threaten a defence was illustrated, when they fashioned an opening for flanker, Jamie Giddy to break through the centre and touch down near the posts for Olly Wickett to convert.
With the sides’ scores back to within five points, Hornets were shaken and they pressed again. Bideford’s defence held out another attempted drive and when they spun the ball Hornets wing James Ingle came with inches of the line. Ryan Johns calmed Hornets’ nerves at the end of the third quarter, when he slotted a neat penalty from thirty-five metres to give them an eight-point cushion. But the visitors’ nerves still jangled, as their lineout, solid in the first half, stuttered and the Bideford backs, with their edgy and unpredictable running continued to pose a threat.
However time was running out for Bideford. After brilliant work by young winger, George Ferris had thwarted a real scoring opportunity for them close to the Hornets’ line; the pressure on the home pack began to tell. With Kris Wickett on for Simon Lutey, the Hornets’ scrummage really began to impose itself on the flagging home eight. Back in Bideford territory, Hornets spurned on excellent scoring opportunity, before, in injury time, at a scrum just metres out, their pack pushed Bideford off their own ball and gave Ross Robbins the final try, which Ryan Johns converted.
After the match Hornets’ team manager Steve Bazeley was delighted with the win that stretched his sides’ 2008 unbeaten run in Devon. He said, “There are no easy games in this league. We knew they would run the ball at us and we might have relaxed a bit after our early try. But Bideford competed well. It was our superior pack that made the difference”.
Scorers: Bideford Tries: Jamie Giddy, Sam Olde. Conversion Olly Wickett
Newquay Hornets Tries: James Earp, Ryan Johns, Ross Robbins, Lee Woodhatch
Conversions: Ryan Johns (2) Penalty: Ryan Johns
Team: James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Simon Lutey (Kris Wickett), Ross Robbins, Lee Woodhatch, Andy Mummery, Stuart Williams (Captain) (Steve Potter), Ryan Johns, Simon Horton, James Ingle, James Earp, Jason Keyter, George Ferris (Tim Grainger), Sam Cullen
Hornets have another crucial league fixture next Saturday, when they take on Falmouth at the Sports Centre. Kick off 2:30 pm
Newquay Hornets 2 39 Hayle 2 10
Following a blank week last week a much changed Hornets second string got back to winning ways with a comprehensive win against their west Cornwall opponents.
After an evenly matched early period where Hayle more than matched the home side, pocket rocket winger, Ashley Underhill ran in for the opening score, converted by Jack Hutton playing in the unfamiliar role of fly half.
The opening score encouraged Newquay to step up their game and further scores were added by prop Mark Coombe, centre, John Pease and Ashley Underhill. Hutton added a try of his own and a further conversion to give Hornets a 29-0 lead at the break. A whole raft of changes in the second half saw a certain amount of disruption to the Hornets play and allowed Hayle to come back into the game with two tries, Hornets matching them with two of their own from Lewis Bowns and Anthony White. Although Hornets took their foot off the pedal in the second half, this was a thoroughly entertaining game played in good spirit by very sporting opponents.
26th January 2008 Tavistock 22 Newquay Hornets 24
A week is a long time in politics, and rugby. After last week’s forgettable 5-5 draw when one was left struggling to find something interesting to report, this one has you reaching for the Oxford English book of superlatives.
The Hornets’ promotion prospects were given a significant boost with this narrow victory in an excellent first versus second top-of-the-table clash that lived up to expectations. Played in good conditions, this well-supported, end-to-end contest was full of competitive heart, endeavour and no shortage of strength and skill as both sides tried to play 15-man rugby and scored some spectacular tries in the process.
Some of the “hits” could be clearly heard from the touchline, but this was a well refereed match played in the right spirit by two sporting sides and, consequently, virtually devoid of foul play. Despite inevitable mistakes and errors, this really was competitive rugby at close to its best and the large crowd was kept entertained with nerves jangling right to the last whistle.
Playing up the slope against a negligible breeze, the Cornishmen opened well and enjoyed the best of the early exchanges. They were rewarded on 5 minutes when Tavistock were penalised 25 metres out for handling in the ruck and Hornets scrum half Ryan Johns kicked the goal.
Five minutes later the hosts responded with both forwards and backs displaying slick handling. They combined well to attack up the left before moving the ball along the backs to send aptly named wing David Goodspeed over on the right. Fly half Josh Sutton converted for 7-3.
The Devon side continued to attack and spent a period applying severe pressure close in. The Newquay defence was put to the test time and again but showed its mettle and maintained its organisation to repel the onslaught. Clearing their lines, the visitors came back and forced the home defence to concede a penalty, 30 metres out, in front of the posts. Rightly opting to keep the scoreboard ticking over, captain Steve Potter again elected for goal and Johns obliged with another kick that bisected the uprights on 25 minutes.
End-to-end play ensued before, eight minutes later, the Tavvy defence was again picked up for going over the top at the tackle 15 metres from their line in front of the posts. Johns again applied the punishment and Hornets were somehow again in front, 7-9.
However, the moorlanders were having none of this and bounced back to put the visitors back on the rack. On 39 minutes they forced a penalty in front of the posts and, this time determined to leave with some points for their efforts, turned to Sutton to kick the goal and give his side a half-time lead, if only by the single point.
Now playing down the slope, Newquay restarted strongly. On 42 minutes they spun the ball left and centre Marc Richards, the former Pirates, Mounts Bay and Redruth player making his debut, cut through the middle. With excellent hands and timing of the pass at speed, he linked with full back Sam Cullen who displayed the same skills to put wing James Ingle over on the left. Johns converted.
Five minutes later, the visitors were again awarded a penalty a full 40 metres out but in front of the posts. Johns stepped up and did the job for 10-19 and the air of expectation rose amongst the Newquay supporters.
Tavistock bounced back again and, another 5 minutes on, attacked through centre Lawrence Evans. The maul was set up and powered over under the posts for flanker Duncan Law to get the touchdown. Sutton’s conversion brought it back to within two points.
Newquay were up against it and had already used all three replacements due to injuries with a full 25 minutes still to play. The Devon side had a whiff of victory and hammered away at their visitors. The pressure was telling, but a shot at goal was scuffed wide and a penalty kick to the corner went dead.
The moment passed and the Hornets again cleared their lines and got back onto the front foot. On 63 minutes they attacked on the right and switched the ball left for Ingle to exploit the overlap and score wide out for 17-24.
With 17 minutes to go, seven points never felt like a secure enough lead, but the Cornishmen held on grimly. Yet again, now in injury time, the Devon side replied and sent centre Doug Lloyd over in the left corner. The touchline conversion could have tied the scores, but it was not to be, Newquay were left exhausted, but two points clear in a match that neither side deserved to lose.
Scorers: Tavistock: tries D Goodspeed, D Law, D Lloyd; cons J Sutton (2); pen J Sutton.
Newquay Hornets: tries J Ingle (2); con R Johns; pens R Johns (4).
Newquay Hornets: S Cullen, R Martin (A Mann), M Richards (G Ferris), J Keyter, J Ingle, S Horton, R Johns, J Bayley, L Bazeley, A Bazeley, K Wicketts, A Burbidge, A Mummery, S Potter (Capt), S Williams (L Woodhatch).
Next week the Hornets faithful will be league onlookers as second-placed Cullompton play their game in hand at home to eighth-placed Crediton. Newquay return to the competition on 9th February when they will be aiming to extend their run of away wins in Devon at seventh-placed Bideford (kick-off 2.30).
19th January 2008 Newquay Hornets 5 Truro 5
This match reflected the top half of the Cornwall & Devon League this season, very little in it. Very little or nothing, that is, between the two sides on the day as there is between at least the top five clubs in the league, if not more.
Unfortunately, there was also very little in the way of flowing, entertaining rugby in this dour struggle of the defences as the neighbouring Cornish clubs conspired to give local rivals Falmouth and, more importantly, Devon contenders Cullompton and Tavistock, both enjoying narrow wins on Saturday, cause for encouragement. The margins at the top of the league are now further reduced to negligible proportions. Cullompton’s game in hand is looking significant and Hornets’ visit to Tavistock next weekend now becomes a match of massive importance for both sides.
