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Saturday, 13th February 2010
Newquay Hornets 6 Devonport Services 13
Tribute Western Counties West League
For the second week in a row Hornets lost their way and this time lost a match that they had hoped to win. And they created the openings for tries, but their runners had no support and the chances went begging. Ultimately their set piece was under pressure and they couldn’t take advantage of the positions they created to attack the oppositions’ line.
Within the first ten minutes skipper, Rob Ley was stopped within five metres of the Services line wide on the left and fellow centre, Frazer Kellythorn got close, but without support to make the try. Services defended well and after 13 minutes the fragility that gave away a try at Penryn the previous week resurfaced to haunt Hornets. They were unable to deal with a kick out of defence on the Services right and the visitors spun the ball left to find wing, Ben Wadham in acres of space. He ran in for a try, which centre, Matt Anstis converted.
Hornets forced three phases on the Services line and No. 8, Stuart Williams got close, all without success. Services were pinching their line-out ball in attacking positions and penalties provided their only scoring opportunities. Scrum half Sam Cullen converted two of the three kicks he took before half time, to bring his side to within a point of the visitors.
It was all pretty depressing stuff for the home spectators, watching in the raw cold, as the combative Services forwards continued to frustrate the Hornets. After missing one penalty kick, Anstis was successful on 51 minutes and he kicked a second on 60 minutes to stretch his side’s lead. Hornets were unable to respond. Substitute wing, Matt Cross showed spirit with a forceful run and the pace of Dan Pearce, running back clearances from halfway, almost provided openings.
Hornets will be back to the scrummaging machine before they travel to take on league leaders, Kingsbridge on Saturday. With another journey up the M5, to Tiverton, in prospect at the end of the month, Hornets next league match at the Sports Centre will be on 6th March, when the visitors are Minehead Barbarians.
Scorers
Newquay Hornets Penalties Sam Cullen (2)
Devonport Services Tries Ben Wadham
Conversion Matt Anstis
Penalties Matt Anstis (2)
Newquay Hornets Team: James Bayley, Jamie Tresidder, Ashley Morcom, Simon Morgan, Simon Lutey, Mark Ley (Graham Lutey), Karl Maslen (Lee Pascoe), Stuart Williams, Will Eustice, Sam Culllen, , Rob McIntyre, Rob Ley, Frazer Kellythorn, Adam Rainey (Matt Cross), Dan Pearce
Newquay Hornets Youth 8 Penryn Youth 29
On what felt like the coldest day ever, the Newquay Colts and Penryn met to play one of the fixtures postponed by the snow earlier this year. With nearly all the Under 17s away on a half-term school skiing trip, the Hornets had to draw on all their resources, making up the numbers from the promising Under 16s team. It was a long time before the first try was scored by Penryn. Hornets did well to repel the relentless onslaught, holding up several potential tries before finally succumbing to the pressure. Bouncing straight back, Mark Robins notched up his first try for the Hornets and the score stayed level up to the last minute of the first half when a converted try brought the score to 5:12 to Penryn.
In spite of sustaining an eye watering injury in the opening minutes of the second half, Liam Freeman managed to rack up three more well deserved points for Hornets. With no substitutes available and no experience of playing together, the Hornets eventually found themselves running on empty, giving Penryn the opportunity to play some set moves that gave them three tries in quick succession in the closing ten minutes of the game.
Scorers: Neewquay Hornets Youth Try Mark Robins
Penalty Liam Freeman
Team: James Alexander, James Barker, Freddy Cash, Jake Cass, Anthony Dickinson, Liam Freeman, Liam Hitchins, Sam Johnson, Jake Kelly, Chesney King, Tim Robey, Mark Robins, James Taylor, Callum Watts, Alex Whitchurch
Sunday, 7th February 2010
Bude 12 Newquay Hornets 5
Cornwall Knockout Cup
It was a busy weekend for the Hornets. They had this rearranged cup fixture to fulfil at Bude on Sunday in addition to their league match at Penryn. The two previous matches between the clubs this season had gone with home advantage and it was the same again at the weekend. Bude advanced to the next round scoring two tries to Hornets one.
Playing down the slope in the first half, Hornets conceded the two tries and a conversion. Badly in need of scrummage practice after the previous day’s performance, Hornets were disappointed when the put-in became uncontested after the end of the first quarter. Both Bude props had to leave the field with ankle injuries.
A typical Rob McIntyre try narrowed the gap in the second half. He broke two tackles and went over in the corner. Full back, Dan Pearce made several try-saving tackles and his pace was a threat in attack. The experimental back row of Tim Eustice, Matt Cross, Lee Pascoe had an excellent match and Eustice captained the side well. Hornets were unlucky not to get on the scoreboard in the final minutes, when they exerted pressure on the home side and Pascoe was forced into touch only a metre out.
Hornets are back in league action at the Sports Centre on Saturday. They take on Devonport Services, who won the team’s first encounter 30-10 at the Rectory in October. Services had a narrow 20-19 win at home against Minehead Barbarians on Saturday. Hornets need to consolidate their mid-table position and will be hoping they can make home advantage count against their visitors, who have only three wins to their name this season.
Newquay Hornets Team: Alex Woodley, Jamie Tresidder, Alex Bazeley, Simon Morgan (Karl Maslen), Paul Martin (Ashley Buxton), Matt Cross, Lee Pascoe, Tim Eustice (captain), Sam Cullen, Chevy Reed, Rob McIntyre, Frazer Kellythorn, Tom Bazeley (Rob Ley), Adam Rainey, Dan Pearce
Newquay Hornets Try Rob McIntyre
Saturday, 6th February 2010
Penryn 13 Newquay Hornets 5
Tribute Western Counties West League
The Hornets ran away with the match 42-17 against Penryn at the start of the season, but the two sides have experienced very different fortunes since that sunny Saturday in September. Hornets have struggled to keep a settled side, and a lack of confidence has meant they have had a really up and down season; in truth more down than up. By contrast Penryn have gone up to fifth in the league, nine points ahead of Hornets. However this was a truly mid-table clash with neither side able to impose themselves on the other.
Playing down the slope, Hornets started the better and after only nine minutes had forced a five metre scrum, from which No.8, Stuart Williams picked up and ran in for the opening try. That was as good as it got for the visitors, who, forced to make late changes in their back division, really didn’t have the invention to play the sort of game that had won them the previous encounter at the Sports Centre. Unable to get the ball wide to their pace men, too often they ran it back inside and got caught up in a forward dominated scrap, in which Penryn had the edge. On 17 minutes they gave away a penalty 30 metres out and full back, Alex Stuthridge put three points on the board for the Borough. After half an hour, a clearance out of defence by Penryn wasn’t dealt with by Hornets near touch on the left and smart work by the home backs put centre, Matt Symons in for a corner try from 40 metres. Stuthridge converted. Then after 39 minutes Hornets self-destructed; Penryn got a free kick for an infringement at a Hornets’ scrum 35 metres out and this was converted to a penalty following chat from the visitors. Stuthridge stepped up to stretch the home lead to 13-5.
The second half produced no points, despite plenty of endeavour from both sides. The Hornets’ eight were under pressure at scrum and line-out and only some immense defending from the pack prevented Penryn going further ahead at the start of the fourth quarter. Hornets mounted a series of attacks in the last ten minutes, they battered the Penryn defence, but without a finishing pass, they just couldn’t bridge the eight point gap.
Hornets are back in league action at the Sports Centre on Saturday. They take on Devonport Services, who won the team’s first encounter 30-10 at the Rectory in October. Services had a narrow 20-19 win at home against Minehead Barbarians on Saturday. Hornets need to consolidate their mid-table position and will be hoping they can make home advantage count against their visitors, who have only three wins to their name this season.
Scorers
Penryn Tries Matt Symons
Conversion Alex Stuthridge
Penalties Alex Stuthridge (2)
Newquay Hornets
Try Stuart Williams
Newquay Hornets Team: James Bayley, Jamie Tresidder, Ashley Morcom, Simon Morgan, Mark Ley (Alex Woodley, Graham Lutey, Karl Maslen, Stuart Williams, Will Eustice, Rob Ley, Rob McIntyre, Matt Cross, Frazer Kellythorn, Adam Rainey, Dan Pearce, Ryan Delahunty
Saturday, 30th January 2010
Camborne 49 Newquay Hornets 0
Tribute Western Counties West League
If the Hornets needed a reminder of their relative position in the league, they got it at Camborne on Saturday. The home side gave a repeat performance of their comprehensive 20-52 win at the Sports Centre earlier in the season. However, this time Hornets didn’t manage a score of any kind. Camborne dominated all but the first three minutes. They scored seven tries, all of them converted. There could have been more. Hornets were lucky to escape with a score below 50 points. They were run ragged by a much better side. They found themselves under pressure at the set scrums for most of the match and were outthought too often at the line out. In the loose Camborne ran strongly and their support play was excellent.
It did start well for Hornets as they won lots of loose ball in the open minutes. However the clinical finishing of Camborne put fly half, David Mankee in for a try inside 5 minutes. Ominously, he converted his own try. Playing into the deceptively strong breeze, Hornets insisted on kicking aimlessly out of defence and too often relieving penalties did not go to touch. Camborne gratefully accepted the opportunities to run ball back at their visitors, who found it difficult to cope with their strong running backs. In particular wings, Notman and Bone caused all sorts of mayhem.
On 28 minutes Mankee was the beneficiary of a bad clearance. After three quick passes, he made the most of the opening to go in for his second try, which he also converted. Then with 34 minutes gone, full back, James Rapson was on the end of a flowing movement. He went through a big hole in the Hornets defence to make it a hat trick of tries for the Cherry and Whites before half time. Mankee kept up the pressure for 21-0.
It took Camborne 6 minutes of the second half to increase their lead. This time they drove a maul over from a lineout 15 metres from the Hornets’ line. No 8. and captain David Roberts claimed the try. Mankee converted. Hornets’ young wing, Dan Pearce almost squeezed through the Camborne defence on a couple of occasions wide out of the left. But Hornets’ visits to Camborne territory were fleeting and on the hour after a lengthy spell of pressure, Camborne ran in try number six. Wing Cameron Bone broke through to stroll over for the touchdown. Mankee slotted the conversion.
On 62 minutes Dan Pearce was in the Camborne 22 again, but Hornets were penalised and within a couple of minutes the Camborne steamroller had mauled over again on the right. This time replacement flanker, James Goldsworthy claimed the try. Mankee was on target again for the extra points.
