University overcome All Blacks
LUKE MEHSON ran in a try hat-trick as University of Exeter trounced Cornish All Blacks 54-12 in Saturday’s opening game of the South West Premier season, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.
Mehson bagged his first try after seven minutes and had another before the break as the Students went 26-5 up. The other try scorers were Charlie Davies and Will Yarnell.
Four more tries followed in the second half for Harry Tarling, Toby Williams Mehson and Joe Elderkin, who also kicked the goals. Martin Kneebone and Rory Cinnamond were the All Blacks’ scorers. Ruben Edwards added one conversion.
Richard Hodge, the University team’s manager, said it would be wrong to read to much into a firstday outcome.
“Cornish All Blacks are a better team than this scoreline suggests,” Hodge insisted. “There was not a lot between the teams apart from in the backs, where ours scored more than theirs.”
Camborne coped with playing most of the second half a man down to beat newly promoted Newbury 35-24.
Taron Peacock was ordered off for using his boot where it was not allowed at a tackle – and within three minutes of his red card Camborne went from 6-0 up to 14-6 down.
The Cherry and Whites were back in front by a 25-19 margin by the hour mark – and there they stayed for the last 20 minutes.
Tommy Southworth, Lewis Thomas and Declan Matthews all crossed the try line. A penalty try was also awarded. Rhys Brownfield kicked the conversions and two penalties.
Harrison Cully scored two tries for Brixham in their 20-16 win over South West Premier newcomers Okehampton.
Brixham were never behind in the match, but never far enough ahead to feel comfortable, either. With two minutes on the watch there was only a point in it and Brixham were glad of a James Love penalty for some breathing space.
Ryan Lee scored Okey’s only try, which twin brother Kieran Lee converted to add to three penalties.
It may have been close, but Brixham coach Martin Worthington could live with that.
“We only had two practice games so it was half pre-season and half league game,” Worthington said.
“What we did well was stick to the plan we made pre-season and, despite a few errors and jitters, it came off.”
Dave Bargent snatched a 78thminute try that George Meadows converted to give Exmouth a 17-17 draw against visiting Ivybridge.
In the last five minutes Exmouth went from 10-5 up to 17-10 down before Bargent’s late intervention.
“We were the better side in the first half, but Ivybridge had more intensity in the second,” said Exmouth team manager Roger Holman.
Gareth Elliott, the Ivybridge head coach, said: “It could have been four points, but two points away from home first game of the season is not the worst start we could have had.”