However, it is a sign of the progress Newquay has made in recent months that its fans go away from this match disappointed that they did not take all four league points from their league encounters with the city side. To misquote Meatloaf, “three out of four ain’t bad” against a side that the Hornets would, until recent times, have only dreamt of beating.
This wind-affected match was never likely to be high-scoring, but Hornets started the stronger and set up camp in the Truro half. After six minutes scrum half Ryan Johns spotted space and kicked over the top of the Truro defence for wing Rob Macintyre to win the race to the touchdown for his 13th try in 14 league matches.
The home side enjoyed territorial advantage for the remainder of the first half but their kicking game was having an off-day and they consistently failed to get the ball to their strike runners with their passing game. Truro gained little from their possession as both sides’ defences ruled the day maintaining a 5-0 score at half-time.
After the interval, it was Truro who edged the territorial contest with fly half Ross Martin kicking well from hand. However, serious threats to cross the line were rare from either side as the crowd were presented with more to debate by some of referee Al Denham’s bizarre decisions.
Just when it looked as though the Hornets might cling on to their narrow lead, the visitors’ reward eventually came after 77 minutes when they kicked to touch from a penalty close in. They drove from the five-metre lineout for flanker Lister Metcalfe to touch down in the corner and level a match that neither side probably deserved to win or lose.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: try Macintyre; Truro: try Metcalfe.
Newquay Hornets: J Mateer, R Macintyre, J Keyter, R Martin, A Mann, S Horton, R Johns, J Bayley, L Bazeley, K Wicketts (A Bazeley), A Burbidge, R Robbins, S Potter (capt) (T Eustice), A Mummery, S Williams. Rep not used: G Ferris
12th January 2008 Liskeard-Looe 3 Newquay Hornets 22
Cornwall and Devon table toppers travelled east to Liskeard on Saturday, to take on the Cornwall One League leaders in the quarter final round of the Skinner’s Brewery Cornwall Club’s Cup. They booked their place in the semi-final draw with a very hard fought, but ultimately convincing, three try to nil win over last season’s close rivals for promotion.
They had early setbacks, first losing centre Jason Keyter with a hamstring strain in the warm up, then his replacement Tom Bazeley with a similar injury inside ten minutes. Steve Potter came on for Bazeley.
The conditions underfoot and the torrential rain dictated the tactics throughout. After an uncertain start, but with their lineout working well, the Hornets pack took the ball into the home twenty-two. The second of two well-organised mauls put young second row forward, Kris Wicketts over for a try.
Liskeard-Looe pressured at the end of the first quarter, forcing a series of infringements from the Hornets. However despite all the pressure they couldn’t break down the visitors’ defence. The Hornets cleared their lines and on twenty minutes fly half Simon Horton conjured a lovely opening for centre Scott Martin. A penalised high tackle on Martin gave Ryan Johns a straightforward opportunity to stretch the Hornets’ lead.
The last fifteen minutes of the half belonged to Liskeard-Looe. They banged away at the Hornets defence, but their only reward came in the dying seconds when Hornets were penalised for lying on the ball and fly half, Andy Sheer kicked the penalty.
Leading by a slender five points, the Hornets resumed without sin-binned hooker, Luke Bazeley. Their reaction was to take the match to Liskeard-Looe. Within five minutes they were in the home twenty-two and narrowly missed scoring. However they got their score within a minute, when the home pack was caught napping by No. 8, Stuart Williams. He took a free kick quickly and ran in for a cheeky try that Ryan Johns converted.
More than one score ahead and with the streaming rain at their backs the Hornets were in no mood to allow Liskeard-Looe back into the match. They continued to pen them in their twenty two. After 15 minutes of the half, showing superb control at the base of a five-metre scrum, Stuart Williams picked up and ran blind to create the opening for Ryan Johns to run in the third try and to add the extras.
Liskeard-Looe broke out on 65 minutes, when their playmaker Andy Sheer, created the opening for his forwards to rampage up the pitch. They were beaten by the conditions, were penalised for holding on to the ball too long on the ground and the Hornets returned to the offensive. Matt Orton came on for Lee Woodhatch in the visitors back row with ten minutes to go, and with steam rising from the set pieces in the last few minutes, Liskeard-Looe just couldn’t break Hornets’ strangle hold.
“It wasn’t a match for the purist. And we know that Liskeard is never an easy place to get a result, and it was certainly true this afternoon”, commented Steve Bazeley, Hornets’ manager after the match. He applauded his side and the enthusiasm of the waterlogged, travelling support.
Newquay Hornets now look forward to the visit of Cornish rivals, Truro to the Sports Centre on Saturday. Kick off is at 2.30pm.
The club invites its Vice Presidents to lunch at 12:30pm at the Sports Centre, before Saturday’s match.
Scorers: Liskeard-Looe Penalty: Andy Sheer
Newquay Hornets Tries: Ryan Johns, Stuart Williams, Kris Wicketts
Conversions: Ryan Johns (2) Penalty: Ryan Johns
Team: James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Kris Wicketts, Ross Robins, Lee Woodhatch (Matt Orton), Andy Mummery, Stuart Williams (Captain), Ryan Johns, Simon Horton, Ashley Mann, Scott Martin, Jason Keyter (Tom Bazeley, (Steve Potter)), Rob McIntyre, Sam Cullen
Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 10 Bude 2nd XV 15
With the friendly matches of the festive season out of the way it was back to merit table action against our visitors from the north of the county. Unfortunately Bude arrived with only 13 players so Hornets sportingly lent them 2 players to enable the game to proceed. Newquay started brightly and after some great early forward pressure the ball was released to winger John Pease who opened the scoring. After further early Newquay dominance, Bude began to creep back into the game and it was no surprise when they eventually levelled the score, driving over from close range to leave the scores even at the break. The second half saw the weather deteriorate and with that the Bude front five became more dominant. They took the lead in controversial circumstances following a kick ahead, which looked to have been touched down first by Hornets fullback Ben Eustice. The referee adjudged to have been touched by a Bude player first. Further pressure resulted in Bude increasing their lead before Captain Mark Headland sprinted in from close range to score a consolation try right at the end.
5th January 2008 Wessex 8 Newquay Hornets 28
The Hornets’ season was put back on track, following two away defeats at the hands of Devonian opposition, with this ultimately convincing win over lowly Wessex. The plucky Devon side competed to the end but found it increasingly difficult to contain Newquay’s forward strength and attacking options as time wore on.
The Cornishmen opened strongly and enjoyed the best of possession and territory in the early exchanges. After 16 minutes reward came, virtue of a penalty from scrum half Ryan Johns. The same player was mauled over after a period of Newquay domination five minutes later, converting his own touchdown for 0-10.
Wessex responded through a try by wing Andy Alderman before Johns added another penalty for 5-13 at half time.
The Devon side enjoyed a brief period of supremacy after the resumption and added a penalty by fly half Lee Thorpe. However, the well-organised Hornets pack was to re-establish itself and provide the platform for a try by No 8 Lee Woodhatch, converted by Johns. It was Johns again, who ran in from a full 40 metres from broken play near half way to complete the try scoring before Newquay fly half Simon Horton added a well-taken drop goal.
Wessex enjoyed a resurgence towards the end, but were unable to break down the Hornets defence as time ran out on a match well controlled by Devon Society referee Steve Alerman.
Wessex: try Alderman; pen Lee Thorpe.
Newquay Hornets: tries Ryan Johns (2), Lee Woodhatch; cons Ryan Johns (2), pen Ryan Johns (2); d-g Simon Horton.
26th December 2007 Newquay Hornets 15 Chairman’s XV 5
The Hornets won the annual Boxing Day match at the Sports Centre to retain the Steve Taylor Cup. Whilst not reaching the heights of last year’s high scoring game, the festive match against their Chairman’s fifteen produced a very competitive encounter. It gave the players an early chance to burn off some of the Yuletide excess and it offered some morning entertainment in warm sunshine for the large crowd of supporters. Afterwards the regular Boxing Day gathering gave players and spectators the opportunity to get together with friends at the bar.
The Chairman’s forwards stood up well to the club eight throughout, with their back row of Ant Harmes, Phil Cornes and Ollie Yelland disrupting the Hornets ball. And it was the Chairman’s side that opened the scoring. Rory Julian ran clear and gave Peter Bush the opportunity to show a remarkable turn of speed to score under the posts. The Hornets responded with a try, when Tom Bazeley made an opening for Scott Martin.