Hornets had their brightest period of the match before Camborne almost drove another maul over their line. It was down to skipper, David Roberts to surge over for his second and his side’s seventh try on 76 minutes. Mankee put over the conversion to make it a perfect seven and bring his afternoon’s tally to 24 points.
It wasn’t ideal preparation for the two matches Hornets will have to play next weekend. First on Saturday, they play a rearranged league match at Penryn, who were victors over Truro at St Clements Hill last weekend, and on Sunday they travel to Bude to play a Cornwall Knockout Cup match. Kick off at Bude will be 2pm.
Scorers
Camborne Tries David Mankee (2), David Roberts (2), Cameron Bone, James Goldsworthy, James Rapson
Conversions David Mankee (7)
Newquay Hornets Team: Alex Woodley, Jamie Tresidder, Alex Woodley(Jack Luck (Alex Woodley)), Mark Turton, Simon Morgan, Graham Lutey (Karl Maslen), Tim Eustice, Stuart Williams, Will Eustice, Chevy Reed, Dan Pearce, Rob Ley, Frazer Kellythorn, Adam Rainey, Sam Cullen, Mark Ley
Newquay Hornets Seconds 0 Camborne Seconds 17
Cornwall Merit Table
The Hornets and Camborne second strings played out a tense match between snow showers at the Sports Centre on Saturday. Hornets were disrupted by late unavailability and fielded several players making their first appearance of the year. The strong Camborne side started the match at a fast pace and soon had the home side under pressure. However the Hornets defence led by scrum-half, Martyn Dingle held out well until Camborne crossed from close range in the 25th minute. The big Camborne pack was able to dominate possession and Hornets were pinned in their own half for the majority of the encounter, but they were able to hold off the pressure through a mixture of abrasive tackling and good work at the lineout by Andy Burbidge and Ashley Buxton. As a result the teams turned around at half time with Hornets just one score behind.
The second half continued in a similar fashion as Hornets were unable to secure any territorial advantage and the visitors soon crossed for another short range score. The highlight of the game for the home supporters soon followed, in the form of a substitution. Flanker, Martin Pearce jogged on to great applause to make his 737th appearance for the club, breaking Pete Jolley’s long held club record. The Hornet’s defensive effort kept the Camborne attack at bay for the majority of the second half, but despite strong breaks from Centres Rob Philp and Mark Rea the home side were not able to get on to the scoreboard. Just before the final whistle the visitors finally crossed for their third try, some clever passing putting their winger over in the corner.
Newquay Hornets Team: Mark Headland, Tyrone James, Lewis Bowns (Kris Wicketts), Aaron McPherson, Andy Burbidge, Ashley Buxton, Richard Martin, Scott Trayner (Martin Pearce), Martyn Dingle, Lee Ambridge, Mike Cash, Mark Rea, Rob Philp, Matt Cross, Ben Eustice
Saturday, 23rd January 2010
Newquay Hornets 22 Bude 14
Tribute Western Counties West League
Under a blue sky, on a pitch judged, by an experienced eye, too tacky for cauliflower, Hornets produced a second half resurgence to beat Bude at the Sports Centre on Saturday. They reversed the score of 22-12, when they lost earlier in the season at Bencoolen Meadow. In a match punctuated by over twenty penalty kicks, they crossed the visitors’ line three times, while their opposition were awarded two penalty tries when the Hornets infringed to prevent mauls from resulting in tries.
It was Bude who started the brighter. They had Hornets on the back foot from the off. They won lots of ball and threw it wide at every opportunity. Indeed it was ten minutes before Hornets got into their visitors’ territory; even then it was a fleeting visit prior to Bude’s first penalty try on 13 minutes. Adam Williams made it 7-0. However it only took 2 minutes for Hornets to level the scores. Frazer Kellythorn ran a wonderful line to cut through the Bude defence following a ruck about 30 metres out and it took two passes to put Rob Ley in for the touchdown. Sam Cullen converted.
The majority of the second quarter was played out between the two 22 metre lines with defences on top. Bude’s second maul on 38 minutes produced their second penalty try and Williams again obliged with the conversion.
At the restart Hornets brought Chevy Reed on for Tom Bazeley at fly half. Within two minutes Hornets had created an overlap that should have produced a try. However on 44 minutes a Bude kick out of defence found wing Rob McIntyre in space, he picked up the ball and beat three men as he ran in for a try on the right. Cullen narrowly missed making it level. Then a Bude foray made 70 metres deep into the Hornets 22 and the match descended into a dour forward struggle in the mud, which Bude looked to be winning as they made mincemeat of two Hornets set pieces and spent 15 minutes pounding away at the home defence, crucially without result.
The fourth quarter was a complete turnaround, with Reed, on the end of Tim Eustice’s long pass, able to give his centres ball in space, Hornets changed the game. On 66 minutes Chevy Reed slotted a penalty from straight in front on the Bude 22. From that point to the end of the match the Hornets’ running rugby kept Bude under severe pressure. On 73 minutes McIntyre came into the line from the right. He took a Kellythorn pass and used the threat of the men outside him to make room on the inside to beat his man and go over for his second try. Reed converted to make it an eight point margin for his side. There could have been more tries for Hornets, but the opportunities went begging as the play of both sides became increasingly frenetic towards the end.
The win lifts Hornets up to eighth in the league above Bude on points’ difference. Next week Hornets travel to Camborne to take on the league leaders, who had a 5-20 win away at Minehead on Saturday.
Scorers
Newquay Hornets Tries Rob McIntyre (2), Rob Ley
Conversions Sam Cullen, Chevy Reed
Penalties Chevy Reed
Bude Penalty Tries (2)
Conversions Adam Williams (2)
Newquay Hornets Team: James Bayley, Jamie Tresidder, Jack Luck (Alex Woodley), Mark Turton, Simon Morgan, Karl Maslen, Graham Lutey (Mark Ley), Tim Eustice, Will Eustice, Tom Bazeley (Chevy Reed), Adam Rainey, Rob Ley, Frazer Kellythorn, Rob McIntyre, Sam Cullen
Newquay Hornets Seconds 15 Penzance-Newlyn Amateurs 8
Cornwall Merit Table
Hornets Seconds entertained their opposition from down west at the Sports Centre, with the pitch not matching the sunny weather conditions. But both sides didn’t let this affect their rugby and put on an entertaining game for all.
Penzance-Newlyn arrived sitting on the top of the Merit Table; they were looking for another big win, having already taken bragging rights in the game at the Mennaye Field before Christmas. Hornets had other ideas. They put out a blend of youth and experience, which withstood the initial barrage from the visitors. Both sides had opportunities as they moved the ball well. However it was the Hornets’ centre partnership of Mark Rea and Rob Philp that made inroads into the Penzance-Newlyn defence; and it was Philp got the first score. He weaved his way in for a try under the posts.
The visitors slotted a penalty prior to Hornets taking control of the game mid-way through the first half. However they were unable to turn territory into points and squandered several opportunities, until Scott Trayner battled his way through the defence. He lost the ball on the line, but his back row partner Ashley Cotton scooped it up to score.
Turning around 10 - 3 up, Hornets started slowly and Penzance-Newlyn seized on the opportunity scoring a try early on to put doubts in their hosts’ game at 10 - 8. Hornets made several changes with half an hour to go and regained the initiative. Once again they had a solid platform from the forwards. They worked tirelessly throughout to provide quick ball to the backs. Eventually it paid dividends when ball was spun wide for Ashley Mann, on for full back Ben Eustice, to join the line and go over for the decisive try. It was a solid team performance and an impressive win for the Seconds, who have now beaten the top two sides in consecutive weeks.
Next Saturday the Seconds are at home again, this time to Camborne Seconds in the Merit Table.
Newquay Hornets Scorers
Tries Ashley Cotton, Ashley Mann, Rob Philp
Team; John Hall, Lee Pascoe, Mark Headland © (Lewis Bowns), Andy Burbidge, Ashley Cotton (Arron Mcphearson), Matt White ((Scott Trayner),(Ashley Buxton)), Mike Cash, Scott Trayner (Ashley Cotton), Martin Dingle, Russ Milsom (Mark Rea), Matt Cross (Ed Stygle), Mark Rea (Matt Cross), Rob Philp, Ryan Delahunty, Ben Eustice (Ashley Mann), Luke Taylor
Newquay Hornets Youth 24 Liskeard/Looe Youth 12
County Colts Cup
After six weeks of cancellations, the Colts relished being back out playing the noble game, albeit on a very slippery and somewhat treacle-like, muddy pitch. Liskeard/Looe arrived full of determination to win the points for this re-scheduled match, as some points could be lost to the weather. In spite of the conditions, both teams produced some excellent rugby, the heavier Liskeard pack having advantage in the scrums, whilst the leaner Hornets won all the line-outs. This meant that at half time the score was 7-7, Tom Karkeek scoring the try for the Hornets, converted by Liam Freeman.
James Alexander was first to score in the second half for the Hornets, when he collected the ball at the end of a line of very fast passes. James Taylor was next across the line from an overturned ball, converted by Freeman. Liskeard managed to pull one back that went unconverted, but the highlight of the match, that caused much amusement, was the final Hornets’ try. Winger Freddy “Teflon” Cash, with his usual flair for dodging tackles, side stepped half a dozen opposition players and had a clear run for the try line, with his fellow Hornets holding off any late challenges. Never keen on getting his kit dirty, Freddy took the opportunity to select the least muddy area under the post to deposit the ball. With an icy wind starting to pick up and a bubbling undercurrent of bad tempered pushing and shoving, referee Richard Pryor blew up bang on time to everyone’s relief.
Newquay Hornets scorers:
Tries James Alexander, Fredy Cash, Tom Karkeek, James Taylor
Conversions Liam Freeman (2)
Team: James Alexander, James Barker, George Brooks, Freddy Cash, Jake Cass, Josh Coombes, Liam Freeman, Lyam Hitchens, Tom Karkeek, Chesney King, Harry Pendreich, Tom Powell (Captain), Connor Riley, Tim Robey, James Taylor, Harry Thomas-Fricker, Callum Watts
Saturday, 16th January 2010
Wadebridge Camels 3 Newquay Hornets 23
Tribute Western Counties West League
It was shock of the day at Wadebridge. On the evidence of last season’s drubbings and this season’s result at the Sports Centre, when it was 16-29 to Camels, the neutral would have expected a convincing home win on Saturday. Indeed it had been six seasons since Hornets last won a league match at Molesworth Field. In torrential rain that fell throughout the match, the visitors defended out of their skins and played the conditions better than their lofty opponents. They scored two tries to nil in a much needed morale booster.
