Dream start for Cornwall

9:22am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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CORNWALL 66 pts

Tries: Peters, Vinnicombe (3), Richards, Fuca, Lord, J Semmens, Churcher, Bolt; penalty try

Conversions: Scrivener (3), J Semmens

Penalty: Scrivener

OXFORDSHIRE 8pts

Try: Sevier

Penalty: Cathcart

After two seasons in the doldrums Cornwall played with the pride and passion associated with the famous gold and black shirt as they demolished Oxfordshire with an 11-try performance at Redruth's Recreation ground, the scene of so many epic Cornish performances over the years.

It was a refreshing performance by Cornwall who played with flair in attack but put in the hard work when needed against a lively visiting back-line. Regularly stealing Oxford's ball at the line-out Cornwall also dismantled their opponents' scrum with alarming ease.

The return of coach "Benji" Thomas assisted by Richard Lamb, Ian Morgan and Alan Paver seemed to do the trick of turning around Cornwall's fortunes. The selectors were able to persuade national league players from Reduth, Cornish All Blacks and Mounts Bay to take part and Oxforshire, drawn mainly from Chinnor who won South West One, were unable to compete with the pace, support and perception of the Cornish side.

It is early days yet with games to come against Hertfordshire (at Hertford this Saturday) and Eastern Counties (at Camborne) but the Duchy look to have a great chance of going to the final at Twickenham on June 1.

Launceston Flanker Josh Lord led the Cornish side including six players from Redruth. An England counties tour to North America over the summer is a prize for performances and Lord, Lewis Vinnicombe, Darren Jacques, Ryan Westren and Sam Hocking all put their hands up on the basis of this display. Peter Joyce sat out the game due to injury but is expected to be available for future games and should also come into contention for a tour place.

Cornwall have a number of other talented players to contest places who were not available on Saturday including Pirates duo Sam Parsons and Sam Betty, Reds Joyce, Paul Thirlby and Steve Wood, Mounts Bay's Richard Carroll and Cornish All Blacks Steve Perry. A broken hand sustained against Nuneaton prevents Luke Collins from turning out.

In front of a good crowd on a warm day a Simon Peters interception set the pattern with a 70 metre run to open the scoring with a try converted by Mark Scrivener.

Oxfordshire hit back with a penalty by fly half James Cathcart before a Cornish onslaught took them well clear.

Vinnicombe, beginning to show his best form, touched down twice as well as Mark Richards with a conversion by Scrivener as Cornwall were 27-3 ahead after 27 minutes.

In first half injury time winger Nick Sevier capitalised on a Duchy mistake to touch down an unconverted try but a Chris Fuca try converted by Scrivener saw Cornwall take a healthy lead 34-8 lead into the interval.

Vinnicombe completed his hat-trick on 47 minutes, Redruth players scoring the first six tries before limping off to be replaced by Ollie Faulkner.

Dominating the set pieces, tries continued to come for Cornwall who were playing a thrilling 15-man game, the final score seeing replacement Jason Bolt race 40 metres down the left wing for a try, Jamie Semmens converting with the last kick of the game.

Cornwall (Mounts Bay unless stated): J Semmens, N Pedley (Redruth), R Westren (Cornish All Blacks), S Peters (Redruth), L Vinnicombe (Redruth) (O Faulkner 50), M Scrivener (CAB) (M Churcher 63), M Richards (Redruth) (R Pellow 60), D Jacques (Redruth) (J Bolt, CAB, 60), J Salter (D Semmens 67), P Andrew, J Griffiths (B Jenkins, CAB, 67), B Hilton, J Lord (CAB, capt), C Fuca (Redruth) (A Nicholls 60), S Hocking (CAB).

Oxfordshire (Chinnor unless stated): H Jones (Oxford Harlequins), N Sevier (Grove), M Goode (Rugby Lions) (K Sewell, Oxford Brooks, ht), R Williams, P Huxford (A Pearson, Blue Boar, 58), J Cathcart, A Cope (Oxford Quins), J Winpenny, D Needham (Oxford Quins) (J Eckhert, Oxford Quins, 60), T Whelan (A Cawston 60), M Hutchings (capt), S Black, P Rowe (Oxford Quins), S Bannister (Banbury), E Rixon.

Referee: Mr N. Higginson (RFU/Devon RRS).