GLOUCESTERSHIRE U.20, 33 – 27 CORNWALL U.20
Defeat at Stow on the Wold brought an end to Cornwall Under 20s' Leonard Cup campaign for this season, writes Bill Hooper.
It was a bitter pill to swallow as the young Black and Golds led 27-19 with less than seven minutes to play, two late converted tries by the home side turned the game to leave Cornwall deflated.
Cornwall can certainly take plenty of positives from their display with some outstanding play from many in the side who may yet get a call up for the South West trials.
Play was scrappy early on with both sides making multiple errors, however it was Gloucestershire who got on the scoreboard with a converted try after five minutes.
Cornwall began to assert their game, scrum-half Jacob Chapple probed with menace making good ground and constantly feeding out some great ball to his backs.
Cornwall also turned over a lot of Gloucestershire ball at the breakdown with great work form the forwards.
A break by centre Fin Deavin set up prop Angus Williams before hooker Pete Harris powered over of the first of his tries, Jack Statton adding the extras.
Having been held up over the line, Cornwall eventually got their second try courtesy of Harris from a quickly taken tap penalty which caught Gloucestershire napping.
Statton’s late penalty at the end of the half gave Cornwall a 15-7 advantage.
Gloucestershire again started strongly with a converted try to bring the gap back to just one point.
Cornwall responded with an unconverted try scored in the corner by wing Jack Keogh following a quick tap.
Gloucestershire replied moments later when their winger went in at the corner.
Cornish pressure eventually paid off when skipper Will Perkin took a quick tap five metres out to send Harris over for his third try of the game, which Statton converted.
Despite being reduced to fourteen men through a yellow card, Cornwall held out until the final moments and Gloucestershire’s late double score.
In the other game in the group, Devon U.20s sealed top place and a South West play-off with 50-7 win at Somerset U.20s.
Cornwall U.20: Macdonald (Exeter Saracens), Penhallurick, Deavin (both Falmouth), Statton (Launceston), Keogh (St. Just), Walsh-Newton (Falmouth), Chapple (Redruth); Williams (Penryn) Harris (St. Austell), Derry (Wadebridge Camels), Lister (Penryn), Perkin (St. Ives, Capt), Smith (Redruth), Eddy (Pirates Ams), Ellery (Newquay Hornets).
Replacements: Pope (Camborne School of Mines), Holt (Redruth), Knight (Saltash), Watkins (Camborne School of Mines), Matanatabu, Logan (both Helston), Paul (Redruth).
Cornwall U.20 scores: Tries, Harris 14, 32, 57, Keogh 45, Cons, Statton 15, 58, Pen, 40
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