With the scores level at the break, both sides had chances to score in the third quarter, but defences stood firm. It looked that a draw was on the cards, until Hornets spun the ball to their Christmas cracker, Rob McIntyre, who skinned the defence to touch down in the corner. The Chairman’s side came back strongly, but it was the Hornets pack that added the tinsel, with a try when they drove over to complete the scoring.
The Chairman’s still didn’t concede, and the dying seconds centre, Adam Kedzierski was well tackled by Steve Potter, after he looked to have cut clean through the Hornets defence.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries; Tim Eustice, Scott Martin, Rob McIntyre
Chairman’s; Try; Peter Bush
HornetsTeam: Ashley Mann, Larry Brown, Scott Martin, Tom Bazeley, Rob McIntyre, Ryan Johns, Aaron Pearson, Mark Headland, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Aaron McPherson, Ross Robins, Lee Woodhatch, Steve Potter, Tim Eustice, Richard Martin, Dan Johns Lewis Bowns
Chairman’s Team: Carl Grace, Ben Glossop, Jonnie Keiller, Adam Kedzierski, Kevin Rideout, Rory Julian, Ben Griffiths, Ollie Yelland, Phil Cornes, Ant Harmes, Harry Swetman, Spencer Collard, Peter Bush, Martyn Dunn, Mark Coombe, Tyrone James, Paul Martin, Graham Lutey, Jack Hutton, Jason Taylor, Rikki Brandon, Ross Whale, Andy Blears, Christian Swanson, Stuart Nicholas
22nd December 2007 Falmouth 2nd XV 34 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 25
A much changed Hornets team travelled to Falmouth for their first game of the festive period to be met by a home team bolstered by several first team players, but lacking a full front row, so disappointingly the game had to be played with uncontested scrums.
Falmouth reaped the benefit of their first teamers in early exchanges and scored an early converted try to a Hornets penalty to take the lead. Further pressure saw the home side increase the lead with a further converted try. Although winning good lineout ball through Tim Eustice, being unable to use their advantage in the scrums frustrated Hornets. However a close range ruck allowed Kris Wicketts to power over for a try converted by Andy Webster. Hornets then enjoyed their most productive spell to add a try from Scott Trayner and a further penalty from Webster. Falmouth replied with a breakaway try to leave Newquay with a narrow 20-19 lead at half time. Wholesale team changes were made at the break and Hornets started the brighter of the two sides, but some sloppy kicking allowed Falmouth to score a breakaway try from a charge down. Jonny Keiller, on his return from a tour of duty with the Royal Navy, pulled one back, but a hectic five minutes, when Newquay were down to 14 men due to a sin binning, saw Falmouth score two tries to seal the win.
15th December 2007 Cullompton 27 Newquay Hornets 7
The league was thrown wide open by this result with the top five sides now grouped within a two point margin. Hornets remain top, but Cullompton have a valuable game in hand which should put them in pole position. Coupled with the fact that the Devon side has the majority of its remaining matches at Stafford Park, they must be the team to beat in the New Year.
The home side started playing down the slope, but it was Newquay who opened the more strongly, enjoying territorial advantage for the first 10 minutes. However, this came to nothing and Cully, on virtually their first visit to the Hornets half, opened the scoring on 12 minutes when centre Joe Canning stroked a 25 metre penalty.
Cullompton were now in the ascendancy and camped in the Newquay half with forwards and backs linking well and the back line always looking dangerous with ball in hand. Home No8 Sam Harris was a handful and the visitors' defence was getting a severe work-out and using up its get-out-of-jail-free cards. Pressure brought its prize on 27 minutes when ruck ball on the left was spun along the line for wing Adrian Bailey to touch down in the right corner for 8-0.
The Newquay scrum was holding its own, but their lineout was not its normal, prolific self. Five minutes later this was to be the source of the next home score when Cullompton gathered a loose ball from a line-out on the right and moved it left. Fly half Alex Brooks, ringing the changes, kicked through and Canning won the race to the touch down before adding the conversion for a deserved 15-0 at half time.
The Hornets started the second period on top and threatened the home line in the right corner. Just reward came on 52 minutes when they mauled over under the posts with hooker Luke Bazeley grabbing the score. Replacement scrum half Ryan Johns kicked the conversion.
The visitors were in charge and Cullompton were starting to make mistakes and loose discipline, fearing a recurrence of the come-back the Hornets produced when the two sides met in Cornwall earlier in the season. Shortly afterwards, the visitors spurned a chance to put further pressure on their hosts when they kicked a penalty to touch from within goal range when a goal would have put them within a single score.
The defence held out and the home side regained the upper hand going into the final quarter. On 65 minutes, influential Newquay No8 Stuart Williams was yellow-carded and, while the sun shone, the hosts made hay. They added tries in the right corner by Bailey on 68 minutes and under the posts by full back Marcus Busch on 72. Canning converted the second to conclude the scoring.
Scorers:
Cullompton: tries A Bailey (2), J Canning, M Busch; cons J Canning (2); pen J Canning.
Newquay Hornets: try Luke Bazeley; con Ryan Johns.
Newquay Hornets Team: Sam Cullen, Rob Macintyre, Jason Keyter, Scott Martin, Ashley Mann, Simon Horton, Andrew Pascoe (rep Ryan Johns), Kris Wicketts (temp rep Matt Orton), Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Ross Robins, Andy Burbidge, Andy Mummery, Steve Potter (rep Lee Woodhatch), Stuart Williams.
The Hornets 1st XV have a well-earned rest now, continuing their Cornwall and Devon league campaign in the New Year. This week the 2nd XV are away to Falmouth and Boxing Day sees the annual 1st XV v Chairman’s Invitation XV at the Sports Centre.
Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 32 Lankelly-Fowey 8
Hornets put on a strong display to avenge their defeat back in September when they travelled to Lankelly with an under-strength side.
Newquay made a bright start and played their best rugby in the first quarter. Following good forward pressure speedy new boy, Ashley Underhill ran in a try on the left wing, Andy Webster added the conversion. From the restart more Hornets pressure resulted in a try for No 8, Tim Eustice.
Lankelly responded and upped their game. With nerves beginning to fray, Hornets gave away a number of penalties, one being converted by Lankelly; this also resulted in hooker, Andy Cornes being sent to the sin bin for ten minutes. Lankelly continued to press and added a try, while Newquay added a penalty to leave the score at 15 - 8 at the break.
The second half saw Hornets introduce a number of replacements and with the opposition tiring were able to increase their lead with further tries, one from Eustice and a second from Underhill, which Webster converted. The score flattered the home side. They had been under pressure for long periods from a very tenacious south coast outfit that just couldn’t turn their possession and territory into points.
8th December 2007 Newquay Hornets 45 Camborne School of Mines 0
The Hornets rested a few players for this Skinners Brewery Cornwall Clubs first round cup-tie. However they still had too many guns for the visiting students. In extremely windy conditions they scored seven tries in what was a very competitive match. Debutants Jason Keyter at centre, Andrew Pascoe at scrum half and Anthony Whyte in the second row all had solid performances for the home side that will give the selectors food for thought in the coming weeks.
Hornets kicked off with the howling gale and were soon on the front foot. After forcing a couple of penalties, they drove over from a lineout five yards out to give hooker Luke Bazeley the opening try. Bazeley benefited from another well-controlled maul to get his second try on the quarter hour.
The students didn’t fold. They competed for every ball and frustrated the home side by running the ball back at them. Their back row was always in the thick of it. Fred Topping and Rob Fitzpatrick ably assisted the students’ man of the match and No 8, Simon Bailey.
After half a hour, a tapped penalty ten metres out set up the position from which Hornets No 8, Tim Eustice touched down. Then just before the interval Hornets got their passing going to put full back Ashley Mann over near the posts. Fly half Simon Horton added the extras to make it three successful conversions out of four attempts.
