UNLESS Devon and Gloucestershire falter badly in the next two weeks, there will be no trip to Twickenham for the men in black and gold at the end of the month, writes Buccaneer.

The fact that Cornwall lost had nothing to do with the absence of Cornish Pirates players in their ranks, as some suggested. They lost because Devon had more quality and strength in depth. They lost because the Devon coaches were more tactically astute in implementing the rolling replacements, and they lost because Ed Lewsey played a blinder, while Graham Dawe simply refuses to retire.

It was clear from the pre-match warm up routine that he was ready for battle. Watching him harry and chase, push and shove and generally prove a downright nuisance to the younger squad members was a performance in itself.

Then when he trundled on after half an hour, Dawe really got the bit between his teeth. He might be 50-years-old but Richard Graham Reed Dawe clearly has not realised that yet, even if after 40 or so years of playing the game his body isn't quite as fast as it once was.

Lollipops

Dawe's lineout work tormented Cornwall. He gave them ample opportunity to steal possession with every left handed put-in as he tossed lollipops to the Cornish forwards. But his clumsy style masked some wicked spin on the deliveries, reducing the lineouts to chaos as the home side flailed and fumbled, leaving Devon to pick up the pieces.

It was a day of disappointment for Cornwall. Defeat and a lacklustre performance were one thing but where was the crowd? The Rec was decidedly empty, and everything so low key.

If Cornwall could somehow get to the final, what level of support would they take to the capital? The rugby landscape has changed beyond recognition since the heady days of Championship glory in 1991, and after a brief renaissance under the umbrella of the England Counties set up, County rugby is again in serious decline.

What we are left with are die-hard fans and knackered players who should be resting. Add to that RFU sanctioned trials of farcical stunts like rolling replacements and the whole thing becomes a mess. And despite all this, Dawe, just like the Germans in soccer, always seems to come out on top.