Both sides have had little rugby over the last month. Camels were on an unbeaten run of 11 league matches. Hornets had beaten Tavistock at home in mid-December to break their long run of losses; they gave three players their first league start; colt, Will Eustice came in at scrum half, newcomer Karl Maslen was on the flank and Mark Ley was a late replacement for the injured Ross Robins in the second row.
The visitors started well, the pack drove at Camels using short passing to get into their 22. Their dominance was short lived as Camels pack monopolised ball for the rest of the first quarter. Camels opted to spin the ball, but they ran into a very resolute Hornets defence. And when they knocked on in the wet conditions, Hornets’ set piece held its own admirably and they were able to clear their lines.
On 22 minutes Hornets’ back row was caught offside at a ruck and Camels’ fly half, Josh Taylor slotted the penalty from 35 metres. The second quarter went marginally Hornets’ way, but despite having the best of the territory, their only sniff of points came from a Sam Cullen penalty attempt that passed the post.
Hornets restarted with only three points in it, and within 2 minutes Cullen had made amends for his earlier miss. With the scores level, Camels were stung and stepped up the pace. The referee had to cool tempers before they returned to the Hornets 22 and mounted three determined thrusts through the centre. Each foundered on the solid defence. Then as they mounted another, the ball went loose; Hornets centre Frazer Kellythorn found himself in the clear, with ball in hand, behind the Camels’ defence. He made valuable ground, was caught, but managed to put in a neat kick to the Camels’ goal line. Second row, Simon Morgan won the race to the touchdown to give Hornets the lead and Chevy Reed, on at full back for the injured Cullen, added the two points for 3-10.
With floodlights piercing the gloom, Hornets continued to keep the ball tight and both their scrum and the Eustice Tresidder partnership in the lineout remained solid. On 68 minutes, a long range penalty attempt from Reed was judged good by the referee for 3-13. Young debutant scrum half, Will Eustice started to put Camels on the back foot with kicks into the box. On 71 minutes a Eustice kick that went to touch at the corner gave the Hornets position deep in the Camels 22. Camels’ pack was penalised 5 metres out, flanker Graham Lutey took a quick tap penalty and from the ensuing play Karl Maslen forced his way over. Reed again added the extras.
Two scores behind, Camels upped the intensity, but it was matched by Hornets. With the conditions underfoot deteriorating the Camels backs were finding it difficult to make headway and with Hornets kicks continuing to make them turn, their task was becoming unenviable.
Two minutes from time Reed missed one penalty, but he stretched Hornets away again with another from 35 metres just before the final whistle
The win eases Hornets’ league position somewhat. They remain ninth, but with 12 points that narrows the gap to teams above them. The win will boost their confidence in advance of next weekend’s key match at home against eighth placed Bude. Camels will regard this as a slip, having previously only lost to Camborne and Kingsbridge, the teams above them in the table. They remain two points behind second placed Kingsbridge. Camborne did them a favour by beating Kingsbridge 13-5 at Camborne on Saturday. Kingsbridge have a game in hand, but the teams have still to meet at Wadebridge.
Hornets’ Team manager Steve Bazeley was delighted with the win, but his focus was already on next weekend. “Training Tuesday and Thursday”, was his comment after the match. The victory was made even sweeter with news of their reserves’ win, 20-19 at home against Camels Seconds in the Merit Table.
Scorers
Wadebridge Camels Penalty Josh Taylor
Newquay Hornets Tries Karl Maslen, Simon Morgan
Conversions Chevy Reed (2)
Penalties Chevy Reed (2), Sam Cullen
Newquay Hornets Team: James Bayley, Jamie Tresidder, Simon Lutey (Jack Luck), Mark Ley (Simon Lutey), Simon Morgan, Karl Maslen, Graham Lutey, Tim Eustice, Will Eustice, Tom Bazeley, Adam Rainey, Rob Ley, Frazer Kellythorn, Rob McIntyre (Matt Cross), Sam Cullen (Chevy Reed)
Newquay Hornets 20 Wadebridge Camels 19
Cornwall Merit Table
The heavy rain fell throughout the match on Saturday. With the league match between the two clubs being played at Wadebridge, there was lots to play for at the Sports Centre. In a keenly contested encounter in which there was little to choose between the sides, the Hornets, a blend of youth and experience, squeezed home by a point. With plenty of pace outside the Hornets backs bagged their side’s three tries. Stand out player was wing, Dan Pearce, who scored two of his sides tries and converted one of them. Centre, Mark Rea had an excellent game and back in the side at No. 8, Ashley Cotton brought a real physical presence.
In a tight first half Hornets went behind to a Camels’ try. Their only points came from a Tom Heayel penalty.
With conditions worsening after the break, the Hornets backs made light of the mud and ran in three tries to Camels two. Rea showed real pace in going over for his, and Pearce beat three men as he raced over in the left corner for his first try. He scored another and converted it to make the difference between the sides. Camels converted their two second half tries; it wasn’t enough to catch the jubilant Newquay side.
News from Wadebridge confirmed that Hornets had done the double over their neighbours. Hornets were singin’ in the rain!
Scorers
Newquay Hornets Tries Dan Pearce (2)
Conversions Dan Pearce
Penalty Tom Heayel
Newquay Hornets Team: John Hall (Luke Taylor), Lee Pascoe, Mark Headland (Paul Martin), Andy Burbidge (Lewis Bowns), Matt White (Martin Pearce), Mike Cash, Ashley Cotton, Martyn Dingle, Tom Heayel, Ryan de la Hunty, Rob Philp (Ed Stigle), Mark Rea, Dan Pearce, Ben Eustice
Saturday, 2nd January 2010
Newquay Hornets Seconds 22 Veor 29
The sides played out a scrappy match in a bitter wind at the Sports Centre on Saturday. The weather had yet again played havoc with Hornets league programme as their match at Tiverton was postponed, with the pitch frozen for the second time in a fortnight.
The Veor pack dominated possession in the loose and with No 8 Dan McDonald and big centre Lee Caddy running strongly at the home defence Hornets found themselves on the back foot for most of the first half. The only glimpses of Hornets’ pace fcame from young wing Ryan de la Hunty. It was Caddy who opened the scoring for the visitors after seven minutes and converted his own try. Wing Ed Morton was on hand to dot down a neat chip to the corner from his fly half and by half time McDonald had charged over to add a third try, which Caddy converted. Hornets’ only reply was a penalty put over by fly half Tom Heayel.
Restarting 19-3 up, Veor continued to dominate and a fourth try came on 43 minutes from Scott Sara. It was substitute centre Rob Philp who gave Hornets’ running game a fillip, and within minutes they scored the try of the match. The ball was moved right in midfield; and after going through half a dozen pairs of hands, the illusive de la Hunty squeezed in at the corner. Veor replied with a fifth try from wing Scott Lake.
Hornets weren’t finished though, and Ashley Cotton on for battered, but unbowed veteran Barry Howarth, stormed in from the twenty-two for a try that Andy Webster converted. Then on 35 minutes, following a fracas on the right; Veor lost concentration, Hornets took a quick penalty and made space for Adam Rainey on the left. He ripped through the visitors’ defence to add another try that Webster also converted.
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets Seocnds: Tries Ashley Cotton, Ryan de la Hunty, Adam Rainey
Conversions Andy Webster (2)
Penalty Tom Heayel
Veor Tries Lee Caddy, Scott Lake, Dan McDonald, Ed Morton, Scott Sara
Conversions Lee Caddy (2)
Hornets Seconds Team: Barry Howarth (Ashley Cotton), Tom Powell, Paul Martin, Aaron McPherson, Matt White, Adam Rainey (Jake Cass), Ashley Mann, Mark Ley, Martyn Dingle, Tom Heayel (Andy Webster), Ed Stigle (Adam Rainey), John Pease, Andy Webster (Rob Philp), Ryan de la Hunty, Ben Eustice
Boxing Day, 26th December 2009
Newquay Hornets 7 Chairman’s XV 17
The Hornets gave an outing to some of their young players in this traditional Boxing Day fixture and were beaten by a side with the more experienced back division. They lost the match by three tries to one. A torrential downpour just before kick off made for a field day for the laundry.
Despite the muddy conditions both sides tried to play open rugby. It was the undoing of the Hornets. After 15 minutes, centre Rob Philp took an interception and when collared by Hornets’ Romey Vassell, he offloaded to James Hawken, who put Ross Whale in for the Chairman’s first try. Hawken stretched the Chairman’s lead to ten points by the interval.
The second half was an even affair the sides swapped converted tries. Chevy Reed crossed for the Hornets and converted, while James Hawken replied for the Chairman’s to give them the Steve Taylor Cup for 2009.
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets Tries Chevy Reed
Conversion Chevy Reed
Chairman’s XV Tries James Hawken (2), Ross Whale
Conversion James Hawken
Newquay Hornets Team: Chevy Reed,Tim Grainger, Matt Cross, Romey Vassell, Adam Rainey, Liam Freeman, Will Eustice,
Tim Eustice, Luke Mansfield, Graham Lutey, Simon Morgan, Aaron McPherson, John Paris, Tom Powell, James Bayley
Substitutes: Lewis Bowns, Ryan de la Hunty, James Alexander, Ben Ambridge, Lee Ambridge, Mark Ley, Rob Ley
Chairman’s Starting XV: Gareth Biddle, Ashley Mann, James Hawken, Rob Philp, Ross Whale, Jonnie Keiller, Ryan Johns, Lee Woodhatch, Olly Yelland, Dan Johns, Anthony White, Ant Harmes, Paul Martin, Johnnie Platt, Martyn Dunn
Saturday, 12th December 2009
Newquay Hornets 22 Tavistock 0
(Tribute Western League West)
Saturday’s match at the Sports Centre featured two sides struggling to recapture the form of previous seasons. Both sides tried to play open rugby on a pitch that had come through the last few weeks remarkably well. With the Sun on their backs, the Hornets turned out in much more positive mode than of late. Having beaten their visitors at Sandy Park 20-36 back in September, they started the second half of their season with a double, scoring three tries to nil in the process.
