PLYMSTOCK Oaks’ Corey Jamieson was one of Devon’s try scorers as they won back the Tamar Cup by beating Cornwall 28-5 in horrendous weather at Ivybridge on Wednesday night.
Devon fielded probably their strongest side for a number of seasons, which was heavily based around Devonport Services’ Regional One South West title-winning side and fellow high-flyers Brixham.
Cornwall, meanwhile, agreed to Devon’s request to only select players from level five and below, which ruled out personnel from Redruth and Camborne, who are likely to form the base of their County Championship squad.
Devon, with Services’ forwards Rikki Benthan, Aiden Taylor, Andy Pond and James Hocking in their pack, dominated the opening 40 minutes in torrential rain.
They took the lead after only three minutes when Brixham full-back Joel Ashworth crossed in the left corner after pressure following a scrum. He also added the tough conversion.
The home county doubled their lead in the 19th minute with Brixham scrum-half Jamie Hext touching down and Ashworth converting.
Devon then had Oaks centre Tom Richards yellow carded for a high tackle on Devonport Services’ Cornwall winger Freddie Davies.
The Duchy were unable to take advantage of the extra man and when Devon were back to 15 they increased their lead with a try by Jamieson following a clever chip kick by Services fly-half Richard West. Again, Ashworth added the conversion.
And on the stroke of half-time, Devon, who had totally dominated the set-piece in the first period, got a fourth try courtesy of Brixham forward Jordan Watson.
Both counties made changes at half-time and Cornwall, who had really struggled to win any line-out ball in the opening 40 minutes, came out looking like a different team.
The visitors, who included Liskeard-Looe’s Adam Powell among their replacements, did dominate the whole of the second period, but could only add one try, which came courtesy of Wadebridge’s Rich Treleaven in the 63rd minute.
By the end of the match the torrential rain had turned to snow, leaving many of the large crowd with some interesting journeys home.
Devon: Ashworth (Brixham), Crosscombe (Brixham), Crawford (Services|), Richards (Plymstock Oaks), Jamieson (Plymstock Oaks), West (Services), Hext (Brixham), Bentham (Services), Taylor (Services), Down (Sidmouth), Griffin (Sidmouth), Pond (Services), Watson (Brixham), Hocking (Services), Edbrooke (Topsham). Reps: Reeves (Brixham), Rodwell (Brixham), Trudgill (Ivybridge), Moore (Barnstaple), Northcott (Ivybridge), Hillson (Tavistock), Roberts (Barnstaple), Ingles (Exmouth), Headley (Exmouth).
Cornwall: Shepherd (St Austell), Davies (Devonport S), Fogden (Launceston), Semmens (Pirates Ams), Tyrrell (St Austell), Hennessey (Truro), Boyce (St Austell); Pearce-Cowley (Launceston), L Powell (Truro), Lambourn (Pirates Ams), Goldsmith (Launceston), Horne (Launceston), Head (Truro), Taylor (St. Austell), Rowley (Launceston). Reps: Treleaven (Wadebridge C), Bulut (Launceston), Hawken (Launceston), A Powell (Liskeard-Looe), Elderkin (Truro), Hancock (Bude), Bullen, Plummer (both St Austell), Tucker (Launceston).
