GLOUCESTERSHIRE 19

CORNWALL 24

Cornwall made the perfect start to their Bill Beamount Cup campaign with a well-deserved victory against Gloucestershire at Cinderford.

A relatively even first half saw both sides trade scores, with Will Warden touching down under the posts for Gloucestershire, only for Sam Matavesi to level the scores with a try for Cornwall soon after.

Llyod Stapleton's fine solo effort put Gloucestershire back in the lead on 25 minutes, but a determined Cornwall never allowed the vistors to open up a lead, and Paul Thirlby's penalty meant the sides went in at half time with Gloucestershire leading 12-10.

After the break Richard Brown went over for Cornwall with Thirlby converting to put the visitors in the ascendancy.

Barnay Pascall's try for Gloucestershire, combined with a yellow card for captain Ben Hilton, appeared to have handed the advantage back to the home side.

But gradually the Cornwall pack took control of the game, grinding their opponents down and allowing Sam Hocking to go over for the black and gold's third try of the game.

Thirlby converted to put Cornwall back in the lead, and despite a lengthy spell of injury time the Gloucestershire pack were unable to create any more scoring opportunities.

Gloucestershire
Hawkins, Codlin (both Cinderford), Pascal (Richmond), Done, Stapleton, Wilcox (all Cinderford), Arnott (Southend); Bundy (Cinderford), Wilkes (Moseley), George (Stourbridge), Warden (capt) (Richmond), West (Cinderford), Joyce (Dings Crusaders), Foden, Evans (both Cinderford)

Replacements – Smart, Selway, Critchley, Allen, Pointon (all Cinderford), Hemming (Old Centralians), Sutherland (Esher)

Tries – Warden, Stapleton, Pascall
Cons – Wilcox (2)
Yellow Card – Codlin 67,77

Cornwall
Murphy, Bright (both CABs), Johns (Coventry), Webber (CABs), Notman, Thirlby, Goodfellow (all Redruth); Jacques, Brown, Williams, Cook (all Redruth), Hilton (capt) (CABs), Fuca (Redruth), Matavesi (Camborne), Hocking (Unattached)

Replacements – Priddey (Redruth & Royal Navy), Rice, Chapman (both CABs), Lawton (Camborne), Semmens (Unattached), Shepherd (St.Austell), Vinnicombe (Redruth)

Tries – Matavesi, Brown, Hocking
Cons – Thirlby (3)
Pen - Thirlby
Yellow Cards – Hilton 54 64, Priddey 88

Referee – R.Kitt (RFU)