Their win was built on a solid defence and a terrier-like intensity. They went forward at every opportunity and their running game returned too, with the halfbacks giving their centres plenty of the ball. With the pace of full back, Dan Pearce available, they had the attacking edge throughout.
The visitors dominated territory in the first quarter, with runs from No 8, Ben Williams sucking in the home defence, but once outside they didn’t have the pace, or the guile to breach the stubborn home defence. By contrast, on 5 minutes, Hornets took their only chance of the period. Fly half, Chevy Reed ghosted through the Tavy defence in his own half; he fed on to centre, Frazer Kellythorn; he ran strongly and put Dan Pearce away for the first try.
Hornets evened up the territorial battle in the run up to half time and finished the half with a flourish. Having dropped just short with a penalty attempt, scrum half; Sam Cullen secured the drop out. The ball was spun left from the resulting ruck and then back right for wing Matt Cross to add the gloss finish. Cullen added the conversion on the stroke of half time.
Restarting 12-0 up, within minutes Hornets were down to fourteen men when tempers flared and referee, Simon Lord sent Frazer Kellythorn for an early bath. Far from capitulating, Hornets responded with spirit, they moved the hard-working Graham Lutey from the flank into the centre to combat the Tavistock runs and took the game to their visitors. No 8, Tim Eustice had a storming half, he seemed to have the lineout ball on a string and he made yards in the loose with determined running.
On 65 minutes Dan Pearce ran a Tavy clearance back at them and fed Cross; the thrust was contained, but Sam Cullen put in a neat chip over the defence and it was a foot race between Chevy Reed and skipper Rob Ley for the touchdown. Magnanimously, the skipper gave it to Reed. Cullen slotted the conversion for 19-0.
Hornets stuck to their task and continued to thwart Tavy’s attempts to get back into the match. With the clock running down they forced an infringement from the visitors near the posts. Cullen put over the penalty with the last kick of the match.
The win improves the Hornets league position somewhat and puts them in better heart for the trip to Tiverton next weekend. The next home fixture will be the traditional Boxing Day morning match against the Chairman’s XV.
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets Tries Matt Cross, Dan Pearce, Chevy Reed
Conversions Sam Cullen (2)
Penalty Sam Cullen
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Matt Cross, Rob Ley, Frazer Kellythorn, Adam Rainey, Chevy Reed, Sam Culllen, Jack Luck (John Hall), Jamie Tresidder, John Paris, Ross Robins, Mark Turton, Graham Lutey, Matt Orton (Carl Maslen), Tim Eustice
Saturday, 5th December 2009
Okehampton 21 Newquay Hornets 6
(Tribute Western League West)
It went to form at Oaklands Park on Saturday. Okehampton had the edge up front and were too adventurous outside for their visitors. They ran in three tries to nil. Hornets’ only points came from the boot of Sam Cullen. They had to make six changes from the previous week’s starting fifteen. The weather wasn’t much better than that at the Sports Centre the week before; the second half was played in torrential rain. The saving grace was that an early kick off was arranged that prevented play in the gloom.
Kicking off with the wind, Hornets didn’t make the most of early pressure. A Sam Cullen penalty kick just passed the outside of the left hand post after two minutes. Okehampton took the initiative and after 6 minutes, from a scrum on half way, No.8, Sam Turner picked up, went down the blind side and fed his scrum half, who gave it out again. A last gasp tackle seemed to have stopped the attack, but when the ball went loose, wing Rob Fishleigh scooped it up and darted in under the posts for the opening try. Fly half, Carl Poynton converted.
After 12 minutes Sam Cullen got Hornets on to the scoreboard with a penalty from 35 metres, but with the Okehampton side trying to open the play Hornets were kept on the back foot. After 25 minutes, Okehampton pack set up a maul just inside the Hornets twenty-two, their backs ran left and centre, Luke Honeychurch touched down for Poynton to add the two points.
Hornets best scoring opportunity of the half came after 34 minutes, when fly half Chevy Reed slipped through the Oke’s defence and fed Frazer Kellythorn. However the big centre was caught just 5 metres from the line. Hornets’ only reward was another three points from the boot of Culllen on 36 minutes. Hornets returned to the Okehampton twenty-two, but crucially lost their put-in at a lineout for the home side to regain possession.
Okehampton restarted eight points up and with the elements. They narrowly missed two scoring opportunities from followed up kicks, one went dead and one went to touch five metres out. As the rain really came down heavily, Hornets’ pack upped the pressure and after 58 minutes forced a scrum ten metres out, but again execution let them down as they couldn’t get the ball away from the base of the scrum. By contrast, Okehampton could take their chances and after clearing their lines, on 65 minutes, they won ball from a lineout near the Hornets’ line. Hornets kept out an attempted drive over the line, but their scrum, which followed was terribly disrupted and the ball came out on Oke’s side for flanker Harry Bushin to force his way over for the try. Again Poynton put over the conversion from wide out.
Hornets returned to Okehampton territory in the last five minutes of the match, but they just couldn’t find the opening to get the consolation try that their efforts deserved.
Next weekend Hornets welcome Tavistock to the Sports Centre, as they begin the second half of their league season. Kick off is at 2:30pm. The Club invites its Vice Presidents to a complimentary lunch before the match at 12:30pm.
Scorers:
Okehampton Tries Harry Bushin, Rob Fishleigh, Luke Honeychurch
Conversions Carl Poynton (3)
Newquay Hornets Penalties Sam Cullen (2)
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Rob Ley, Frazer Kellythorn, Adam Rainey, Chevy Reed, Sam Culllen, James Bayley, Jamie Tresidder, Alex Woodley (John Paris), Ross Robins, Mark Turton, Simon Morgan, Matt Orton, Anthony White (Matt Cross)
Saturday, 28th November 2009
Newquay Hornets 7 North Petherton 22
(Tribute Western League West)
The monsoon rain that fell throughout suited the dabbling Oyster Catchers on the next-door pitch much more than it did the players of the two teams engaged in this fixture. The visitors were the better side; they adapted to the conditions and played the more fluent rugby throughout. For all the efforts of the home side, they went down by three tries to one.
North Petherton opened strongly and gave the ball to their backs in several phases that gave them possession in home territory. After 14 minutes a move off the back of the scrum, 30 metres out on the blind side, gave full back Tom Williams the first try wide out on the right. However Hornets were 7-5 ahead inside five minutes following a break by new boy Liam Freeman, a fly hack from skipper, Rob Ley and good work by second row, Ross Robins. Wing Rob McIntyre knifed through close to a ruck and ran in under the posts for scrum half, Sam Cullen to convert. Hornets then had their best period of the match in the run up to half time, but despite spending almost twenty minutes in the visitors’ half they couldn’t convert territory to points.
North Petherton upped the tempo after the break and Tom Williams put them ahead on 50 minutes with a penalty from 25 metres. They pressured again and inside 5 minutes another Williams, this time Sam, got the touch down after his pack drove a maul over the home line. The visitors looked by far the most assured with ball in hand and a move down the blind side almost increased their try count on the hour. Within ten minutes their pack had mauled to the Hornets’ line and were held up. The referee awarded a penalty try when Hornets infringed at the resulting scrum. Tom Williams kept it a Williams’ day with the conversion that brought his personal tally to twelve points.
Hornets were unable to respond and spent the last five minutes of the match defending their line under severe pressure. Finally with water standing on the pitch and with the gloom descending the referee’s whistle came as a relief to the very few hardy spectators.
This defeat leaves Hornets on eight points. However Tiverton’s heavy defeat at Camborne on Saturday means that they move ahead of Tiverton in the table on points’ difference. Next week Hornets travel to Okehampton, two places above them in the table. The next home league fixture is against Tavistock on 12th December 2009. There will be a lunch for Vice Presidents at the Sports Centre before the match.
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets Try Rob McIntyre
Conversion Sam Cullen
North Petherton Tries Penalty Try, Sam Williams, Tom Williams
Conversions Tom Williams (2)
Penalty Tom Williams
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Rob Ley, Tom Bazeley, Adam Rainey, Liam Freeman, Sam Culllen, James Bayley, Alex Woodley (Lee Pascoe), Simon Lutey, Ross Robins, Mark Turton, Graham Lutey (Simon Morgan), Stuart Williams, Tim Eustice (Matt Orton);
Saturday, 14th November 2009
Newquay Hornets 24 Withycombe 19
(Tribute Western League West)
Hornets can thank the trusty boot of scrum half Sam Cullen for the points that made the difference and gave them a very hard fought win against the club at the bottom of the league at the Sports Centre on Saturday. In challenging, windy conditions he kicked three conversions and a penalty.
With Friday’s storm blowing itself out, Withycombe opted to play with the stiff breeze from the kick off, but it was the Hornets who drove the ball into their opponents’ half. However they gave the ball away after only a minute, and paid dearly for the mistake as Withy gave notice that they hadn’t come west to surrender the two points. They put together a handling movement that flowed 80 metres to give winger, Dan Bradford a try near touch on the right.
Hornets responded with a series of forward drives and after 14 minutes, under severe pressure on their own line, Withy spilled the ball in goal. The referee judged that a Hornets’ player was impeded as he went to touch down and awarded a penalty try, which Sam Cullen converted to give Hornets the lead.
Crucially, in the five minutes that followed Withy missed two eminently kickable penalties.
Hornets dominated territory in the second quarter, but their play was disjointed, they were giving away too many penalties at the ruck and they just couldn’t turn their advantage into points. Then out of the blue, with five minutes of the half remaining, on his side’s only visit to Hornets territory in the quarter, the Withy fly half, Adam Morris ran at the Hornets defence and threw an outrageous dummy to go over under the posts for the try. Wing, Adam Laws converted to put Hornets 7-12 in arrears at the break.
Hornets restarted and were lucky not to concede again, as they contrived to get themselves bogged down in their own twenty-two for the first five minutes of the half. Eventually breaking out, when wing Rob McIntyre fly hacked the ball to within ten metres of the visitors line to be thwarted by the bounce. No.8, Tim Eustice probed the defence and good ruck ball gave the backs the opportunity to release full back, Dan Pearce, who slipped a tackle to cross for a try. Again Cullen converted for 14-12.
Withy was playing the better of the open rugby at this stage, but it was the Hornets’ pack that provided their side’s third try on 65 minutes. After their backs ran at the Withy defence, the pack won ruck ball and drove over the Withy line for hooker, Alex Woodley to celebrate his 21st birthday with a try. Cullen completed a perfect trio with the conversion.