Turning to face the elements, 26-0 up, the Hornets had to withstand a period of sustained pressure from the students. For half an hour their attack was blunted. It was the rolling maul that took them back into their visitors’ territory. From a maul close in Eustice grabbed his second try. Within minutes Hornets had recycled a ball in midfield, slick passing and an injection of pace by centre, Jason Keyter created room for Mann to lay on a try in the corner for substitute, Ryan Johns. Johns completed the try scoring just before the end, when he cut through the students’ defence to score his second under the posts. Horton capped an excellent afternoon’s goal kicking with two second-half conversions to take his match tally to five.
After the match Hornets manager, Steve Bazeley thanked School of Mines for fulfilling the fixture and for their spirited display. He said that it had given an excellent opportunity for the Hornets’ coaches to look at young and emerging players in a match situation. Of the young players on view he picked out Kris Wicketts, who had impressed with a full eighty minutes at prop and Scott Trayner, who had fitted in well as a substitute flanker.
Next Saturday the Hornets travel up the M5 to Cullompton for a really tough top of the table encounter with the side they beat 23-17 at the Sports Centre back in November. Hornets 2nd XV are at home to Lankelly-Fowey in the Merit Table.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries; Luke Bazeley (2), Tim Eustice (2), Ryan Johns (2), Ashley Mann Conversions; Simon Horton (5)
Team: Ashley Mann, James Ingle, Jason Keyter, Scott Martin, George Ferris (Ryan Johns), Simon Horton, Kris Wicketts, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley (Mark Headland), Andy Burbidge, Anthony Whyte, Andy Mummery, Steve Potter (Scott Trayner), Tim Eustice
1st December 2007 Okehampton 13 Newquay Hornets 12
On another chill damp and windy afternoon, the league leaders crossed the Tamar and returned home disappointed having been beaten narrowly by Okehampton for the second time this season. In what they will view as a very frustrating encounter, ultimately it was the failure to take advantage of first half opportunities that cost them the match by a single point. They will take some comfort from the fact that they picked a good day to slip up as second-placed Truro came unstuck at Cullompton, to ensure the status quo at the top of the league.
Playing down the slope in the first half the Hornets took some time to warm to the job. After quarter of an hour quick ball in centre field gave fly half Simon Horton the opportunity to put a long pass out to Rob McIntyre. He ran in for the first try.
Passing in the Okehampton centre had been going astray. Early in the half Hornets didn’t make them pay. However after 25 minutes Simon Horton intercepted only to be caught feet short of the line. A tackle on his support without the ball gave Hornets a penalty. They opted for a kick to touch, and from the ensuing lineout, the forwards drove over for Steve Potter to touch down. Ryan Johns converted for a 12-0 lead. Andrew Dixon suffered a hamstring injury and a reshuffle in the backs saw full back Sam Cullen move to inside centre and Jason Matter come on at full back.
Within a few minutes the lead had been cut when the rifle boot of Lee Carey put over a penalty for the Okes after Hornets were judged offside at a maul. The rest of the half deteriorated into an inconclusive touch-kicking duel.
With the slope and the conditions the home side opened strongly after the interval. They upped their mauling game and with kicks to the corner put real pressure on the Hornets. Their second row forwards were dominating lineout ball in the Hornets twenty-two and after Carey had again narrowed the lead with a penalty after the 60th minute, the game was really on. Kris Wicketts came on in the front row for the injured James Bayley. The Hornets were in a real scrap to protect their lead. They defended for a long period, when the Okehampton pack was hammering away in the corner. Several times the referee was unable to give a try. Steve Potter put in an immense try saving tackle on the line. However pressure eventually told and when the ball came along the line from the Okehampton right, their full back, Matt Dennis found nobody at home in the Hornets’ centre to go over under the posts. Carey converted to secure the lead for the home side.
With time running out, the Hornets forced play into the Okehampton half. Tim Eustice had come on for them with ten minutes on the clock. He bolstered the lineout and started to threaten the Okehampton possession. With a point in it, they tried to set up a position for a drop at goal, but were frustrated by the tenacious home defence. A high tackle on Rob McIntyre forced a long delay for treatment to a potential neck injury. The injury time broke Hornets continuity, Okehampton tails were up and they hung on to record their sixth win of the season.
The Hornets’ next home match is on Saturday, 8th December. The opponents will be Camborne School of Mines, in the Skinners' Brewery Cornwall Clubs' Cup. The Hornets face a crucial test at Cullompton on 15th December, their last league match of 2007.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries; Rob McIntyre, Steve Potter Conversion; Ryan Johns
Honiton; Try; Matt Dennis Conversion; Lee Carey, Penalties; Lee Carey(2)
Team: Sam Cullen, Rob McIntyre, Andrew Dixon (Jason Mateer), George Ferris, Ashley Mann, Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, James Bayley (Kris Wicketts), Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Andy Burbidge, Ross Robins, Steve Potter, Andy Mummery (Tim Eustice), Lee Woodhatch
Perranporth 2nd XV 12 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 22
Hornets 2nd XV made the short journey to a windy Perranporth for their first derby game of the season. Hornets were able to lend three players to Perran to enable the game to go ahead. They kicked off playing with the wind. The early exchanges were fairly even with Hornets having the best of the forward play and Perran making some good progress in the backs. Midway through the first half Newquay upped their game to score a short-range try from hooker, Mark Coombes. This was followed by a great individual try from Anthony White. The Perran defence started to crumble as Andy Webster and Matt Cross added tries, Webster converted one. Hornets changed over twenty-two points up. The second half saw a resurgent Perran. They scored two tries through Ashley Underhill, one of the players loaned to them by Hornets. One was converted.
The Hornets rested a few players for this Skinners Brewery Cornwall Clubs' first round cup-tie. However they still had too many guns for the visiting students. In extremely windy conditions they scored seven tries in what was a very competitive match. Debutants Jason Keyter at centre, Andrew Pascoe at scrum half and Anthony Whyte in the second row all had solid performances for the home side that will give the selectors food for thought in the coming weeks.
Hornets kicked off with the howling gale and were soon on the front foot. After forcing a couple of penalties, they drove over from a lineout five yards out to give hooker Luke Bazeley the opening try. Bazeley benefited from another well-controlled maul to get his second try on the quarter hour.
The students didn’t fold. They competed for every ball and frustrated the home side by running the ball back at them. Their back row was always in the thick of it. Fred Topping and Rob Fitzpatrick ably assisted the students’ man of the match and No 8, Simon Bailey.
After half a hour, a tapped penalty ten metres out set up the position from which Hornets No 8, Tim Eustice touched down. Then just before the interval Hornets got their passing going to put full back Ashley Mann over near the posts. Fly half Simon Horton added the extras to make it three successful conversions out of four attempts.
Turning to face the elements, 26-0 up, the Hornets had to withstand a period of sustained pressure from the students. For half an hour their attack was blunted. It was the rolling maul that took them back into their visitors’ territory. From a maul close in Eustice grabbed his second try. Within minutes Hornets had recycled a ball in midfield, slick passing and an injection of pace by centre, Jason Keyter created room for Mann to lay on a try in the corner for substitute, Ryan Johns. Johns completed the try scoring just before the end, when he cut through the students’ defence to score his second under the posts. Horton capped an excellent afternoon’s goal kicking with two second-half conversions to take his match tally to five.
After the match Hornets manager, Steve Bazeley thanked School of Mines for fulfilling the fixture and for their spirited display. He said that it had given an excellent opportunity for the Hornets’ coaches to look at young and emerging players in a match situation. Of the young players on view he picked out Kris Wicketts, who had impressed with a full eighty minutes at prop and Scott Trayner, who had fitted in well as a substitute flanker.
Next Saturday the Hornets travel up the M5 to Cullompton for a really tough top of the table encounter with the side they beat 23-17 at the Sports Centre back in November. Hornets 2nd XV are at home to Lankelly-Fowey in the Merit Table.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries; Luke Bazeley (2), Tim Eustice (2), Ryan Johns (2), Ashley Mann Conversions; Simon Horton (5)
Team: Ashley Mann, James Ingle, Jason Keyter, Scott Martin, George Ferris (Ryan Johns), Simon Horton, Kris Wicketts, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley (Mark Headland), Andy Burbidge, Anthony Whyte, Andy Mummery, Steve Potter (Scott Trayner), Tim Eustice
24th November 2007 Newquay Hornets 38 - 7 Honiton
On a chill, damp and windy afternoon, the league leaders wasted no time in imposing themselves on their Devon opponents and had the match tied up by half time. Hornets opened with the confidence of a team that is used to winning. First league starts were given to two talented young players, Sam Cullen at full back and George Ferris on the left wing.
