Roseland through to Quarter Finals with win

Saturday afternoon was Sponsors Days at Roseland and the penultimate group game in the Tribute Cup. It was also the third meeting between Roseland and Lankelly this season.

Despite the weather being polar opposites to the previous week the pitch was struggling under the conditions and a free flowing fast game was unlikely with heavy conditions underfoot. Due to Sponsors Day a strong crowd watched the action unfold from the sidelines braving the chilly wind.

The kick off was delayed by 15 minutes as a couple of car loads of Lankelly players got lost on route to the ground.

Lankelly kicked off the game playing down the slope with a gentle breeze assisting. Roseland were quickly into their stride with several clean breaks and bullocking runs with only poor handling and ill discipline, a trait for the afternoon, preventing them breaking the deadlock.

Roseland eventually broke the dead lock when after several phases centre Matt Eddy found himself in space to cross the white wash and dot down the opening try. Fly half Davo Williams failed with the conversion.

Roseland created plenty of chances but failed to convert them into scores with a mixture of some desperate last ditch defence from “Kelly”, some poor handling and some “poor discipline”. Roseland scored again when quick hands from a ruck from Day to Eamers to Chapman created the space for Chapman to bundle over in the top corner and continue his try scoring streak. Matt Eddy kicked the difficult conversion to bring the score to 12-0.

This was the end of the scoring for the first half with neither side able to dominate the other. Roselands only real bonus being that Lankelly never really threatened their 22 and were kept contained to the middle of the park.

The change of ends didn’t bring a change of luck for Roseland as the problems from the first half continued with handling errors and discipline, both generally strong points of Roseland, seriously letting them down. It was due to these problems that Roseland failed to dominate “Kelly” and kept “Kelly” interested in the game throughout. The Roseland pack slowly started to get on top of their opposite numbers and were disrupting Lankelly ball and securing solid ball of their own at scrum time. It was from one such scrum that Rosleand scored their third try when No8 Chapman picked and went, although half tackled, scrum half down smuggled the ball away from Chapman and amid the “confusion” managed to slip through the Lankelly defenders and touch down for a try. Eddy missed the conversion.

Roseland sensing the game was won and with half an eye on their final group game against Liskard in a fortnight knew that a bonus point win against Lankelly would set up a winner takes a all game versus Liskard where the winner would have the advantage of a home quarter final. With this thought in mind Roseland started to chase the elusive fourth try and because of this and the previous problems their standard of play deteriorated. Roseland lost two players to the sin bin in the final 20 minutes and used all their replacements, both of which also disrupted play and the slippery ball didn’t aide matters.

The game ended with Roseland camped on the “Kelly” line before being turned over and Lankelly clearing the ball away to end the game.

The win guaranteed Roseland second place in the group and progression to the quarter finals of the cup.

Compared to last weeks heroics and excellent skill levels in atrocious conditions this weeks game was well below par from a Roseland side that expect so much more themselves. Lankelly left the pitch the happier side with their final cup match against Camelford on the 13th February before concentrating solely on the league.

Roseland travel to Liskard Looe on the 13th February to Lux Park where they have never won and hope to right this and to test just how far they have progressed this season.

Saturday saw an early season top of the table clash between leaders Lankelly-Fowey and second placed Roseland. Roseland travelled to Fowey’s pitch at the end of Prickly Post Lane knowing this could well be a prickly fixture. In the recent past Roseland have held the upper hand over Fowey however Fowey were bouyed by the fact they have an excellent mixture of youth and experience with several colts stepping up to senior rugby this season and also having come off the back of an excellent win versus Redruth Albany.

Roseland entered the fixture knowing that only a 100% commitment and focus would ensure the correct result. The heavy rain that had fallen throughout the week finally relented mid morning and some autumnal sunshine burst through. Considering the weeks weather the pitch looked in decent nick. With a stiff breeze blowing down the pitch towards the clubhouse corner both sides knew that the advantage lay in the team that exploited the conditions best. With this thought in mind Fowey played the first half down the slope with the breeze, so Roseland knew a big shift was required for the first 40.