Withy returned to Hornets’ territory from the restart. Hornets gave away two penalties in quick succession and were lucky to clear through skipper Rob Ley. Then after 80 minutes Sam Cullen completed an excellent afternoon with a well-struck penalty to move Hornets two scores ahead.
Withy ran at the Hornets again, supported well, and on 84 minutes they won a five-metre scrum. They pushed over for second row Dave Thompson to claim the try. Adam Morris to add the extras for 24-19.
The win gives Hornets two very valuable league points and puts them ahead of Minehead Barbarians, Tavistock, Devonport Services and Withycombe.
With no match next weekend, Hornets look forward to the visit of North Petherton to the Sports Centre on Saturday, 28th November 2009.
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets Tries Penalty Try, Dan Pearce, Alex Woodley
Conversions Sam Cullen (3)
Penalty Sam Cullen
Withycombe Tries Dan Bradford, Adam Morris, Dave Thompson
Conversions Adam Laws, Adam Morris
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Rob Ley, Tom Bazeley, Adam Rainey, Chevy Reed, Sam Culllen, James Bayley, Alex Woodley (Lee Pascoe), Simon Lutey (Alex Woodley), Simon Morgan (Simon Lutey), Mark Turton, Matt Orton, Stuart Williams, Tim Eustice; Matt Cross, Jon Hyatt
Saturday, 7th November 2009
Minehead Barbarians 12 Newquay Hornets 17
(Tribute Western League West)
Hornets made the long journey to north Somerset to play their tenth league match of the season. Having suffered seven consecutive defeats since mid-September, when they won at Tavistock, they followed up their spirited display against league leaders, Kingsbridge last weekend with a morale-boosting victory.
The win was hard fought and was built on a dogged defence. Much as in the Kingsbridge match, their opposition dominated first half possession and territory. Minehead had good set piece ball and spun it into the centre, but their backs just couldn’t find a way through the Hornets’ defence. Their only opportunity of first half points came from two penalty attempts from fly half, David Farmer. The first after four minutes, hit the left-hand post and the second after 18 minutes went wide. So, against the run of play, Hornets hung on to be on equal terms at the break.
Minehead started the second period with real purpose. They attacked from the kick off and after several phases, in which backs and forwards handled, their pack drove the ball over for Ross Cox to claim the try. Farmer converted. It looked as if the writing was on the wall for Hornets, but Lee Pascoe, making his first outing of the season at hooker, began to find Tim Eustice in the lineout and their play became much more positive. The pace of Dan Pearce fielding Minehead’e clearance kicks and that of Grainger, McIntyre and Rainey was posing a threat to the home side’s lead. The backs were competing for ball at the breakdown and centre, Rob McIntyre pinched a ball in midfield on 46 minutes. He ran 50 metres through the home defence to score an unlikely opener for Hornets. Within two minutes hooker, Lee Pascoe got in on the act when he too found himself with the ball just inside the Minehead half. He showed the defence a clean pair of heels and touched down for scrum half, Sam Cullen to convert and give Hornets a 12-7 lead. With their noses in front, Hornets played with much more confidence and attacked the home line. On 66 minutes Cullen caught a clearance kick in midfield. He brought Pascoe into the move, he in turn fed No. 8,Tim Eustice, who outpaced the defence to take Hornets two scores away.
With a sniff of victory, it was a nervous last few minutes for the Hornets. The home side reduced the arrears on 76 minutes. Having elected to kick a penalty to touch at the corner, they won the lineout and drove over for a second mauled try, this time from prop, David Swann. This was their last chance to threaten their visitors’ line. Hornets returned to their hosts’ territory. When Minehead were penalised on their twenty-two close to touch, with the clock ticking down Cullen opted to kick for goal. His kick passed the right-hand post, went dead and the referee blew for no side.
"It's been tough losing seven on the trot, but the players never stopped trying," said Team Manager Steve Bazeley. “There is a long way to go and a lot of ground to make up yet, but this win will give everyona lift."
With Tavistock and Devonport Services both losing, the win moves Hornets away from the bottom of the table. Next weekend they entertain bottom club, Witheycombe at the Sports Centre.
Scorers:
Minehead Barbarians Tries Ross Cox, David Swann
Conversion David Farmer
Newquay Hornets Tries Tim Eustice, Rob McIntyre, Lee Pascoe
Conversion Sam Cullen
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Tim Grainger, Rob McIntyre, Rob Ley, Adam Rainey, Tom Bazeley, Sam Culllen, James Bayley, Lee Pascoe, Alex Woodley, Paul Martin (Simon Morgan), Mark Turton, Graham Lutey (Luke Mansfield), Ben Ambridge, Tim Eustice, Stuart Williams
Newquay Hornets Youth 20 Penzance- Newlyn Youth 34
The Newquay Colts came up against some fierce opposition at the Sports Centre on Saturday in the form of the weather. In torrential rain and stinging hail the Hornets and Pirates slogged out the entire game in rapidly deteriorating visibility and light on a pitch fast becoming a sticky bog. Newquay made a promising start with Liam Freeman replicating Johnny Wilkinson’s drop kick in the opening minutes and Dexter Cater following this with a great try that Liam converted.
With the rain making the ball increasingly more difficult to handle and the mud making the going very heavy, the usually fast and nimble Hornets found it difficult to keep possession of the ball. In stark contrast, the conditions favoured the portly Penzance team, well padded out with lots of forwards, who were able to dig in and push three unconverted tries over before half time, bringing the score to 10-15 to the Pirates.
In spite of Captain Liam scoring and converting again in the second half and finishing off with a penalty, Newquay were unable to run the ball and utilize their speed and agility against the slower, heavier Penzance lads, who continued to bludgeon their way across the Hornet’s try line, leaving plowed furrows in their wake. Having the wind blowing their way helped to convert the tries, leaving Newquay continuing to emulate England, from a promising beginning to a soggy end. Drenched to the bone and with thunder rumbling overhead, the players and spectators were only too pleased to hear the final whistle, though ironically it also heralded the end of the storm.
Team: James Alexander, James Barker, George Brooks, Matt Cann, Freddy Cash, Jake Cass, Dexter Cater, Liam Freeman, Jordan Henwood, Liam Hitchins, Tom Karkeek, Harry Pendreich, Tom Powell, Tim Robey, James Taylor, Harry Thomas-Fricker
Saturday, 31st October 2009
Newquay Hornets 0 Kingsbridge 23
(Tribute Western League West)
The Hornets gave their supporters heart on Saturday. They showed real spirit in containing the unbeaten league leaders for three quarters of their match at the Sports Centre. Two late tries from the visitors reflected their territorial dominance, but the final score didn’t do justice to the character shown by the home side.
The visitors opened strongly. They camped in the Hornets’ half for most of the first half. Determined defence kept them out, particularly in the first five minutes when they had two scrums, a lineout and a penalty all within five metres of the home goal line. The Kingsbridge backs found it impossible to run through, or around the home defence. Kingsbridge full back Jack Davey missed a penalty attempt on 19 minutes and it wasn’t until Hornets prop, Simon Lutey received a yellow card at the end of first quarter that the pressure really began to tell and Davey was successful with two penalty kicks on 24 and 31 minutes. As the interval approached, Hornets had their best period of the half, but couldn’t string enough passes together to threaten the Kingsbridge defence.
Hornets were back in the Kingsbridge half after the break, but handling errors let them down. Kingsbridge returned to Hornets’ territory and elected to use the driving maul before spinning the ball wide. At the end of the third quarter wing, Jake Chapman made a surging run down the left; he chipped the defence, only for a Hornets boot to put the ball dead. From the ensuing five-metre scrum, Kingsbridge set up a maul and drove over; No 8., Matt Hamilton got the try.
Kingsbridge continued to press without success until they pinched the ball at a Hornets’ lineout just inside the home 22 on 75 minutes. Matt Hamilton took advantage of a hole in the lineout to dart through. His acceleration took him through two tackles for the try. Substitute full back Greg Newman added the conversion. Then right at the end Kingsbridge put in a kick to the right corner. Hornets were penalised at their lineout and Kingsbridge scrum half, Ben Eva reacted quickest to force his way over for the try.
There is still work to do on their set piece, particularly the lineout, but despite the disappointment of leaking the two late tries, Hornets took positives from the match. The stout defence, with young full back Dan Pearce giving a mature display, shepherding the Kingsbridge wings and making try-saving tackles; the introduction of Will Eustice, a real prospect at scrum half for the future, giving a crisp service to his stand off; and the sniping runs of Tim Grainger and Adam Rainey showed that there is real pace out wide, if they can use it. The side is without a win since the victory at Tavistock in mid-September. In the face of this challenging situation, Team Manager, Steve Bazeley praised the commitment of Coach, Kevin Moseley in helping and encouraging the young and less experienced players to step up to the first team level.
Scorers:
Kingsbridge Tries Matt Hamilton (2), Ben Eva
Conversion Greg Newman
Penalties Jack Davey
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Tim Grainger, Jon Hyatt, Rob Ley, Adam Rainey, Tom Bazeley, Will Eustice, James Bayley, Alex Woodley, Simon Lutey, Paul Martin (Aaron McPherson), Mark Turton, Graham Lutey, Tim Eustice
Matt Orton (Chris Morgan)
Saturday, 24th October 2009
Devonport Services 30 Newquay Hornets 10
(Tribute Western League West)
It’s been a gruelling six weeks for the Hornets. Their early season promise has evaporated in a series of confidence sapping defeats. Injury and unavailability has cast a long shadow over their season. They travelled to Plymouth with a side unrecognisable from that which lost badly at the Sports Centre the previous weekend. Not a perfect way to start a key match against fellow strugglers.
Services looked the more assured throughout and deserved their win, but for the first half hour there was nothing in it. However the Hornets pack surrendered far too much set piece ball to their hosts, particularly in the first half. Services were far more adept at making use of their possession. With lots of space in which to work, home fly half Ronnie Hannaford got his back division moving at every opportunity. By contrast Hornets struggled for any continuity.
Hornets kicked off and Services fumbled the ball. They gave the advantage to Hornets and within a minute fly half and skipper Rob Ley put over a penalty from 20 metres. Services replied within five minutes with a penalty from Hannaford. The running game paid off for Services on 17 minutes. Wing, Ben Ashford was on the end of a blind side move and went over for a try that the referee converted to a penalty try. Hannaford converted. Another five minutes elapsed and Hornets pressured a Services lineout, pinched the ball and from the ensuing ruck, No 8., Tim Eustice picked up, juggled and whilst the defence watched flat-footed, he stole in for a try from 15 metres. Ley converted to tie the scores.