Playing with the weather, the home side engineered an opening for centre Scott Martin inside three minutes. Scrum half Ryan Johns converted. Using driving mauls and rucking well to set up attacking positions the home side put Honiton under increasing pressure and they conceded two penalties, which Johns kicked to extend the lead. Sam Cullen came into the line from full back, for a try, after a quickly taken tap penalty had made acres of space on the left. Johns converted. Centre, Andrew Dixon squeezed through a narrow gap to touch down close to a ruck. Johns kicked another penalty.
Immediately at the restart, prop and man of the match, James Bayley, a thorn in Honiton’s flesh all afternoon, powered into the Honiton half to set up a ruck. One pass saw No 8, Stuart Williams cut the line to sell more dummies than Mothercare before giving Andrew Dixon his second try.
33-0 up at the interval, Hornets turned into the elements. With the wind and rain at their backs the bigger Honiton pack became a real handful for the home eight. They battered the Hornets line and set up ruck after ruck. Finally after 20 minutes of the half, they were rewarded with a push over try credited to No 8. Nathan Hannay, who also converted.
Injuries forced changes in the home pack and Honiton continued to secure plenty of ball, but they were chasing the game and the stingy home defence just kept on knocking down their runners; they just didn’t have the pace to unlock it. Hornets were still capable of counterattacking, but at times passing was a bit frenetic. However the opening did come with ten minutes to go, when the ball ran loose from a Honiton ruck Swift hands put wing Rob McIntyre away in space on the right. He outran the Honiton defence to extend Hornets lead and complete the scoring.
After the match, Hornets’ team manager, Steve Bazeley was delighted with the win. “Honiton scored 24 points against Falmouth two weeks ago. They have a big pack and in the conditions, this was a potential banana skin for us”, he commented.
The Hornets complete the first round of league matches when they travel to Okehampton on Saturday. The next home match is on Saturday, 8th December. Their opponents will be Camborne School of Mines, in the Cornish Clubs’ Cup.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries, Andy Dixon(2), Sam Culllen, Scott Martin, Rob McIntyre Conversions, Ryan Johns(2) ; Penalties; Ryan Johns(3)
Honiton; Try, Nathan Hannay, Conversion, Nathan Hannay
Team: Sam Cullen, Rob McIntyre, Andrew Dixon, Scott Martin, George Ferris, Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Andy Burbidge, Ross Robins (Kris Wicketts), Lee Woodhatch, Andy Mummery (Steve Potter), Stuart Williams (Ashley Mann)
17th November 2007 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 52 – 0 Falmouth 2nd XV
HORNETS RESERVES' TEN TRY DEMOLITION JOB ON FALMOUTH SECONDS
Most attention may have been focussed on the Hornets 1st XV with its superb league campaign so far this season, but the 2nd XV has been going through a resurgence and making massive progress in the background. Under the management of Pete Hutton and Rod Jackson and the captaincy of prop Mark Headland, players are showing their mettle from one to fifteen and it bodes well for the club with “Reserves” around capable of stepping up a level keeping up the pressure for first team places.
Following a comprehensive 65-0 demolition of Bodmin’s second string last week, the Newquay side continued the motion with another commanding display and a score-line, which hardly represented their superiority.
The Newquay side dominated the forward exchanges and looked to be in charge from early on. Prolific lineout jumper, No8 Tim Eustice, was again the source of a stream of quality possession and the home side’s better organisation and strong defence kept the visitors on the back foot.
It was Eustice who opened the scoring after 12 minutes and he crossed again from close range six minutes later to set the pattern for an entertaining first half.
From the restart fly half, Andy Webster kicked ahead for flanker, Rory Julian to gather and run in under the posts from half way. Webster converted. The momentum was again maintained from the next restart, when the Hornets attacked through the centre. The ball was slipped along the line for wing Matt Cross to finish in the left corner; an act that was quickly repeated with Cross again finishing the move for his second try three minutes later.
The rout continued on the half hour when new player, centre George Ferris, a recent addition from Dings Crusaders, and wing John Pease won the ball from a Webster clearance. Pease went in on the right from half way for number six. As the interval approached, Newquay again attacked at a 5 metre line-out on the right. A catch and drive resulted in a try for second row Tom Bazeley and a 37-0 score-line.
The home side took its foot off the gas in the second half, but still added further scores at thirteen minute intervals by scrum half Max Rundle and Mark Headland before Matt Cross completed his try hat trick in the closing stages to bring up the half century.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: tries Tim Eustice (2), Rory Julian, Matt Cross (3), John Pease, Tom Bazeley, Max Rundle, Mark Headland; con Andy Webster.
10th November 2007 Newquay Hornets 23 – 17 Cullompton
HORNETS CEMENT TOP SPOT WITH AWESOME DISPLAY OF FORWARD POWER TO STIFLE CULLOMPTON PACE
Both sides would have appreciated the significance of this top-of-the-table clash, sponsored by Cornwall Photos, in relation to their longer term league prospects and prepared appropriately. Current league leaders, Newquay Hornets, realised that former leaders and current third-placed side, Cullompton, would pose a serious threat. The home players would not have needed reminding that the visitors were convincing winners the last time the sides met two seasons ago.
The Devon side started strongly and showed their class with their back row prominent in the early exchanges and backs looking sharp. Their efforts were rewarded after 14 minutes when a quick tap penalty 25 metres out was moved quickly to the left for flanker Adam Gingell to score.
Five minutes later Cullompton extended their lead when they attacked from 5 metres on the right. Again good hands saw the ball transferred along the back line to give wing Paul Baker the space to cross in the left corner unopposed.
Going in to the second quarter the Newquay pack started to gain the upper hand. After 26 minutes this resulted in a typical forward’s try when hooker Luke Bazeley was mauled over from close range. Approaching half time, following a period of sustained Hornets pressure, the scores were tied in similar fashion with Bazeley again credited with the try.
The visitors started the second half strongly and enjoyed a period of territorial advantage. It did not take long, though, before the Newquay forwards reasserted themselves. Their awesome scrummaging, driving mauls and line out superiority were to provide the Hornets dominance to follow. On 50 minutes, Cullompton were penalised for coming into the side of a ruck and scrum half Ryan Johns kicked the penalty to put his side in front.
Going into the final quarter, with the Hornets pack now rampant, the Devon side was again under the cosh close in. Johns took the ball from the ruck inches short of the line and dotted it down to establish an eight point lead. The result was put beyond doubt on 75 minutes when the Newquay pack mauled to the line from 25 metres for Bazeley to claim his hat-trick try and a 23-10 lead reflecting the balance of power.
However, the plucky Cullompton side never gave up and came back deep in injury time to score a consolation try when full back Marcus Busch looped around on the right from close range. Replacement fly half Rob Stanley converted.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: tries L Bazeley (3), R Johns; pen R Johns.
Cullompton: tries A Gingell, P Baker, M Busch; con R Stanley
Newquay Hornets: A Mann, R Macintyre, A Dixon (J Mateer), P Crane, W Waters (K Wicketts), S Horton, R Johns, J Bayley, L Bazeley, A Bazeley, A Burbidge, R Robbins, L Woodhatch, S Potter (capt) (A Mummery), S Williams.
With the Hornets now having beaten all the other sides in the top five league places, they will approach their next match, at home to ninth-placed Honiton on 24th November, with some confidence.
Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 65 Bodmin 2nd XV 0
SECONDS MAKE IT A DOUBLE
A rampant Hornets Seconds completely overwhelmed the opposition to record their biggest win of the season. Bodmin started strongly and took the game to Newquay, but the home side defended strongly and were able to to take the lead from an Andy Webster penalty. This effectively marked the end of the Bodmin challenge. The Hornets racked up ten tries, with two each for Anthony White, Tim Eustice and Matt Cross, and one each for Mark Coombe, Rory Julian, Andy Blears and George Ferris. Webster converted six. This was a great all round performance from Hornets with the whole team playing as a unit.
