Devon reclaim County crown from Lancashire
May 27th, 2007
by Julia Hutton
Devon 27 Lancashire 6
Devon reclaimed their County Championship crown on Bank Holiday Monday with an impressive and convincing 27-6 win over Lancashire in the final of the Bill Beaumont Cup. The South West side avenged their 2006 defeat to old rivals Lancashire at Twickenham Stadium a year after Lancashire denied Devon the hat-trick of county crowns.
Devon skipper Chris Lowrie led his side superbly, while South African fly-half Regardt Van Eyk, who was named man of the match and scored an impressive 17 points, also controlled the game superbly. Fullback Jon Fabian was also instrumental at fullback and in fact opened Devon’s account in impressive style after just 12 minutes. Van Eyk had already eased Devon into a 3-0 lead with a penalty after as many minutes, and Fabien followed up his efforts to hand Devon a comfortable 10-0 lead after 12 minutes. A scrum saw number 9 Matt Newman set-up wing Paul Scheres. The ball was then recycled and a great up-field kick from Van Eyk saw Scheres pounce on the ball before setting up try-scorer Fabien. Van Eyk added the conversion.
Just before the stroke of half-time Lancashire found themselves falling further behind. This time Devon showed their prowess with a powerful driving maul from an attacking scrum just five metres out. In the end it was Cornish All Black flanker Dave Kimberly who muscled his way over the try-line. Van Eyk again converted.
Two tries down and Lancashire responded to their wake-up call and started testing Devon. Fly-half Steve Nutts got his side on the scoreboard with a 36 minute penalty, but Van Eyk soon matched his effort with a 41st minute kick at goal.
Lancashire’s afternoon failed to improve after the restart with Nutts missing a penalty attempt and although Lancashire did put Devon under pressure Graham Dawe’s men did not buckle and the Lancastrians had to settle with three points.
A superb 68th minute try for Van Eyk really hammered the nail in Lancashire’s coffin. It was a deserved score for a player who had enjoyed an excellent afternoon though once again, it was the forwards executing a driving maul that created the score. Replacement scrum-half Richard Bolt, who has played for England Under 19s, then set-up the number 10 who found a great line to touch down. Van Eyk then converted his own try to hand Devon the 27-6 victory.
Devon Head coach Dawe said: “We never expected to win by this sort of margin. We managed it because we played the conditions well, stuck to our game plan and were very discipline in the first 25 minutes. That set us up for the rest of the game.
“This is a young team, made up predominately of development players, but they came up trumps today. We are delighted to have won back the title and to win it so convincingly is great to see.”
Devon:
1 Tim Mathias (Albion), 2 James Owen (Albion), 3 Wayne Reed (Cornish All Blacks), 4 Brett Luxton (Launceston), 5 Ed King (Albion), 6 Kyle Marriott (Lydney), 7 Dave Kimberley (Cornish All Blacks), 8 Chris Lowrie (Albion, capt),9 Matt Newman (Albion), 10 Regardt van Eyk (Albion), 11 Tom Bedford (Exeter), 12 Ross Allan (Albion), 13 Arran Cruickshanks (Albion), 14 Paul Scheres (Barnstaple), 15 Jon Fabian (Albion). Replacements: 16 Gareth Evans (Albion), 17 Graham Dawe (Albion), 18 BJ Chapman (Cornish All Blacks), 19 Ben Rowntree (Albion),20 Richard Bolt (Exeter), 21 Pat Sykes (Canterbury), 22 Darren Ritchie (Albion).
Tries: Fabian, Kimberley, Van Eyk
Conversions: Van Eyk (3)
Penalties: Van Eyke (2)
Lancashire:
1 Martin Halsall (Sedgley Park), 2 Peter Ince (Waterloo), 3 Petrus du Plessis (Sedgley Park), 4 Louis McGowan (Rotherham), 5 Gareth Rawlings (Manchester), 6 Glyn Dewhirst (Preston Grasshoppers), 7 David Wilks (Nottingham), 8 Jan Crous (Preston Grasshoppers), 9 Dave McCormack (Bradford & Bingley) capt, 10 Steve Nutt (Waterloo), 11 Neil Kerfoot (Waterloo); 12 Jason Duffy (Sedgley Park), 13 Chris Briers (Sedgley Park), 14 Nick Royle (Fylde), 15 Neil Hunter (Waterloo). Replacements: 16 Nick Flynn (Manchester), 17 Tom Lavelle (Fylde), 18 Chris Planchant (Waterloo), 19 Dan Palmer (Waterloo), 20 Darren Wilson (Preston Grasshoppers), 21 Freeman Payne (Waterloo), 22 Paul Bailey (Preston Grasshoppers).
Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties: Nutt (2)
Half-time score: Devon 20 Lancashire 3
Referee: Mark Wilson
Touch Judges:James Minards & Lloyd Jackson
Sense of history will spur Lancashire at Twickenham
May 22, 2007
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Lancashire have been forced to make a change to their replacement line-up for their Bill Beaumont Cup final against Devon.
Utility back Craig Aikman (Halifax) is unavailable and his place goes to Preston Grasshoppers scrum-half Darren Wilson, who played in the opening game against Cheshire.
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Lancashire RU will not be expecting to spring any surprises on Devon when they meet in the final of the Bill Beaumont Cup at Twickenham on Monday (May 28, 5pm) and although his side goes into the final as holders, coach Mark Nelson is under no illusions as to the size of the task facing the Red Rose county.
“We definitely lifted our game in the final last season and performed extremely well on the day,” says Nelson. “I’m sure Devon will be more focussed than last year and determined to extract revenge. We will go into the game as the holders, but they will still see themselves as favourites. We surprised them last year with the way we performed and came back at them in the second-half. We scored some very good tries that maybe took them by surprise.”
One useful bonus that Lancashire will take into the final is that each of their Pool games has been a competitive affair and good preparation.
“We have had to play hard for each of our wins and that should stand us in good stead. But we know that we will have to defend well in the final and be clinical when the chances come. We need to take a leaf from the Roses match book and play some smart rugby for 80 minutes. As with every final, we need to play to our best when it matters. We’ve got there and given ourselves a chance to win the competition again, so it’s up to us now.”
Motivation is rarely a problem for Nelson – his creative dressing room orations often involve generous use of poetic license – but he readily acknowledges that the sense of history surrounding this Twickenham appearance will make his job much easier.
“County Rugby has changed down the years, but it is still very important in Lancashire,” says the former Fylde and Lancashire wingman. “The fact that the trophy has the name of one of the county’s favourite sons attached to it for the first time is important. We’re also in our 125th anniversary year and 15 of the squad will be travelling to Canada soon for a commemorative tour.
“The squad is well aware of the significance of the championship within the county and of the hard work that officials like our President, Maurice Parker, have put in to maintain a proud tradition. They know that they are part of a very strong county lineage and will be doing their best to sustain an excellent record of success.”
Lancashire show a handful of changes to the squad on duty against Yorkshire.
In the three-quarter line, last weekend’s replacement Jason Duffy from Sedgley Park, who broke his leg last season in the Roses match and missed the final, keeps the berth alongside Chris Briers, with Freeman Payne moving to the bench.
Up front, Lancashire are able to strengthen their pack with the recall of Sale Sharks and Sedgley Park prop Martin Halsall, who had a facial injury last week, and the availability of Rotherham Earth Titans lock Louis McGowan, who was on wedding duty last weekend.
The only uncertainty is who will be the replacement hooker, with Tom Lavelle and Jan Lourens bracketed awaiting a fitness check.
Lancashire (v Devon at Twickenham, Monday, May 28, 5pm):
Neil Hunter (Waterloo);
Nick Royle (Fylde),
Chris Briers (Sedgley Park),
Jason Duffy (Sedgley Park),
Neil Kerfoot (Waterloo);
Steve Nutt (Waterloo),
Dave McCormack (Bradford & Bingley) capt;
Martin Halsall (Sedgley Park),
Peter Ince (Waterloo),
Petrus du Plessis (Sedgley Park),
Louis McGowan (Rotherham Earth Titans),
Gareth Rawlings (Manchester),
Glynn Dewhurst (Preston Grasshoppers),
David Wilks (Nottingham),
Jan Crous (Preston Grasshoppers).
Replacements:
Nick Flynn (Manchester),
Tom Lavelle (Fylde)/Jan Lourens (Liverpool St Helens),
Chris Planchant (Waterloo),
Dan Palmer (Waterloo),
Darren Wilson (Preston Grasshoppers)
Freeman Payne (Waterloo),
Paul Bailey (Preston Grasshoppers).
Issued by Tony Simpson, RFU North Press Officer (07764 336708)
RFU.com 
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