If you wasn’t at the match or watching it on the Live YouTube stream or listening to BBC Radio Cornwall, what was you doing? Because you missed one helluva game of rugby, a classic, a thriller, a game and a half. There was more drama in 80 minutes than in an episode of Line of Duty.

The Cornish supporters came in their numbers despite two long away trips on consecutive weekends. You have to admire the devotion and the will to overcome traffic jams on the M25 and road closures which caused a couple of the Cornwall players to just make kick off in time. It didn’t go unnoticed that Cornwall’s number one fan, Barbara Hocking was watching the match on the stream whilst at a wedding in Lincoln.

Cornwall got off to a flying start and scored through Josh Semmens who crashed over within 3 minutes. It rocked the Kent team but ultimately sparked them into life. Two well worked tries scored by Andy Denham and a penalty by Bryan Hotson saw Kent take a 17-7 lead on 21 minutes. They were starting to look comfortable and other chances came and went. Andy Denham was unlucky not to claim a hat trick but for a mis-placed pass.

On 37 minutes, the game was turned on its head. The referee had no other option but to show the Kent skipper, Ollie Walliker, a straight red card for retaliation. Kent had to dig in and hope they could get into the changing rooms with that 10 point advantage still intact. But Cornwall’s tails were up. They were going for the jugular and deep into first half stoppage time, they scored another try from close range through Adam Hughes.

Half Time Kent 17-14 Cornwall and all to play for.

Whatever Taff Gwilliam, Tom Stradwick and David Marshall said to the lads at half time had the desired effect and early in the second half, Bryan Hotson with a penalty off the upright and Leo Fielding with an interception try stretched the lead to 27-14. But with Cornwall’s never say die attitude, they narrowed the gap with 20 minutes to play. Captain Ben Priddey drove across the line from a line out. Score 27-21.

Kent’s discipline was letting them down and they had Ben Charnock yellow carded on 63 minutes. Down to 13. This was the first of 3 yellows that the Kent team saw in the second half. Cornwall took full advantage of the extra two men and Josh Semmens went over for his second try on 64 minutes. Fraser Honey’s attempt at goal for the extra points went agonisingly wide and this was to ultimately to prove costly. Score 27-26.

With 16 minutes to go, Cornwall were piling on the pressure. Because of the series of yellow cards, Kent spent the rest of the second period playing with 13 men. However, the defence was holding firm. No matter what Cornwall tried to do, there was a wall of blue to stop them. On 71 minutes, Kent had made their way into the Cornwall 22. The ball found its way to prop Archie Holland and crash, bang, wallop .. he’s over virtually in front of the posts. Easy conversion for Bryan Hotson. Score 34-26

You would have thought that with 9 minutes to go that would have been it. But Cornwall were having none of it. They came right back at Kent with a vengeance. Right on the 80 minutes they got their reward for the consistent pressure and the skipper Ben Priddey went over for his second try of the match. Honey with the conversion. Score 34-33

With a significant amount of stoppage time to play, Kent down to 13 players, I was fearing the worst. Cornwall were coming at us in waves. It was like Custers last stand, Davy Crockett defending the Alamo, a boxer going into the last round and being trapped on the ropes with punches raining down. The wagons were surrounded but Kent just wouldn’t cave. The blue line held firm.

The supporters of both sides were biting their nails down to the quick. Graham Dawe’s wife was convinced Cornwall would get one more chance and deep, deep into stoppage time that chance came. Cornwall had the ball in the Kent 22. Fraser Honey dropped back into the hole ready for the drop goal, it was clean ball, the ball goes back … but it was a poor pass, around the ankles and the chance was gone. Cornwall infringed and Mark Cooke spiralled his kick towards the water tower on Shooters Hill. The referee brought the game to an end much to the relief of the Kent supporters and disappointment of the Trelawny Army. You could hear a collective sigh of relief around the ground when that final whistle sounded.

This was a match that could quite easily have gone Cornwall’s way. They outscored Kent by 5 tries to four. But it was the boot of Kent’s Bryan Hotson that ultimately proved to be the difference.

Well played Kent. Bad luck Cornwall.

This was a hugely successful day for Charlton Park. We made new friends, built relationships and had a jolly good time in doing so. We enjoyed the company of our visitors from Kent and the West Country and we hope everyone enjoyed the hospitality. In rugby, there are winners and losers but I hope you will agree that rugby was the winner on this occasion. So until we meet again, it’s Hasta La Vista … Cornwall. And we’ll see the men, and women, of Kent down at Broad Walk next weekend.

This post is sponsored by the Charlton Park RFC Player Recruitment. Head over there and give us a like. If anyone is moving to London and looking for a new home, please get in touch. You’ll get a warm welcome down at Broad Walk. Please feel free to request a brochure. Email marketing@charltonpark.org.uk

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