Penzance/Newlyn Amateurs 15 Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 5
A strong Hornets 2nd XV came up just short against a Penzance/Newlyn side who are currently top of the higher premier merit table. This was a hard fought game between two well-matched teams. Hornets started strongly with some good attacking moves, but were under pressure at the set piece from the bigger Pirates' forwards. However from a well defended Pirates attack deep in the Newquay half, James Ingle was able to kick on a loose ball and outrun the Penzance defence to score a try. Pirates came back and following some good attacking moves from both they sides managed to equalise before half time. In the second half, Pirates were able to take the lead from a penalty and with Hornets pack tiring pack and several injury disruptions, Pirates scored a converted try to win the game.
3rd November 2007 Newquay Hornets 39 Wessesx 6
Table topping Hornets sent Exeter side, Wessex, home empty handed after wrapping up victory in the first 40 minutes at the Sports Centre on Saturday.
The home side opened strongly and dominated the first half. They set up chances from set piece and loose play and scored four tries against a side disrupted early on by the loss of fly half, James Ward with a leg injury. Two tries came from young wing Rob McIntyre, who was a constant threat to the Wessex defence on the right. Andy Dixon, returning from injury, danced through the Wessex defence to touch down under the posts. After quick ball from a scrum near half way, experienced No. 8, Stuart Williams finished a move that he had choreographed with McIntyre. Scrum half, Ryan Johns converted two of the tries and kicked a penalty.
Hornets were 27-0 up at half time and home supporters were expecting more of the same after the break. Wessex had other ideas though and took the game to the Hornets, camping in their opponents’ twenty-two for long periods. What Wessex couldn’t do was make serious inroads into the deficit. Lee Thorpe, deputising at fly half for the injured Ward, reduced the home lead with a penalty and a well-taken drop goal, but that was all they could manage. Despite all their territory and possession they just couldn’t breach the home defence
Deprived of decent set piece ball in the second half, Hornets lost their continuity. Living off scraps, they gave their support some reassurance by converting the two scoring opportunities that came their way. First fly half Simon Horton touched down his own neat chip ahead, Johns converted. Then in the dying seconds, having moved to full back Ashley Mann finished off, arguably, the move of the match. After gathering Simon Horton’s long kick out of defence at pace, he fed Rob McIntyre and was on hand to take the return pass for the try.
Team: Andy Dixon, Rob McIntyre, John Hyatt (James Ingle), Phil Crane, Ashley Mann, Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, James Bayley, Phil Morris (Kris Wicketts), Alex Bazeley, Ross Robins, Andy Burbidge, Steve Potter (Captain), Andy Mummery, Stuart Williams (Tim Eustice)
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets; Tries, Rob McIntyre(2), Andy Dixon, Simon Horton, Ashley Mann, Stuart Williams
Conversions, Ryan Johns(3) ; Penalty; Ryan Johns
Wessex; Drop Goal; Lee Thorpe Penalty; Lee Thorpe
Falmouth let a fourteen point lead slip at home on Saturday, but still did the Hornets a favour when they hung on for a draw against Cullompton, who are the Hornets’ opponents in the top of the table clash at the Sports Centre next Saturday, kick off 2:30 pm.
27/10/07 1ST XV GO TOP OF THE CORNWALL AND DEVON LEAGUE AFTER AWAY WIN AT TRURO 17 - 11
Newquay consolidated their early season form with a workman like win against local rivals Truro and take top spot in the Tribute Cornwall & Devon league after 7 rounds.
On a damp afternoon it was the Hornets who handled the conditions the better with their forwards on top throughout the game.
The opening period was evenly contested with the trusty boot of Ryan Johns landing two penalties to give the traveling Hornets the upper hand. The Hornets' defensive qualities were once again in evidence with new boy No. 8 Stuart Williams leading the way as he clattered Truro's standoff as he tried a cheeky dropout, he might think twice in future! As the game progressed the powerful Hornets forwards started to dominate set piece and were driving their opposite numbers back in the loose.
Just after 30 minutes Newquay Prop James Bazeley was given a ten minute rest for a high tackle and Truro were given their chance to get back into the game. Amazingly the game never saw a scrummage for the whole ten minutes enabling Newquay to keep their back row in tacked and it was their dogged defense, led by Williams and more than ably assisted by flankers Lee Woodhatch and Andy Mummery, that ensured Truro only managed a solitary penalty from Scott Martin.
Just before the interval Johns was just short with an attempt from 50 meters to leave the visitors with a narrow interval lead of 6-3
With the second half conditions favouring Truro the large contingent of traveling supporters were not overly confident the margin was enough. But the Hornets continued to enjoy plenty of possession through their forward dominance and although the conditions didn't help their backs make the most of this they seemed to be in control. It was left the the kickers to keep the score board ticking with Johns outscoring Martin two to one to take the visitors into a 12-6 lead.
Newquay, showing great team effort and offensive tackling, gave the Truro half back pairing a torrid afternoon, never letting them settle and canceling the potential threat from the home side's quick back division. Truro's indiscipline allowed Newquay to clear their lines and play rugby away from the danger zone until they worked their way deep into the Truro half.
After several missed opportunities the Newquay forwards controlled quality ball for scrum half Johns to exploit the wide open blind side and set try machine Rob McIntyre away for a 5 pointer in the corner. Johns failed with the extras.
With just ten minutes to go the Hornets seemed home a dry with an 11 point lead but Truro had plenty more to show. A fly hack from mid field gifted Truro their best scoring opportunity and they made no mistake with centre Trescothick going over. Martin failed with the extras.
With only 6 points difference in the scores it made for a nervous last few minutes for Newquay but they held out for a great two points away from home.
Team manager Steve Bazeley was delighted after the game and commented, "We are very pleased with the way our boys are approaching the game, the team spirit is very high but we know we still have a lot to do before we start producing the complete rugby we are striving for. It was a great boast for the whole squad to have such a large number of traveling supporters and I would like to thank them all for making the effort, we hope to continue to give them performances to enjoy".
Next Saturday see Newquay entertain Wessex in the league with a 2.30pm kick off at the Sports Centre.
Hornets Team
A.Mann, R.McIntyre, J.Hyatt, P.Crane, J.Ingle, S.Horton, R.Johns, J.Bayley, L.Bazeley, A.Bazeley, R.Robins, A.Burbidge, L.Woodhatch (T.Eustice 60), A.Mummery, S.Williams (Capt)
Replacements not used; J.Mateer. K.Wickets
Yellow cards: J.Bayley
Scorers Newquay: Tries: McIntyre Penalties: Johns 4
Truro: Tries: Trescothick Penalties: Martin 2
20/10/07 1ST XV BEAT TAVISTOCK 17 - 8 IN TENSE MATCH AT SPORTS CENTRE
The Hornets are equal on points with the league leaders after they beat their third placed visitors and the other two clubs above them both lost on Saturday. They made the most of scraps at the Sports Centre to beat a combative Tavistock, who must be wondering what more they could have done to beat the resolute and well organised home defence.
Tavistock scored first in the opening minutes, when they spun the ball wide from a ruck on the right and full back Andy Wright took an inside pass, wide out on the left to score the try. Within minutes, good work from Hornets No.8, Stuart Williams set up a ruck in front of the Tavistock posts, they infringed and scrum half, Ryan Johns reduced the arrears with a penalty. Hornets continued to put on the pressure throughout the first quarter with wing James Ingle forced into touch at the corner.
Gareth Lovell at fly half kicked well and used the breeze to put Tavistock into the Hornets’ territory. However it was the Hornets who went ahead. Wing Rob McIntyre picked up a dropped pass. Apparently surrounded, he beat two or three would-be tacklers and ran around the defence to touch down under the posts. Ryan Johns converted.
The second quarter was Tavistock’s, with centres Law and Lloyd denting the home defence. The Hornets must have thought that they were back doing defensive drill on the training ground. They just couldn’t get their hands on the ball. They were given a severe battering, but showed immense character as they soaked up all the pressure. Crucially Tavistock elected to put kickable penalties into the corners rather than take the points.
