RUGBY UNION Cornwall versus Kent final decider
- Details
- Created on Saturday, 20 May 2023 00:32
- Last Updated on Saturday, 20 May 2023 00:52
- Published on Saturday, 20 May 2023 00:32
- Written by JOHN HOUSE and ROSS REID
One of them sees reigning champions Cornwall host Kent in a battle between the Bill Beaumont Division 1 South frontrunners at Camborne, with a trip to Twickenham on the line.
Cornwall have come out on top on the past three occasions, including on their way to the 2019 title, but each of those matches were decided by six points or fewer.
This year, both sides are level on nine points in the table, having each won matches against Hampshire and Somerset.
Kent are top of the pool on points difference but Director of Rugby Taff Gwilliam is well aware that Cornwall will pose a tough challenge.
He said: “We have been in this position before, we know what it takes and we know how tough the opposition are.
“We have pushed Cornwall close in recent years and we are looking forward to the weekend.
“It is not so much about them, it is about us performing to our optimum. We have done well against the sides we have played already.
“We’ve got a nice mixture of youth and experience, it is a lovely blend, we have an established head coach and a younger coach in charge of the back division - so this week is about us and what we can do.”
Opponents Cornwall come in with pedigree, as the most successful county in the competition’s history, and captain Fraser Honey is hoping to use that experience to their advantage.
“It is a hugely exciting week to be part of, for both sides it is win or bust, so it is a great occasion to get fired up for,” he said.
“The beauty of the County Championship is that you do not know too much about these teams, they are almost like unknown quantities.
“But it does have a semi-final feel to it and we are going to give it everything to get ourselves to the final - it is going to be one hell of a game.
“I was part of the squad for the last two campaigns, in 2019 and last season, which we were successful with and now we are desperate to go and do it again for a third time.”
Vying for their place to meet either Kent or Cornwall in the final on Sunday May 28 are Yorkshire and Lancashire in a hotly contested Roses clash.
Lancashire have won the title four times in the last decade, while Yorkshire have not featured in the showpiece since 2008, when they got the better of Devon.
Now the two sides renew a historic rivalry with a place at Twickenham at stake and they both go into this one unbeaten, having defeated Cheshire and Hertfordshire.
Twin Counties Dorset & Wilts are looking to complete an unbeaten group stage as they welcome Berkshire in Division 2 Pool 2. Devon play Gloucestershire at Plymouth Albion in the other game.
Oxfordshire can leapfrog Warwickshire into Division 3 Pool 1 top spot if they beat Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Derbyshire at Witney RFC.
The Bill Beaumont Senior Men’s County Championship Division 1 Final and the Gill Burns Women’s County Championship Division 1 Final will take place on Sunday May 28 at Twickenham Stadium.
The Divisions 2 & 3 finals, as well as the Jason Leonard U20s Final, will take place across the weekend of June 3/4 at Ealing Trailfinders.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