Roseland however were nearly scuppered before the game started as regular loose head prop Jake Flamank pulled out Saturday morning with a hangover so a make shift front row of Gerbil Martin, Ant Thomas and Martyn, normally a hooker, formed up and put in an excellent shift against a big and experienced Fowey pack.

Fowey didn’t disappoint and kept the pressure on Roseland throughout the first half, pinning Roseland deep inside there own half whenever Roseland lost possession. To Roseland’s credit they kept the ball well and forwards and backs combined and between them made inroads in the Fowey defence. Several times Roseland got into the Fowey half and once or twice worked their way into the Fowey 22 but lost possession either thorough turnovers, penalties or spilt ball. Fowey made Roseland pay and were the first team on the scoreboard. After Roseland were penalised for not releasing at a ruck just inside their own half Fowey kicked for touch, the ball was heading out on the 22, however Roseland tried to keep the ball in play and in the confusion ended up gifting Fowey a line out 5m out. From the resultant line out Roseland defended well but to Foweys credit they bundled there way over for a try, the conversion was missed.

Roseland knew they had to respond to stop Fowey getting too much head of steam up. With forwards and backs working hard and retaining possession with good rucking and some good offloads the ball was worked wide to “Legs” Rushbridge who evaded the final two Fowey defenders with some neat footwork to score. Matt Eddie missed the difficult conversion.

The remainder of the half, like a lot of the first half was spent between the two 22’s with neither side gaining the upper hand. Half time arrived and Roseland were probably the happier of the two teams knowing that there was about 15-20 points with the wind and slope advantage.

The second half was spent mostly in the Fowey half with Roseland converting several chances but also letting Fowey off the hook with several missed opportunities. Fowey to there credit never gave up and battled to the end making Roseland work for the victory.

Roseland’s second score came from the boot of Matt Eddie, converting a penalty kick smartly from around the 10m line, using the wind to his advantage. 8-5 to Roseland and the next score was vital.

Fortunately for Roseland the next score came in the form of a try from in form winger “Legs” who gathered the ball from a loose clearance kick and from what looked like running down a blind alley, managed to beat several Fowey defenders with a mixture of power and evasion to score from just outside the 22. Eddie failed with the conversion in what was to be an off day for him with the boot.

Roseland’s next try came from more loose ball, this time however they over threw at their own line out but unfortunately for Fowey they failed to regathered cleanly and knocked on, Roseland playing the advantage regathered and after a few quick passes, the ageless fly half Shaun Eamer throw a dummy and find himself charging deep into the 22 and with just the fall back to beat gave the simplest 2 on 1 passes to the supporting Tom Day who galloped over for the try to the right of the posts. Eddie converted and the score was now 20-5.

Both teams started making replacements as the heavy conditions underfoot took there toll.

Fowey were penalised at a ruck for not releasing and as the ref had already warned both sides for this indiscretion he didn’t hesitate in sin binning the unfortunate Fowey player. It must be said that the ref had a very good game and that both sides were fully respectful of the man in the middle and this was reflected in the manner the game was played and enjoyed both players and supporters alike.

Roseland’s next score again came from a line out. A shortened line out was well won and the ball passed down to scrum half Tom Day, who spotted the rushing Fowey defenders had left a small gap, and with a dummy and a duck was through with just the full back to beat and a half step beat the last man to run towards the line and managed to slide over before the cover defence got back to score in the clubhouse corner. A change of kicker brought Davo Williams to the tee, however the result was the same and the difficult conversion was missed.

Roseland created several more chances creating overlaps and miss matches and but for the final pass, a dropped ball or some excellent last ditch defence would of scored another couple of tries, as it was the final score of the day was well taken by debutant Simon. After some good interplay between forwards and backs, and playing a penalty advantage, Eamers put through a clever grubber kick that held up nicely in the try area and centre Simon won the foot race to dot down for his first ever Roseland score on debut. Eddie missed the conversion and the score was 30-5.

Fowey were back to a full compliment of 15 and held out for the final 10 minutes despite the difficulty in clearing there lines and having a kick charged down 5m out with the luck of the bounce falling Fowey’s way.

With the game over both sides could take positives and lessons away from the game.

Roseland now have to prepare for another top of the table clash with a visit to a rejuvenated St Just next week and to try and carry on their perfect start to the league season.