Turning around 10-5 ahead, Hornets went on the attack, then back came the visitors down the centre again. Josh Sutton, on for the injured Lovell, put them within two points with a penalty after a high tackle. Hornets lost centre Phil Crane to the sin-bin and went back to defence before breaking out in emphatic style. They set up two mauls on the Tavistock line and centre, Scott Martin was held up on the line. Then with less than fifteen minutes remaining, full back Ashley Mann plucked the ball out of the air on half way and fed fly half Simon Horton. Horton’s beautifully weighted grubber kick stood up nicely in goal for Rob McIntyre to out-pace the visitors’ defence and score his second try. Ryan Johns compounded Tavistock’s frustration when he put his successful conversion high between the posts from the touchline. With two scores required, the visitors threw themselves at the home defence again, but it held and big relieving kicks with the breeze saw Hornets to their fifth win of the season. Team manager Steve Bazeley said afterwards, “We have great respect for Tavistock. We targeted this match and prepared well. It was an excellent win. I’m delighted for the lads”.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries, Rob McIntyre(2) Conversions, Ryan Johns(2) ; Penalty; Ryan Johns
Tavistock; Try, Andy Wright; Penalty; Josh Sutton
Team: Ashley Mann, Rob McIntyre, Scott Martin, Phil Crane, James Ingle, Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley (Damien Fouracres), Andy Burbidge, Ross Robins, Lee Woodhatch, Steve Potter (Captain), Stuart Williams (Tim Eustice), Carl Grace
06/10/07 1ST XV CONTINUE LEAGUE CAMPAIGN WITH 32-19 WIN AGAINST BIDEFORD
The Hornets set up their fourth win of the league campaign in this pulsating encounter at the Sports Centre with a first half display that saw them run in four tries.
Bideford threatened from the start with their backs, particularly elusive full back Chris Snell, always prepared to run from deep. It was an error in the Hornets passing that gave Bideford fly half Ollie Wicket the opportunity to pounce on the ball and crossed unopposed for the first try of the match.
However the Hornets responded immediately and with their pack in dominant form, they were 19-5 up inside twenty minutes. No 8 Stuart Williams drove over from a five-metre scrum, James Bayley touched down from a maul after wing Rob McIntyre was inches away from eluding the visitors’ defence. Then fly half Simon Horton jinked over after good work by McIntyre. Scrum half Ryan Johns converted two of the tries.
Johns then added a penalty for the home side before James Buckland followed up a kick into Hornets in-goal area to win the touch down and Ollie Wicket converted to narrow the home lead.
Right on half time, Stuart Williams picked up the ball from the base of the scrum on half way and put wing McIntyre away in acres of space on the blind side. McIntyre outran the defence to touch down under the posts. Johns converted to make it 29-12.
After the interval, despite continuing to win their own set piece and pinching key Bideford lineout ball through Tim Eustice, the home side lost its shape and was unable to maintain the continuity of their first half play. Their kicks were not finding touch and Bideford ran the ball back at them with pace at every opportunity. After several frenetic passages of play, Johns kicked his second penalty to stretch the Hornets lead, but flanker, Jamie Giddy was on hand to reduce it again with a try that Wicket converted.
The last quarter was nail-biting stuff for home supporters, as Bideford continued to press for the two converted tries they needed for victory. But the home defence held out for their third win against Devon opposition this season. Hornets are now fourth in the league, two points behind leaders, Cullompton.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries, Bayley, Horton, McIntyre, Williams; Conversions, Johns (3); Penalties; Johns (2)
Bideford; Tries, James Buckland, Giddy, Wicket; Conversions; Wicket (2)
Team: Ashley Mann, James Ingle, Jon Hyatt, Phil Crane, Rob McIntyre, Simon Horton, Ryan Johns, Stuart Williams (Tim Eustice), Lee Woodhatch, Steve Potter (captain) (Andy Mummery), Dan Johns, Andy Burbidge, James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley (Damien Fouracres)
29/09/07 1ST XV BEAT FALMOUTH 16-17 WITH LAST MINUTE TRY IN THE CORNWALL AND DEVON LEAGUE
The score says it all. This was a game where a more talented semi-professional side was unable to cash-in on sufficient scoring opportunities against a dogged amateur side that simply refused to lie down. Newly promoted Hornets’ stingy defence and strong team spirit proved just enough on the day as the home side’s discipline eventually let them down.
Falmouth started strongly, dominating possession and territory, and fly half James Instance controlled the game well with his kicking to keep the pressure in the visitors. This brought about a penalty for an unfair challenge on a player in the air after 5 minutes, kicked by Instance to establish a home lead. This was extended on 11 minutes when, with advantage being played, Instance “took the freebie” and dropped a goal from in front of the posts.
A period of stalemate followed with Newquay competing more strongly and enjoying their turn on the attack, whilst rarely mounting any serious challenge. After 29 minutes, with the home side again threatening, Hornets scrum half Ryan Johns failed to find touch with a clearance kick and Falmouth centre Richard Hambly spotted the opportunity to cross-kick for wing Johann Nienaber to gather and score on the right.
Approaching half-time Newquay responded with a concerted attack on the Falmouth line through forward drives. Second row Stuart Williams took clean line-out ball on the 5 metre line to set up a catch and drive and the deserved score came when hooker Luke Bazeley was mauled over on the right for a half-time score of 11-5.
Falmouth again started the second half strongly and had the better of the first ten minutes. However, the Hornets defence held out and the visitors again came back into the game.
On 60 minutes the Hornets attacked close in and captain and flanker Steve Potter collected the ball from a five-metre scrum to score on the right. Johns added an excellent conversion for a Newquay lead of 11-12.
As the final quarter progressed, the home side rarely threatened but a period of headless-chicken-syndrome by the Newquay defence gifted them possession unnecessarily. Falmouth flanker Eddie Lawrence pounced and broke from halfway. He linked with hooker Tim Gay who found prop Andy Palmer to touch down on 76 minutes for what seemed like the winning try.
But, just when their heads may have been expected to drop, back came the spirited Hornets. Deep in time added on, with the home side giving away penalties and keeping the clock going, the visitors went through the phases and worked their way up field. Space appeared on the right and flanker Tim Eustice fed wing Rob McIntyre who skinned the remaining defence to score in the right corner and secure victory for his side from the thrilling last play of the match.
Scorers: Falmouth: Tries: Nienaber, Palmer; Penalty: Instance; Drop Goal: Instance
Newquay Hornets: Tries: Bazeley, Potter, McIntyre; Conversion: Johns.
Newquay Hornets: A Blears, R McIntyre, P Crane, S Martin, A Mann (S Horton 68), J Mateer, R Johns, J Bayley (K Wicketts 60), L Bazeley, D Fouracres, S Williams, D Johns, T Eustice, S Potter (capt) (A Mummery 60), L Woodhatch.
EXCELLENT WIN FOR 2ND XV AGAINST LISKEARD-LOOE IN THE MERIT TABLE
Newquay Hornets 2nd XV 32 Liskeard-Looe 2nd XV 5
A dominant performance saw the Hornets produce a comprehensive win against the visitors on Saturday. From the first whistle Newquay took control of the game with Warren Barber bursting through the covering tackler to score between the posts. Further pressure saw Scott Trayner go over to increase the lead before half time. The second half saw prop Mark Headland make a scintillating run from the halfway line beating half of the Liskeard-Looe team with his mazy run before going over to score. Multiple changes to the team to allow the large number of replacements a run out resulted in some disruption to the flow allowing the visitors an opportunity to sneak one back before Jake Perkins broke through to complete the scoring. Andy Webster added three conversions and two penalties.
Newquay Hornets Scorers: Tries; Warren Barber, Mark Headland, Jake Perkins, Scott Trayner Conversions; Andy Webster (3) Penalties; Andy Webster (2)
Team: Mark Headland, Mark Coombe, Lewis Bowns, Conan Bennett, Josh Richardson, Scott Trayner, Jack Hutton, Warren Barber, Max Rundle, Andy Webster, John Pease, Jake Perkins, George Ferris, Mark Hill, Carl Grace
Replacements: Andy Cornes, Richard Clarke, Martin Pearce, Arran Pearson, Richard Evans, Gareth Barber, Matt Cross, Simon Barnes, Chris Simcock.