The Hornets were undone in the last fifteen minutes of the 50 minute first half; on 35 minutes Services spun the ball left and Ben McGowan went over wide out. Then the home side struck twice in injury time; first Hannaford dropped a goal, then Ashford popped up again, this time on the end of a nicely worked move between No.8 and scrum half on the blind side. He kicked over the defence and the referee ruled that he had won the race to the touchdown with two defenders.
On the evidence of the first half display, at 23-10 down Hornets were up against it. However the rearrangement of the front row forced by an injury to prop Kris Wicketts and the introduction of Matt Orton at hooker secured scrummage ball for the Cornish side and they began to ask questions of the home defence.
For a ten-minute spell at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Hornets camped in the Services twenty-two, with Rob Ley, substitute Olly Yelland, and Matt Cross making forceful runs. But they had no rapier to cut the line to take advantage of all their hard work. They lost possession on their put-in at a five-metre scrum and within a few minutes the difference between the two sides was encapsulated in the execution of Services’ final try. From inside his own half Hannaford gave his side position within the Hornets 22, the Hornets’ lineout throw wasn’t straight, Services won the scrum, Hannaford released centre, Dave Clark at pace on his inside, he jinked through the defence to give flanker, Joe Page the scoring pass. Hannaford converted. Game over.
Scorers:
Devonport Services Tries Penalty Try, Ben Ashford, Ben McGowan, Joe Page
Conversion Ronnie Hannaford (2)
Penalty Ronnie Hannaford
Drop Goal Ronnie Hannaford
Newquay Hornets: Try Tim Eustice
Conversion Rob Ley
Penalty Rob Ley
Newquay Hornets Team: Adam Rainey, Tim Grainger (Rob McIntyre), Rob McIntyre (Olly Yelland), Matt Cross, John Pease, Rob Ley, Simon Morgan, Kris Wicketts (James Bayley), James Bayley (Matt Orton), Simon Lutey, Paul Martin (Aaron McPerson), Mark Turton, Graham Lutey, Ben Ambridge, Tim Eustice
Bodmin Seconds 7 Newquay Hornets Seconds 65
With so much pressure on the second string players to turn out for the first fifteen, the Hornets reserves took a much-changed side to Bodmin on Saturday. However the blend of youth and experience that travelled proved much too strong for their hosts. They scored eleven tries in a comprehensive win. There was a hat trick of tries for young winger, Ryan de la Hunty and two for second row, Ashley Cotton. Prop John Hall, second row Adam Phillips, flanker Ashley Buxton, winger Andy Blears, and centres Rob Philp and Russ Milsom also got in on the act. Milsom converted five of the tries.
Team: John Hall, Simon Barnes, Mark Ley, Ashley Cotton, Adam Phillips, Mike Cash, Ashley Buxton, Scott Trayner (captain), Josh Wood, Martin Dingle, Ryan de la Hunty, Russ Milsom, Rob Philp, Andy Blears, Martin Pearce
Saturday, 17th October 2009
Newquay Hornets 20 – 52 Camborne
Tribute Western Counties West
The score tells the story of a one-sided match. In fact the impartial spectator would probably say that the score flatters the home side, which, after a promising start to the league campaign, is now struggling. Camborne were convincingly better in all departments and, despite missing some glaring scoring opportunities in this match, stand at second place in the league and must look like promotion contenders.
With Minehead Barbarians and Tiverton both winning and leap-frogging Hornets at the other end of the table, the Newquay side is now plunged into the danger zone and must look to improve. However, on a positive note, they did manage to score 20 points against a good Camborne side that had only conceded 39 in their previous 6 outings this season. Even unbeaten league-leaders Kingsbridge only managed 13 when they hosted the Cherry and Whites recently. The experiment of playing young Chevy Reed at scrum half will have brought some succour to the Hornets selectors as well.
The visitors dominated from the start and scored after only 4 minutes from a line-out on the home 22. They worked the ball along the line for impressive full back Joe Palmer to break through some weak tackling at pace from 18 metres and cross behind the posts. Fly half David Mankee converted.
The Cherry and Whites were already proving stronger in the set piece and hungrier at the breakdown. Their kicking from hand was also better, maintaining the territorial advantage. However, following a period of stalemate, the home side got some cause for hope when they were awarded a penalty for interference with the jumper at a line-out and Reed kicked the goal from 35 metres on 15 minutes.
The visitors responded immediately and on 19 minutes attacked down the left. The ball was worked along to the right where wing Robert Floyd wrong-footed the defence and jinked inside to touch down from 20 metres. Mankee goaled.
Four minutes later they attacked again with a scrum 15 metres out. No8 and captain Dave Roberts picked and drove over the line on the right. From the restart Camborne piled on the pressure and broke from half way. After some excellent handling, Palmer put Floyd in space and the wing cut in to score by the posts. Mankee again converted his side’s third try in a devastating six minute period which yielded 19 points.
However, with a total rout threatened, Newquay showed some character and regrouped, finishing the half strongly. They put the visitors on the back foot and mauled over the line under the posts, only for the referee to judge the ball held up. Undeterred, they moved the ball right from the resulting five-metre scrum, where wing Rob McIntyre crossed. Fly half Sam Cullen converted for 10-26 at the interval.
Each side’s score was doubled in the second half with Camborne leading off with recharged batteries. They continued to win more turn-over ball and started to push the home side off its own scrum ball.
On 53 minutes they attacked down the right from 40 metres out and scrum half James Rapson was on hand to score heralding another purple patch. Within the next five minutes, Palmer added his second try on the end of a long-range running move, 18 year old flanker James Goldsworthy crashed over from short range and Mankee added two conversions for a quick-fire 19 points in record time.
Some respite came for Hornets courtesy of wing McIntyre. As Camborne again attacked, he intercepted on his own 22 and charged the length of the field to crash over in the right corner. Before the conversion could be attempted, there was a 13 minute interruption while Mankee was treated and carried off following an ankle injury.
At the restart, normal service was resumed, with an impressive handling display by Camborne; resulting in a touch down near the posts by centre Tom Hinds. Replacement wing Dean Pascoe completed his side’s scoring with the goal.
In injury time Newquay at least achieved the consolation of scoring the last points when they broke down the right and McIntyre fed replacement flanker Matt Cross who touched down wide out. Reed’s attempted conversion came back off a post.
Scorers: Newquay Hornets: tries R McIntyre (2), M Cross; con S Cullen; pen C Reed.
Camborne: tries J Palmer (2), R Floyd (2), D Roberts, J Rapson, J Goldsworthy, T Hinds; cons D Mankee (5), D Pascoe.
Newquay Hornets: D Pearce, R McIntyre, M Richards, R Ley (capt), A Rainey, S Cullen, C Reed, J Bayley (K Wicketts), A Woodley, S Lutey, P Martin, M Turton, J Wells (A McPherson), M Orton (M Cross), S Morgan.
Newquay Youth 11 Truro Youth 15
The Newquay Colts played their best game of the season so far last Saturday. For the majority of the game the play went Newquay’s way, with Matt Cann kicking a penalty within the first 5 minutes. Constantly keeping the pressure on and the ball in Truro’s half, the Colt’s relentless waves of attack finally broke down Truro’s equally dogged defense and Jordan Henwood broke through to score the Hornets’ only try. Taking advantage of a mid-pitch pile-up that tied up a lot of players, a Truro winger scored a try that took the half time score to 8-5 in Newquay’s favour.
Truro were given a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half, bringing the scores level, but the rest of second half also belonged to Newquay, with the spectators all crowding down one end. They were rewarded by a drop kick from Freddy Cash and when the referee called last play it seemed an 11-8 win was in the bag for the Colts. The ball was put into a scrum and it only needed to be kicked out of play, but a misunderstanding of the laws by a Hornet gave possession to Truro. With a quick touch and go, the ball shot across the pitch away from the huddled mass of green shirts into a gaping hole and Truro managed a converted try much to the disgust of the Hornets. However it was agreed by all, that the Newquay Colts were robbed of a deserved victory and they learned that it is never over until “The Fat Lady” blows her whistle.
Team: James Alexander, James Barker, George Brooks, Matt Cann, Freddy Cash, Jake Cass, Dexter Cater, Liam Freeman, Jordan Henwood, Tom Karkeek, Harry Pendreich, Tom Powell, Connor Riley, Tim Robey, James Taylor, Harry Thomas-Fricker, Callum Watts
Saturday, 10th October 2009
Bude 22 Newquay Hornets 12
(Tribute Western League West)
It was a frustrating afternoon for the Hornets at Bencoolen Meadow on Saturday. Forced to make changes in key positions, they were matched against a better-organised Bude side with lots of pace and hungry for a win. That said, the game flowed from end to end and it was the ability of the home side to pressure the base of their visitors’ scrum and capitalise on Hornets’ mistakes that made the difference.
Within five minutes the Bude pack won a lineout ten metres out and drove a maul at the Hornets’ line for scrum half, Danny Frost to dart over for the opening score. Livewire Frost left the field at the start of the second quarter with a back injury. His captain, Steve Yates stepped up to scrum half and in injury time at the break his sniping run down the blind side on the right caught out a hesitant Hornets defence; he fed inside to wing, Matt Trewin, who touched down under the posts. Full back, Olly Denford kicked the conversion. Still in injury time, Hornets ran the ball into the Bude twenty-two and from awful scrum ball, scrum half, Lee Ambridge conjured a neat pass to his fly half, Sam Cullen, who jinked through the Bude defence to give centre, Rob McIntyre the opportunity to force his way over for the try. Cullen added the extras to make it 12-7.
Hornets’ gave away ball at two scrums within minutes of the restart and let Bude back into their twenty-two. Bude ran at them and on 45 minutes, when they worked it left, Olly Denford took the last pass to go over in the corner for 17-7. Hornets lost flanker, Ben Ambridge with a back injury near the end of the third quarter. Mark Turton came on and gave Hornets some really good ball at the lineout. There were several runs from Hornets players, but the support wasn’t there to turn them into try-scoring opportunities. Wing, Adam Rainey ran to within five metres of the Bude line, Bude cleared, Full back, Dan Pearce also went close, but again Bude cleared their lines.
