1st Team vs Cornwall

Cornwall RLFC’s Challenge Cup hopes for 2024 were brought to an abrupt end by a York Acorn side in the Duchy.

The National Conference League side deserved their victory overall in a match played out on a real mud bath.

After wet weather had hit Cornwall earlier in the week, 24-hours before the game, less rain fell than expected meaning the pitch was soft, but better than expected.

The game started as expected with both sides content to keep the ball in the forwards, meaning expansive rugby league football was at a premium.

But after 6 minutes, Acorn full-back Matt Chilton to the sinbin for a professional foul.

Cornwall couldn’t make their numerical advantage count and it was indeed the visitors who drew first blood after 12 minutes when Jack Byrnes gathered an Antony Chilton reverse kick in behind to dot down. Antony Chilton missed the extras but Acorn were in front.

After a late contact and a gathering of players, Eddie Prescott and Liam Whitton were asked to calm down for 10 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Cornwall’s Maltese international Kaine Dimech crashed onto Rusling’s flat pass to dot down near the sticks for a first try in Cornwall colours. Rusling tacked on two extra points to give the Choughs a 6-4 lead.

Any hopes the home crowd had of their side seizing control were dashed five minutes before the interval when hooker Alfie Crawford burrowed over for Acorn’s second try. Chilton kicked the conversion and a penalty in the opening stanza’s dying embers to make the score 12-6 to a much deserving Acorn.

Cornwall responded well in the second half and they pinned Acorn in their own half with the away team’s defence finally wilting to the best move of the match.

The hosts ran the ball on the last and a neat interchange out wide between Whitton and Coby Nichol eventually found Rusling to score.

With the home side starting to get frustrated Josh Hartshorne knocked in from a tap and then saw red before throwing multiple punches, he then saw red again from the Referee.

From that moment onwards, Cornwall were really up against it and with 14 minutes left, Byrnes was on hand to get the ball down for a second time after another kick to the in-goal. Chilton goaled for a 18-10 lead for the visitors.

Frustration then started to creep into Cornwall’s play with multiple penalties and players lashing out.

The final action of note saw Nichol sent to the sinbin for a swinging arm as Cornwall finished the half with 11 men.

And then as the final whistle sounded, the jubilant scenes continued with Acorn fans running on to the pitch to end this cup tie to the tune of Country Roads!