22/09/07 1ST XV BEAT CREDITON 23 - 8 IN THE LEAGUE AT THE SPORTS CENTRE
In a keenly contested match the Hornets beat their Devon visitors because they defended well and took their chances when they came along. Crediton worked hard, but despite looking dangerous, they just couldn’t turn possession and territory into points. The Hornets lineout gave good ball throughout, with the throwing in of Luke Bazeley giving Tim Eustice and Andy Burbidge the opportunity to dominate. The centre combination of Cullen and Martin was solid and wing Rob McIntyre had a couple of runs that stretched the Crediton defence. But it was Ryan Johns who provided the points when Hornets were under pressure.
The Hornets were first on to scoreboard when their pack drove scrum half Johns over at a maul. Johns added the conversion. Within five minutes Crediton responded with a penalty from fly half Ross Toms. Then the lively Toms followed a kick ahead to set up the attacking position, from which wing, Brad Baker squeezed over in the corner to put the visitors ahead. Again, within minutes Johns kicked a penalty to give the Hornets a 10-8 lead that they hung on to until the interval.
After the break the loss of fly half, Scott Lehnhoff with an ankle injury, impacted Hornets’ attacking options. Crediton took the initiative and for twenty minutes poured on the pressure, with fly half Toms and No. 8 Gavin Best prominent. The Hornets’ defence had to withstand attack after attack. Somehow they held out and eventually they forced their way into the visitors’ half and found their attacking edge. In the ten-minute spell that followed they destroyed Crediton’s hopes of a comeback. First Johns added two penalties. Then, after Ben Cullen had sliced through the visitors’ defence, Johns popped up to charge down an attempted Crediton clearance kick and give substitute fly half, Simon Horton the scoring pass for Hornets’ second try. Johns was also on target with the conversion to move the Hornets into a comfortable lead and to take his match tally to 18 points. This left Crediton chasing the game and the Hornets’ defence continued to frustrate them until the final whistle.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries, R Johns, Horton; Conversions, Johns (2); Penalty; Johns (3)
Crediton; Try, Baker; Penalty, Toms.
Hornets Team: Jason Mateer, Rob McIntyre, Ben Cullen, Scott Martin, Ashley Mann, Scott Lehnhoff (Simon Horton), Ryan Johns, James Bayley (Kris Wicketts), Luke Bazeley, Alex Bazeley, Dan Johns, Andy Burbidge, Tim Eustice, Andy Mummery (Steve Potter), Lee Woodhatch
15/09/07 1ST XV DENIED BY 79th MINUTE PENALTY AT WELLINGTON GOING DOWN 32 - 30
After a good start to the new league campaign with a win in their opening match, promoted Newquay Hornets continued to show excellent promise with a creditable display away to Wellington. Having already had a penalty try harshly awarded against them earlier in the second half, the Cornish side only lost out in the final stages of an entertaining match in somewhat controversial circumstances when the referee gifted a last minute penalty to the hosts. However, the Hornets, missing a number of key players on this outing, will take away many positives from this performance and build on their strengths as the season progresses. Newquay opened strongly and were first on the scoreboard when, following a charge down, centre Scott Martin touched down on 7 minutes. Fly half Ryan Johns converted. The home side responded and, 5 minutes later, wing Matt Taylor, who was to be a thorn in Newquay’s side all afternoon, broke through three tackles to score. On 1 minutes, Wellington scrum half Tim Jenkins crossed on the blind side from a 5 metre line-out to give his team a 10-7 lead. The Hornets confirmed the see-saw nature of the scoring when they retook the lead through strong-running centre Rob MacIntyre when he cut through the line to touch down on 30 minutes. Johns slotted the goal for 10-14. Wellington’s Taylor was again the man to spoil the party when he broke through to touch down and retake the lead after 35 minutes before Newquay’s Johns stepped up to add a penalty and reverse the process only a minute later. As the interval approached, Taylor was once more the man to breach the visitors’ defence and touch down under the posts, converting his own try for a half-time 22-17 advantage for his side. The second half saw Newquay tighten their game up and use their forwards to good effect. The home defence creaked and conceded a penalty that Johns goaled with typical relish on 50 minutes. Going into the final quarter, the visitors maintained the pressure. On 65 minutes they attacked with a 5 metre scrum and flanker Tim Eustice popped up for a well-taken try, converted by Johns, to regain the lead for the Hornets at 22-27. Six minutes later a penalty try was controversially awarded for offside, converted by Taylor to re-establish a home lead and bring up the winger’s personal tally of 19 points. With five minutes to go, Johns completed his excellent day with the boot and a personal contribution of 15 points when he slotted his third penalty to regain his side’s lead once more. The death knell came with the 79th minute penalty award, slotted by Ryan Garland to change the lead for the ninth time and snatch victory for the home side.
Scorers:
Wellington: tries Taylor (3), Jenkins, pen try; cons Taylor (2); pen Garland.
Newquay Hornets: tries Martin, McIntyre, Eustice; cons Johns (3); pens Johns (3).
Newquay Hornets: S Horton, S Potter, R McIntyre, S Martin, A Mann, R Johns, B Cullen, J Bayley, L Bazeley, D Fouracres, A Burbidge, D Johns, T Eustice, L Woodhatch, S Williams. Replacements (all used): A Bazeley, A Mummery, C Grace.
14/09/07 A Friendly Match against BARCLAYS BANK WON BY THE VISITORS 12 - 24
08/09/07 WE OPENED UP OUR NEW LEAGUE CAMPAIGN WITH A HOME WIN 31 - 7 AGAINST LAST SEASON'S DEVON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS - TEIGNMOUTH
Promoted Hornets opened up their Cornwall and Devon League campaign at the Sports Centre on Saturday, with a solid performance against last season’s Devon champions.
A minute’s silence was observed before kick off to remember Roger Brewer, who made over one hundred appearances for the Hornets between 1985 and 1993, before taking up refereeing in the county.
Hornets started strongly and spent the first few minutes in the Teignmouth twenty-two before fullback Jason Mateer came into the line to go over for the first try. Ryan Johns converted. Hornets continued to dominate, but they were unable to turn their possession into points. Over twenty minutes had passed before Teignmouth put together their first fluent move. Missed tackles by the home side, wide out, and determined running gave Chris Tidman the opportunity to touch down for their first points. Dan Force converted to level the scores.
Hornets responded almost immediately with a beautifully worked try. Wing Jon Hyatt scored after the ball had passed through half a dozen pairs of hands. Ryan Johns was on target with the conversion. Teignmouth looked dangerous with pace on wide out, but the quality of play from the Hornets forwards deprived them of ball.
With the half ebbing away, a penalty from Ryan Johns stretched the Hornets lead to 17-7. In the last minute of the half they were unlucky not to go further ahead when Woodhatch and Potter crossed, only to be denied by minor infringements.
After the break, Hornets continued to dominate set piece and loose play, with the front row of Fouracres, Bazeley and Bayley in charge at the scrum and Eustice and Burbidge tying up the line out. Aggressive running from No. 8, Lee Woodhatch set up a ruck from which the ball was passed along the line for wing Rob McIntyre to round the defence to score. Johns converted.
Teignmouth pressed strongly in the last quarter, but the stingy Hornets defence and ability to win possession kept them at bay. Having withstood the pressure, Hornets had the last word. Right at the end they put Rob McIntyre away again to cross for his second try. Ryan Johns completed the scoring with his fourth conversion of the afternoon.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets; Tries, McIntyre 2, Hyatt, Mateer; Conversions, Johns 4; Penalty; Johns
Teignmouth; Try, Tidman; Conversion, Force
Team: James Bayley, Luke Bazeley, Damien Fouracres (Alex Bazeley), Andy Burbidge (Aaron McPherson), Dan Johns, Tim Eustice, Andy Mummery, Lee Woodhatch, Ryan Johns, Scott Lehnhoff, Jon Hyatt, Steve Potter (Captain), Simon Horton, Rob McIntyre, Jason Mateer (Ashley Mann)
01/09/07 WE CONCEDED THREE CONVERTED TRIES IN EXTRA TIME AT OKEHAMPTON TO LOSE 31-10 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE EDF ENERGY INTERMEDIATE CUP
23/08/07 WARM UP MATCH AGAINST ST AUSTELL AT SPORTS CENTRE KO 1830
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