In injury time Hornets lost possession on their ten metre line, Bude put a kick deep into Hornets territory, the clearing kick didn’t go to touch and Bude ran it back, a driving maul was stopped close to the line, but centre Paul Williams was on hand to dive over for the try, to make it 22-7. With the match beyond them, Hornets fought back into the Bude twenty-two. Rob Ley took a pass from a scrum 15 metres out and surged for the line. He was stopped, but his forwards followed up and prop, James Bayley forced his way over for the final try of the match to make it 22-12.
Scorers:
Bude Tries Olly Denford, Danny Frost, Matt Trewin, Paul Williams
Conversion Olly Denford
Newquay Hornets: Tries James Bayley, Rob McIntyre
Conversion Sam Cullen
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Jon Hyatt, Rob Ley (Captain), Adam Rainey, Sam Cullen, Lee Ambridge, James Bayley, Alex Woodley, Simon Lutey, Andy Burbidge, Paul Martin (Mark Turton), Luke Bazeley, Ben Ambridge (Matt Cross), Matt Orton (Simon Morgan)
Bude Youth Under 18 5 Newquay Hornets Youth Under 18 17
The Newquay Youth XV and First XV arrived in Bude on a sunny Vice President’s Day that was being held in aid of Help For Heroes, so there were plenty of supporters to enjoy a double fixture.
From the start Newquay went on the attack, piling on the pressure to tire the Bude boys out with a lot of running about in the first half. The team is shaping up well as the U17s and U18s start to gel. This was in evidence early on as a practised combination of moves enabled Jake Cass to sail across the try line as the older boys held back the onslaught of Bude defenders. Although Bude were able to draw level after turning over the ball behind Newquay’s 22, Liam Freeman made sure they went into the half time break ahead, by converting his own try to give the Colts the advantage of a 12 to 5 lead.
The second half was not quite so frenetic, as the heat took its’ toll, but the game flowed well and both teams fully utilized their subs to provide welcome breaks. What the smaller and considerably lighter Newquay pack lacked in bulk they made up for with tenacity, resolve and dogged determination, claiming the majority of scrums and denying Bude any possibility of taking an advantage. By confusing the opposition with some fast and fancy footwork, Freddy Cash took the ball from scrum to try line before the Bude pack even had time to stand up. All credit to the Bude boys who never gave up trying to score that elusive try, right up to the final whistle, against the most promising Colts team this season, the Newquay Hornets.
Team: James Alexander, James Barker, George Brooks, Matt Cann, Freddy Cash, Jake Cass, Dexter Cater, Josh Coombes, Steve France, Jordan Henwood, Liam Hitchin, Alex Mellor, Tom Powell, Connor Riley, Tim Robey, James Taylor, Harry Thomas-Fricker, Callum Watts
Saturday, 3rd October 2009
Newquay Hornets 16 Wadebridge Camels 29
(Tribute Western League West)
There was a real challenge for the Hornets at the Sports Centre on Saturday. They had to rebuild some confidence after unconvincing displays in the two previous matches against Tiverton and Truro. Having lost heavily to their visitors at the Sports Centre last season and having to make changes due to injury didn’t make the task any easier.
They lost to a better side in a sometimes bad-tempered match, punctuated by the use of the referee’s yellow card. Three players from each side spent time in the sin-bin, two of them in the first half and four in the second. However the display from the home pack, particularly in the set piece, must have gone a long way to give them encouragement. Strangely enough, despite their mid-table position, Hornets are still the league’s joint top points scorers with second placed Camborne.
Playing into the stiff breeze, Camels set out to use their back row to run at the home defence and create position for their backs. It paid off after only 5 minutes, when full back, Dan Briskham hit the line like an express train and sliced through the home defence to touch down under the posts. Fly half, Josh Taylor added the conversion.
Within three minutes, Hornets had forced a penalty 30 metres out in centre field that fly half, Chevy Reed put over to make it 3-7. However on 11 minutes Camels’ dynamic running set up another opportunity for Briskham to hit the line and he fed Tom O’Donnell, who went over to extend the lead. Taylor again converted. Camels’ skipper and No. 8, Ian Boyling was a real handful for the home defence and Camels spent the rest the first quarter in home territory. When Hornets got into the Camels half, on 20 minutes, the visiting backs were caught offside and Reed kicked his second penalty. Reed slotted another penalty after 36 minutes to bring the home side within one score, but uncharacteristically weak home defence let flanker Sam Stone run through for Camels’ third try in injury time at the break. Taylor did the honours with the conversion to make it 9-21.
The Hornets’ faithful saw the writing on the wall as Camels took the restart kick with the wind. However despite the touch down by wing, Ben May of a nicely judged kick from Josh Taylor that bounced around in goal and fooled the home defence five minutes into the half; that was the final try from the visitors. Then the match got scrappy, three Camels’ players and one Hornet went to the bin, but the Hornets got their scrum and lineout together and drove at their visitors in the loose and had their best period of the match towards the end. On 63 minutes the Camels, down to 13 men, were offside at a scrum on their line and the referee awarded a penalty try. Reed converted. Josh Taylor put over a penalty on 75 minutes when the Hornets backs were caught offside to extend the lead to 16-29. Camels pressed again but without result.
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets: Tries Penalty Try
Conversion Chevy Reed
Penalties Chevy Reed (3)
Wadebridge Camels Tries Dan Briskham, Ben May, Tom O’Donnell, Sam Stone
Conversions Josh Taylor (3)
Penalty Josh Taylor
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Jon Hyatt, Rob Ley (Captain), Tim Grainger (Adam Rainey), Chevy Reed, Marc Richards, James Bayley, Alex Woodley, Simon Lutey, Andy Burbidge, Paul Martin, Matt Orton, Luke Bazeley, Ben Ambridge, Mark Turton
Next Saturday Newquay Hornets make the trip to Bencoolen Meadow at Bude for their next league match.
Saturday, 26th September 2009
Truro 28 Newquay Hornets 19
(Tribute Western League West)
The try count at Truro was three apiece, but that was as far as parity went. The possession and territory were mostly Truro’s. Hornets were well beaten. Their set piece couldn’t cope with an abrasive Truro eight, brimming with aggression and confidence.
Hornets’ defence worked overtime throughout, but particularly in the first quarter when Truro camped in their half. Truro will have been wondering after the match how they only managed one try when they were so dominant. They lost prop Mark Carlyon to a serious knee injury after 10 minutes, but continued to press. However it was 23 minutes before they broke through the Hornets defence; wing Mark Lea finally forced his way over for the try that had looked on the cards from the third minute.
The home side took its foot off the pedal in the second quarter, but Hornets just couldn’t take advantage. Then on 39 minutes, they won rare lineout possession on the Truro 10 metre line and spun the ball open, full back Dan Pearce came into the line at pace and sliced through the Truro defence to even up the score. It would have been very much against the run of play, but fly half, Chevy Reed’s conversion attempt came tantalisingly close to giving Hornets the lead.
Truro pressed again, but Hornets defence and their inability to finish kept them at bay. Finally it was the boot of fly half, Scott Martin that stretched the home lead to 8-5 with a drop goal deep in injury time at the break.
It was Truro who restarted, and within five minutes wing, Luke Trescothick touched down to increase their lead. Martin converted. Then on 49 minutes Chevy Reed put an exquisite grubber kick through the home defence from his own ten-metre line. Skipper Rob Ley picked up, he drew the last defender to put fellow centre Frazer Kellythorn away for the try. Reed added the extras for 15-12.
Still in touch, the Hornets had hope. They proved to be faint, and it was Scott Martin who dashed them. He settled the issue in a ten-minute spell, taking his match total to 18 points in the process. First he stole through the Hornets defence for a well-taken try, which he converted on 55 minutes; then he kicked a penalty on 61 minutes and a second drop goal on 64 minutes.
An inspired run from scrum half, Marc Richards put the third try on the board for Hornets and Reed converted to narrow the gap to nine points with 15 minutes remaining. The Hornets set piece was still too flaky to allow them to take advantage of what good positions they managed to secure in the Truro half. And Martin had the last word for Truro; keeping his pack going forward with probing kicks to touch deep in Hornets’ territory.
Hornets’ team manager, Steve Bazeley took some comfort from the 3-3 try count. He said, “We competed as best we could up front against a heavier and more experienced Truro pack”. He added that his side was looking forward to the local derby against Wadebridge Camels at the Sports Centre on Saturday.
Scorers:
Truro Tries Mark Lea, Scott Martin, Luke Trescothick
Conversions Scott Martin (2)
Penalty Scott Martin
Drop Goals Scott Martin (2)
Newquay Hornets: Tries Frazer Kellythorn, Dan Pearce, Marc Richards
Conversions Chevy Reed (2)
Newquay Hornets Team: Dan Pearce, Frazer Kellythorn, Rob Ley (Captain), Matt Cross(Rob McIntyre), Romey Vassell, Chevy Reed, March Richards (Sam Cullen), James Bayley, Alex Woodley, Simon Lutey, Andy Burbidge, Simon Morgan (Kris Wicketts), Mark Turton, Matt Orton, Tim Eustice
Saturday, 19th September 2009
Newquay Hornets 24 Tiverton 28
(Tribute Western League West)
After two excellent against Penryn and Tavistock Hornets opened up against Tiverton with an excellent first half going into half time with a 24-7 lead. They will be kicking themselves for forgetting that it was an eighty-minute match. Having missed several gilt-edged scoring opportunities in the first half to take them out of sight, they let Tiverton back into the match and paid the penalty.
Centre Frazer Kellythorn finished a three quarter move on 10 minutes to open the Hornets’ account. Fly half Chevey Reed converted. Within 5 minutes Scrum half Marc Richards made the break and fed wing, Romey Vassell for the try, Reed again converted.
Tiverton’s flanker Adrian Jarry ran in a try to reduce the arrears, but back came the Hornets with a penalty by Reed and a try from skipper Rob Ley that Reed converted.
That was it as far as the home side was concerned. Hornets couldn’t get their hands on the ball in the second half and Tiverton with their tails up ran at them relentlessly, scoring three good tries. Jarry added another and lock and captain Henry Ellicott and wing Barney Bell completed the second half trio of touchdowns. The conversions from Jimmy Atkins gave his side the four point advantage for, what had been a very unlikely win
Hornets’ team manager was very disappointed for the home spectators. He commented, “We scored all our points in the first half, missed excellent chances to go even further ahead and assumed it would continue after the break and our pace men would do the job for us. How wrong we were!”
