Article courtesy of Sara Raine, Plymouth Sports Gazette Link Here

SALTASH’S Ryan Cruickshanks scored the first of Cornwall’s four tries as they beat Devon 22-14 to win back the Tamar Cup at Redruth on Saturday.

In front of a large crowd at the Recreation Ground, Cornwall went 22-0 up, but Devon did finish strongly and scored two late tries, including one from Plymstock Oaks’ Corey Jamieson.

Both counties used the game to look at players ahead of next month’s County Championship campaign and they agreed not to select players featuring regularly at National League level.

That meant Cornwall were without first teamers from Redruth and Camborne, who are likely to provide the backbone of their County Championship squad.

Devon included Plymstock Oaks’ Harvey Courtis, Ollie White and Lewis Paterson in their starting line-up, alongside Ivybridge’s Will Peakman and former Tavistock scrum-half George Hillson.

Oaks’ Corey and Kieran Jamieson were on the bench, as was Ivybridge front-rower Henry Trudgill and OPMs young half-back Matt Smale.

Devon, playing down into Hellfire corner first half, started well and were dominating the set piece, but could not turn their early possession into any points.

And in the 15th minute Cornwall, once again coached by former Plymouth Albion chief Graham Dawe, took the lead when Cruickshanks scored on the right after some good attacking play following a line-out.

Former Albion back Matt Shepherd added the conversion to make it 7-0.

Devon, again coached by Dan Parkes, did respond with some good pressure, but Cornwall defended well.

And towards the end of the first half, Cornwall lifted their game and they scored two further tries in the 10 minutes before the interval.

Centre Ben Plummer touched down on the right in the 30th minute after a good long pass out by Shepherd and then on the stroke of half-time, flanker Ben Hancock grounded the ball in the in-goal area after a kick forward by winger Dan Tyrrell had been missed by two players.

That made the score at the break 17-0 to Cornwall.

In the second half, Cornwall did really get on top in the scrum after being second best in that area in the opening period, but they still struggled with their line-out, with the referee constantly penalising them for not throwing straight.

The home side did dominate the opening 15 minutes of the second half and had a number of chances to score before they did finally get a fourth try courtesy of replacement Jack Counter, who did well to beat the last man on the outside to go over in the corner.

Both counties did make wholesale changes for the second period and the game did lose its way a bit.

Devon, though, did get on the scoresheet when Corey Jamieson broke from 35 metres and ran in under the posts for an easy conversion for Joel Ashworth.

Minutes later Cornwall were held up when they should have scored a fifth try and in the 33rd minute they had captain Shepherd yellow carded.

However, Devon’s numerical advantage did not last long as four minutes later Devon’s Jordan Watson was also sin-binned.

And with the last play of the game, Devon did score a second try when Okehampton’s Leon Horn went over on the right and Ashworth added the extras.

Cornwall: Archie Bees (St Austell), Ryan Cruickshanks (Saltash), Ben Plummer (St Austell), Cam Fogen (Launceston), Dan Tyrrell (St Austell), Matt Shepherd (St Austell), Liam Jolly (Truro), Mitch Hawken (Launceston), Luis Powell (Truro), Declan Prowse (Camborne), Dan Goldsmith (Launceston), Toby Osborne (Pirates Amateurs), Adam Powell (St Austell), Ben Hancock (Bude), Adam Blackmore (Wadebridge). Reps: Matt Boothby (St Austell), Charlie Short (Launceston), Pete Harris (St Austell), Mark Vian (St Austell), Dan Head (Truro), Rory Jago (St Austell), Sam Carroll (Pirates Amateurs), Bradon Rowley (Launceston), Will Tanswell (St Austell), Jack Counter (Wadebridge), Declan Matthews (Truro), Jose Juarez (Launceston).

Devon: Declan Hadley (Topsham), Henry Batty (Topsham), Louie Drennan (Brixham), Andre Simoneti (Brixham), Josh Woodland (Crediton), Lewis Paterson (Plymstock), George Hillson (Launceston), Harvey Courtis (Plymstock), Charlie Dore (Exmouth), Martin Keywood (Tiverton), Christian Edbrooke (Topsham), Ollie White (Plymstock), Jordan Watson (Brixham), Will Peakman (Ivybridge), Robin Edbrooke (Topsham). Reps: Dan Armstrong (Sidmouth), Callum Arnold (Okehampton), Henry Trudgill (Ivybridge), Tom McGratton (Okehampton), Leon Horn (Okehampton), Jamie Hext (Brixham), Kieran Jamieson (Plymstock), Matt Smale (OPMs), Joel Ashworth (Brixham), Corey Jamieson (Plymstock).