St Ives book their place in semi-finals at Falmouth's expense

ST IVES booked their place in the Skinner’s Brewery Cornwall Cup semi-finals with an eight-try victory over Falmouth. Perhaps a knowledgeable rugby world would have expected the holders to have achieved victory over a team two leagues below them, writes Falmouth RFC's Arthur Williams.

However, Falmouth are excelling themselves this season above expectations under coaches David Rule, assisted by Phil Wells. They deserved enormous credit for the way they stuck to their task right to the end, with flanker Chris McColl always prominent and young locks Matt Stephens and Tony Whittle winning their share of the line out battle.

However, the Hakes (as St Ives are affectionately known) showed why they are in a higher league and had the edge with quick ball and swift hands, setting up the opening try after the first quarter for winger Tom Nicholas. Australian under-19 flanker Peter Samu added another ten minutes later and shot down the blind side from a five-metre scrum.

Falmouth had their chances, but it was just a bridge too far, against an organised home defence.

Before the interval the Hakes had scored twice more with a rampaging run by loose head prop Hugh Noot and a switch of play saw full back Henry Maunder putting winder Raphael Baragwanath for the Hakes fourth try, giving them an interval lead of 24 points. At this stage a less motivated team would have dropped their heads and gone to the bar. However, credit due to all 18 players, this young side battled to the end restricting the rampant Hakes to further tries by Trezise and Craig Williams, before scrum half Ashley Weston snipped into the corner for another. Full back Mander got the final touchdown to seal Falmouth’s fate. Trezise kicked three second half conversions to set up the cup holders for a clash at home to Truro.

The home supporters were very pleased to welcome a Cornish club, as this is a rarity due to the Hakes being in South West One (West) League and the only Cornish club in this league, with their nearest away game being Ivybridge.

Hopefully the Chiefs will learn from this defeat and put their minds back on track. They must pick themselves up for what looks like a very close encounter in the Devon/Cornwall league away to Torrington on Saturday March 6, who drew nine all with them in November at the Recreation Ground.

Falmouth: M Horton, D Pereira, S Roe, J Instance (captain), M Williams, J Brown, T Spiller, A Palmer, J Stephens, A Searle, M Stephens, T Whittle, C McColl, T David, S Instance. Replacements: J Costa, T Mears, P Wells, R Kenchener.