This Saturday saw Helston travel to Egloshayle Rd in a CRFU Colts Cup Semi-Final to face a confident Wadebridge Camels side who had beaten a very strong Redruth side in the previous round of the cup competition.
This was always going to be a very tough, physical encounter with Wadebridge always managing to turn out a strong & powerful pack. Although Helston had already beaten Wadebridge (3-19) at home in the league before Christmas, this was always going to a completely different occasion. With Helston having a very disrupted playing and training schedule recently due to the horrendous weather conditions, and with Wadebridge managing to keep a good Redruth side to nil in the quarter finals the Clodgey Lane boys were understandably concerned.
From the KO the home side had their “tails up” and used both forwards and backs intelligently to probe the Helston defence. Some” bullocking” runs from the front five and midfield backs were causing concern with Helston fighting to hold on. As expected this was going to be a tough battle. Wadebridge spent much of the first 10 mins camped in the Helston half with frequent ventures to the Helston try line, only to be thwarted by outstanding defence and bravery, both tight to the breakdown and out wide. The failure of Wadebridge to come away with any points after such a significant period of pressure may have begun to tell on the home side. This was only compounded when “Man of The Match” fullback Kyle Bradley scooped up a Camels kick in his own half and with a balance of power and finesse screamed down the right hand touchline to outpace the Camels defence to score Helston’s first of the day (conversion missed).
Wadebridge came straight back at Helston from the KO and again they failed to convert all the pressure into points. Helston’s game plan was being executed perfectly, both in attack and defence, being controlled at the helm by half backs of Dan Duval and Matt Blee. Helston knew Wadebridge were strong and powerful but would tire, and so it was. The ubiquitous trio of Lewis Channon, Tiaan Clark and Jack Yelland ensured that Helston could maintain the pace of the game and move the Camels side around. Helston were also more than holding their own in the scrum and lineout competition. The front row of Jordi Hoskin, John England and Josh Berryman were made to work for every inch and at times looked like buckling, but shear desire and commitment saw them gain parity and eventually overcome the tiring Camels front row.
Helston continued to “soften” the Wadebridge midfield with a mixture of power and grace, the power being supplied by inside centre Tom Hawken & right winger Finley Holden, the grace being supplied by Wade Toy in the outside centre role and Ben Richards out on the left wing. The pace and movement of the ball was taking its toll and after a decent period of 1st half where there was no score, two quick tries in succession by Ben Richards and Finley Holden (Duval converted one) really knocked the wind out of the home side as Helston went into half time break 17-0 up.
With a one minor tweak at half time (Sam Charleston coming off for Jonathan Vincent) and a back row rearrangement, Helston went from strength to strength. With fitness beginning to tell and with a number of substitutions being made by the home side Helston took advantage. The point of attack changing from midfield to out wide paid dividends. With the lineout functioning well with Adam Christophers, Lewis Channon and Tiaan Clark providing options, the Helston backline attacked whenever and wherever they could, great performances by Hawken, Richards and Holden were topped off with tries for each of them before they were substituted (Blee converted two).
As has been the case all season the strength across the whole squad has meant that when replacements are made there is no detrimental effect on the team and this again proved the case. With Will Trewin now on at scrum half as a replacement for Duval, the pace of the game took a step up, and his hustling around the breakdown along the pure doggedness of the Helston backrow was causing havoc with the Camels possession. With the Helston bench emptied Alex Evans (Wing for Richards), Theo Surridge (wing for Holden) and Lewis Howe (centre for Toy) the team maintained the pressure all the way to the whistle, with the final say going to 2nd Row Adam Christophers who was rewarded for his effort going over for a try in the last few minutes (conversion missed)
Although the result will look one sided affair, this game was far from it, Wadebridge fought valiantly throughout and for large parts of the 1st half were on top. Every point Helston scored was worked hard for with no backward step taken.

This result now sees Helston return to Wadebridge RFC on the evening of 8th April to compete in the Cornwall Colts Cup Final against either St Austell or Penzance. Their semi-final is due to be played this Saturday (26th)