A win and a washout as Cornwall make progress in T20 Super 12s
»»CORNWALL’S rugby league club have signed forward Courage Mkuhlani on loan from Betfred League One divisional rivals Midlands Hurricanes.
The 20-year-old will spend the next month at the Memorial
Ground, although under the terms of his loan agreement, he will not be permitted to feature when Cornwall face the Hurricanes in Birmingham next Sunday, May 12.
Mkuhlani made two appearances for the Hurricanes last term, as part of a dual-registration partnership between the club had with Super League outfit Castleford Tigers.
During the close season, Mkuhlani left the Jungle to join Midlands on a permanent basis.
He was named 18th man when the Hurricanes travelled to the Duchy to face off against the Choughs last month.
“Courage further strengthens us in the middle of the park,” head coach Mike Abbott told cornwallrlfc. co.uk.
“We are still a bit banged up in that area of the park ahead of the game against Rochdale on Sunday. Courage is a player that was at Wakefield and Castleford so we are excited to see what he can do in a Cornwall shirt.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to Mark Dunning (Midlands Hurricanes head coach) for his assistance and to our general manager John Beach for getting this over the line.”
Meanwhile, the Choughs have also extended Josh Rhodes’ loan from Batley Bulldogs until the end of 2024 Betfred League One season.
The prop forward joined Cornwall on a two-week loan last month and featured matches against Midlands Hurricanes and Workington Town, from the interchange bench.
In the Choughs’ defeat to the Cumbrians, Rhodes was voted the supporters’ player of the match and he was also denied a first senior try by a marginal refereeing decision.
“We took our time to have a good look at Josh,” Abbott added. “It was difficult for him in the game against Midlands because all over the park, we were second best.
“Against Workington, Josh was excellent and at half-time, I thought to myself ‘I want this kid for the rest of the season’.
“Again, thanks to the endeavours of John Beach and everyone at Josh’s parent club Batley, we have been able to get this deal over the line.”
Cornwall have lost all six games of the League One season so far and are currently sitting rather uncomfortably one off the bottom of the table – with only Newcastle Thunder below them.
On Sunday they lost 56-24 at leaders Rochdale Hornets.
Gareth Davies
CORNWALL’S cricketers qualified for the NCCA T20 Super 12s with a comprehensive win over Wiltshire at Salisbury on Monday to top the group.
An excellent performance by the bowlers saw Wiltshire dismissed for 89. The spinners Max Tryfonos (3-12) and Ellis Whiteford (3-22) reduced the hosts from 53-3 to 67-9 in the 15th over. With rain threatening Alex Blake hammered 71 not out off 34 balls including 6 sixes as Cornwall won by 10 wickets with over 11 overs to spare.
The second game was washed out without a ball bowled which meant that Dorset qualified as runners-up. Cornwall will be away in the Super 12s on May 19 at a venue to be announced.
It followed a win over Dorset at Truro on Sunday. Again morning rain meant only one game of 18 overs was played. Cornwall chased down the target of 128 to win by five wickets with five balls to spare with skipper Paul Smith making an unbeaten 62.
Improved weather meant a better day in the Bond Timber Cornwall Cricket League on Saturday with 50 of the original 72 fixtures played.
For the first time this season, a full County One programme was completed, at the fourth attempt.
Spencer Wilcock produced magnificent figures of 9-5-24-8 to bowl St Erme to victory over Beacon at Castle Park. Opener Jack Evans made 58 for the home side in their 132 with Gareth Mankee (5-31) again in the wickets. Thanks to Wilcock Beacon crashed to 6-5 before being bowled out for 64 with eight batters failing to score. Remarkably Ben James carried his bat to end on 55 not out that included three sixes.
Elsewhere Camborne’s seconds gave Falmouth a fright before losing by just five runs at Warrior Park. Opener Sam Eva made 55 for the hosts. Mullion’s overseas player Michael Blanks hit an unbeaten 86 in the seven-wicket win over Wadebridge seconds. Sri Lankan Ravindra Karunaratne took 5-22 on his return to the club to bowl Grampound Road to a 60-run win at Newquay.
Ben Brooks top scored with 49 and took three wickets as Paul overcame neighbours Penzance seconds by 102 runs in a West Penwith derby.
There was a close game at Roche where Hayle recovered from 45-6 to make 131. Roche was 77-7 in reply but got over the line with two wickets and four overs to spare.
On Monday, Charlie Goldsworthy hit 75 not out for Paul at Grampound Road in the 147-6 in a 40-over game. The home side cruised to a ninewicket win with Jack Mingo, following a Village Cup century the previous week, making 81 not out.
In the other game, Newquay made 192-9 at home to Roche who were shot out for 45. Opening bowler Jack Howarth produced a spell of 10-6-64.
On Saturday, the Premier League gets underway with the champions Wadebridge making the trip to Redruth. Former Cornwall skipper Matthew Rowe has returned to the county from Berkshire. Redruth have signed Sri Lankan Dulash Udayanga.
Penzance made the trip to the newly promoted Truro with Ben Seabrook in charge. Greg Smith has moved to coach at Northamptonshire after eight years at St Clare as director of dricket.
Cornwall batter Chris Gibson has also moved up country. Wiltshire opening bowler Josh Croom has joined along with Newquay’s Grant Stone. Dylan Blignaut returns as the overseas player.
Truro welcomes Amir Yamin from Pakistan and former St Austell bowler Conway Gilbert, who made his Devon debut against Cornwall in April.
Callington are at Camborne with former first-class player Graham Wagg in charge. Max Waller has joined from St Just and Matthew Shepherd has returned from Holsworthy. South African Liam Lindsay returns from last year.
Camborne’s overseas player is New Zealander Jordan Gately. Australian Josh Fontana has an ancestry visa. Mark Jenkin is the new skipper at Helston and South African Lance Alberts has joined the club, as have the Mullion pair of Ryan Tonkin and Charlie Hearn.
They host Werrington who have signed Sri Lankan Vithanage Dilshan. Ryan Pooley has moved from Tintagel.
St Austell take on St Just at Wheal Eliza. Australian Daniel Standing is the overseas player while St Just welcome back Chamikara Edirisinghe.