Cornwell has questions over Championship Cup integrity
MARK Cornwell has been left wondering ‘what his side are doing here’ as he questions the integrity of the Championship Cup and other clubs’ commitment to the competition.
Cornwell’s Hartpury side are in the midst of a two-legged quarter-final against Jersey Reds, but the director of rugby describes the competition as ‘a bit strange’.
He said: “It’s a good opportunity for us to look at some youngsters and some players for next season, which I think a lot of teams have done but if you look at some of the teams’ commitment to the competition, you really have to ask yourself what are we doing here?
“We played Richmond home and away and they put second teams out for both and didn’t play any of their players. You question their commitment to it and other teams’ commitment.”
Ealing were given a bye through the pool stage and took their place in the quarter-final, along with the five pool winners and two best runners-up.
Cornwell added: “It’s the first time we’ve played in this kind of competition. Is it successful? Did we like the way it was made up with the draw with Ealing not playing at all? It’s very difficult to say.”
Despite Cornwell’s concerns around the competition, he says it can be used as a good tool to test his younger players.
“In the last game against Richmond, we had a couple of 18-year-olds who we threw on and said show us what you’ve got,” he said. “It’s good for them to be exposed to that level of physicality and quality and we can see where they’re at. It’s good for looking at them for next season.
“We’ll see how we go over the next two weeks in our doubleheader but it’s definitely an odd tournament to be involved in.”
Two weeks ago Ampthill head coach Paul Turner said that the competition should include teams from National One as he believes it would recreate the excitement the cup once had and allow for ‘giant killings’.
Cornwell disagrees. He added: “I’m not saying I’ve got the answers to it, but I don’t think that’s a good idea at all.
“To ask National One to come in and play the likes of Jersey, Pirates, and Ealing, that’s an enormous step. We struggle against those sorts of sides so God knows what a National One side would be like against them! I don’t even think it would be a contest, and that’s no disrespect to lower league sides but it is too much of a big step.”
Hartpury were forced to say goodbye to Championship top points scorer James Williams who has joined Bristol ahead of next season, and Cornwell wishes him well.
“Whether he plays 10 or 12 he is key to everything we’ve done, certainly this year and last year. He’s very direct and a difficult runner to stop, he’s a great goalkicker which has got us out of trouble and he’s scored some tries. He’s been our captain at times and led by example and we wish him all the best.”