Helston recover from slow start to run in eleven tries

With the Cornwall League fixture against Stithians two weeks ago being stopped early after the opposition choosing not to continue when injury took their numbers down to 13, Helston were keen to show the faithful support that the positive signs shown in that game had been worked on.

However, the first ten minutes belonged to the visitors.

With Helston under pressure in their own 22 they were given two opportunities to clear the ball and begin to play rugby in the opposition’s half, but Lankelly turned the ball over and capitalised to score a converted try.

Head coach John Court took the opportunity to “refresh” the minds of the players and reminded them what had been discussed in the changing room prior to kick off.

Whatever was said seemed to take immediate effect as from the restart, the game took a definite swing towards the home team.

With Helston now being able to keep hold of the ball for more prolonged periods, the home pack was beginning to dominate in all facets.

This allowed the potent backline to try things they had worked on in training.

The first score for the home side came from scrum-half Matt Blee.

An outstanding performance from Number 8 Matt Nichol saw him power over twice in the first half, one from short distance but one from a line break around the half-way line. With a new lease of life and a willingness to through the ball around saw the centre partnership of Ben Lenderyou and Decarlo Trerise gain meters at will, if the handling accuracy could be improved it could have been even better.

With the team now working hard together and players supporting the ball carrier more effectively, Helston began to show the improvements they had shown in training, on the field.

With offloads working and players confident to risk what may previously never have been tried, the tries began to come, Trerise scoring three times before half time with some excellent lines to cut through the defence.

Although new recruit, John Tyler may be one of the smaller members of the squad, his acceleration and “fleet of foot” left the Lankelly defenders flailing and with their frustration came Tyler’s two tries before half time.

The half time whistle saw Helston leading 48-7 and the second half began very much like the first.

Lankelly, who continued to make Helston defend and at times looked dangerous applied pressure from the off.

With the coaches making a few personnel and positional changes things would always take a little time to settle back into the routine, but after an unsettling and frustrating 10 minutes Helston again began to dominate.

Second half scores from flanker Connor Clark, Winger Finley Holden and a final effort from man of the match Matt Nichol saw the final score 69-7, with Matt Blee converting eight of the 11 tries.

Vincent, Saunders (capt), Oladele, Ward, Gilbert, A.Warwick, Clark, Nichol, Blee, C.Warwick, Tyler, Lenderyou, Trerise, Gardiner, Wilson. Repalcements: Kellow, Miners, Pullinger, Osborne, Howe, Holden.