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets: Tries Frazer Kellythorn, Rob Ley, Romey Vassell
Conversions Chevy Reed (3); Penalty Chevy Reed
Tiverton Tries Adrian Jarry (2), Barney Bell, Henry Ellicott
Conversions Jimmy Atkins (4)
Next week the Hornets travel to Truro, who had an excellent 3-31 win against Minehead Barbarians.
St Austell Youth 33 Newquay Hornets Youth 40
The Newquay Colts did not get off to the best of starts last Saturday against Penryn. In spite of 2 penalties and a conversion from Matt Cann and 2 tries scored by Steve France and Captain James Alexander, Penryn’s first half assault, launched downhill, took its’ toll and the Hornets could not recover from the 5 converted tries advantage.
This Saturday’s clash with old rivals St Austell provided plenty of sparks and flash points to keep tempers simmering at boiling point. From the minute Referee, Anna Ward blew her whistle to start the match, both teams attacked with gusto, keeping the momentum going, even with the sun beating down on the pitch. Now that the Hornets are fortunate enough to have most of last year's U16s move up to Colts, they can field a full squad with substitutes. Coach Keith Richards kept the lads fresh by utilizing all the subs, a luxury the older boys are unfamiliar with.
George Brooks was first to go over the try line, followed by one of Tim Robey’s signature tries. The Saints matched these try for try, but Brooks’ awesome second try and Matt Cann’s conversions took the half time score to 21-14 in the Hornets’ favour.
The second half started with both packs crashing together like stags in the rutting season. With the majority of play being deadlocked centre pitch and any breaks being thwarted by crushing tackles on both sides, it was only a matter of time before the bubbling cauldron reached boiling point. As the St Austell props deliberately collapsed the scrum, a flurry of flailing red and green shirts spilled out of the knotted packs. However the Referee was quick to regain control and two players were sent off for ungentlemanly behaviour. Although this was only her fourth match, Anna kept the excitable lads in check and the rest of a closely contested match flowed well. Josh Coombes and Dexter Cater both scored in the second half with Hornets scoring a penalty try and Freddy Cash converting. The Saints hit back try for try but never quite recovered from the loss of their prop, leaving the win and the spoils to Newquay.
Newquay Hornets Scorers
Tries: George Brooks (2), Dexter Cater, Josh Coombes, Tim Robey, Penalty Try
Conversions: Matt Cann (5)
Newquay Hornets Team: James Alexander (Captain), James Barker, George Brooks, Ed Broom, Matt Cann, Freddy Cash, Jake Cass, Dexter Cater, Josh Coombes, Ian Dixon, Steve France, Nathan Gasiorowski, Paul Hicks, Liam Hitchin, Pat Hoare, Tom Karkeek, Alex Mellor, Harry Pendreich, Tom Powell, Connor Riley, Tim Robey, James Taylor, Harry Thomas-Fricker, Callum Watts
Saturday, 12th September 2009
Tavistock 20 Newquay Hornets 36
Tribute Western League West
Hornets travelled to Sandy Park and took their chances well, returning home winners by five tries to three. Much as on the clubs’ last encounter in Cornwall and Devon League in January 2008, the match was a nail-biter. This time the lead changed five times. Tavistock started the brighter, they were faster to the ball, supported each other well and were more inventive. They put real pressure on Hornets, despite playing up the slope. However the fabled Hornets’ defence limited them to a slender 10-7 half time lead. Josh Sutton had given Tavvy the lead after 15 minutes with a penalty from 35 metres. He missed another attempt five minutes later, after a sustained period of Tavvy pressure. The pressure was relieved on 23 minutes when Hornets’ fly half, Chevy Reed put in a clearing kick over the home defence. Romey Vassell got his hands on the ball near half way and slipped an inside pass to centre, Frazer Kellyhtorn, who ran 50 metres for the try, which scrum half, Sam Cullen converted. Tavvy continued to pressure the Hornets, but it took them the rest of the half to transfer the pressure to the scoreboard. Two minutes before the break, scrum half, Alex Moy flat-footed the Hornets’ defence just five metres out and ran in under the posts for Sutton to add the extras and restore the home side’s lead.
Tavvy started the second half the stronger of the sides and forced a couple of Hornets’ twenty-two drop outs. However a run out of defence by No 8, Stuart Williams set up a scrum for Hornets just inside the Tavvy half. Rob Ley, who had and excellent match, ran deep into the home twenty-two and hooker, Luke Bazeley forced his way over for the try to re-establish the Hornets’ lead. Cullen converted.
The Tavvy restart didn’t go the ten metres, but Hornets lost possession when the ball went loose from the ensuing scrum and Tavvy reacted faster to get their hands on the ball and put centre, James Kaminski in at the left corner to get their noses in front again. The conversion was missed and within five minutes Cullen had taken the lead back for Hornets with a penalty.
Hornets began to use their pace to stretch the home defence out wide. Romey Vassell probed down the left, and shortly afterwards on 60 minutes, Stuart Williams picked up from the base of a scrum on the Tavvy ten-metre line in mid-field. He went right and gave wing, Rob McIntyre the ball in space. McIntyre shrugged off several attempted tackles to run around under the posts. Cullen converted to stretch Hornets lead. Tavistock came straight back and forced five metre scrums near the Hornets’ line. Somehow the defence held and a huge clearance kick down the middle by Rob Ley bounced tantalisingly to allow full back, Dan Pearce to surge upfield and pinch the ball from the grasp of the last line of Tavvy defence. He was gone for the try. The unerring boot of Cullen added another conversion to put the Hornets 16 points ahead. Hornets lost Luke Bazeley to the sin bin and Tavvy took advantage to return to the attack and the elusive Moy stole in for his second try of the afternoon. 20-31 down and still ten minutes to play, the match wasn’t settled. Then things were evened up when a tavvy forward was sent to the bin.
In injury time Hornets used their final get out of jail card, when Stuart Williams, who also had an excellent match, caught the ball at a lineout on the Tavvy twenty-two, found himself unmarked and ran through a big gap and over for the final try.
Hornets’ team manager was delighted with the win. He commented, “Defensively we were excellent and we took our chances against a well-drilled Tavistock side”.
Scorers: Tavistock: Tries Alex Moy (2), James Kaminski ; Conversions Josh Sutton; Penalty Josh Sutton.
Newquay Hornets: Tries Luke Bazeley, Frazer Kellythorn, Rob McIntyre, Dan Pearce, Stuart Williams
Conversions Sam Cullen (4);
Penalty Sam Cullen
Newquay Hornets: Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Frazer Kellythorn, Rob Ley (captain), Romey Vassell, Chevy Reed, Sam Cullen, J Bayley, L Bazeley, Simon Lutey, Mark Turton (Jack Luck), Andy Burbidge, Tim Eustice, Matt Orton, Stuart Williams, Simon Morgan, Tim Grainger
Next week the Hornets faithful will be at the Sports Centre (kick off at 3pm), when their side plays Tiverton in their next league fixture. On Saturday Tiverton had a narrow 9-7 win at home to visitors Minehead Barbarians.
Saturday, 5th September 2009
Newquay Hornets 43 Penryn 17
Hornets started their season with an emphatic victory, when they welcomed Penryn to the Sports Centre on Saturday. In a fiercely contested match where possession was pretty even, last season’s Cornwall and Devon champions just couldn’t match the home side’s solid defence and the pace of their backs. Hornets ran in six tries to their visitors’ three.
After the heavier Penryn pack had driven a maul over for prop, Dom Booth to open the scoring with a try on 10 minutes, Hornets got their passing game going and the back three of Romey Vassell, Dan Pearce and Rob McIntyre all got tries in the opening half. Vassell was given the ball in acres of space on the left and ran rings around two defenders. Pearce fielded and kick out of defence in midfield and ran in through the Penryn centre. McIntyre was a beneficiary of a recycled ball after an excellent run by Vassell on the left. After being sent away by centre and captain Rob Ley, he out-paced two defenders down the right and ran around under the posts. Stuart Williams crashed over in injury time at the break after a quick penalty caught Penryn napping, but the ball was judged to have been held-up over the line. He wasn’t to be denied and picked up from the resulting five-yard scrum and forced his way over for the try. Fly half, Sam Cullen converted three of the tries and kicked a penalty to make it 29-5 at the break. There could have been more for the home side. The combination of Vassell and Pearce was only yards from a score on 43 minutes.
Penryn restarted with the breeze at their backs and had their best period of the match in the third quarter. They battered the Hornets’ line, but awesome home defence kept them out. Then Hornets took the wind out of Penryn’s sails and ended any chance of a comeback, when, on 59 minutes, they broke out and scored the try of the match. Running the ball to the right wing and then switching left to find hooker, Luke Bazeley in space to crash over. On 66 minutes, another smart move from Hornets put Vassell away for his second try down the left. Cullen was on target with both conversions and Hornets had the match wrapped up at 43-5. On 70 minutes they might have gone further ahead when scrum half Marc Richards made a lovely break in his own half and shrugged off would-be tacklers to get behind the defence and run into the Penryn twenty-two before being caught. Late on, Tim Grainger and Scott Martin came on for Rob Ley and Stuart Williams.
Hornets will not be happy with their loss of concentration in injury time. Although the match was beyond them, Penryn came back and scored two tries through Allen Jordan and Justin Doney. Stuart Hodgson converted one.
Hornets’ Team Manager Steve Bazeley confessed that he was apprehensive about his side’s ability to take on the well-drilled Penryn side after they scored the first try. But once Hornets got into their stride and moved the ball away from the visitors’ more physical pack he was more confident of victory.
The excellent start will give Hornets quiet satisfaction and confidence for next weekend. They travel to newly promoted Tavistock to renew the rivalries of their time in Cornwall and Devon League in season 2007/8. Tavistock drew their opener 17-17, away at Minehead.
Scorers:
Newquay Hornets
Tries Romey Vassell (2), Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Stuart Williams, Luke Bazeley
Conversions Sam Cullen (5)
Penalty Sam Cullen
Penryn
Tries Dom Booth, Allen Jordan, Justin Doney
Conversion Stuart Hodgson
Newquay Hornets Team: James Bayley Luke Bazeley, Simon Lutey, Mark Turton, Simon Morgan, Tim Eustice, Matt Orton, Stuart Williams (Scott Martin), Marc Richards, Sam Cullen, Romey Vassell, Rob Ley(Tim Grainger), Frazer Kellythorn, Rob McIntyre, Dan Pearce, Matt Mockford
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