Sam's the man for Hornets

Newquay Hornets 24, Withycombe 19

HORNETS can thank the trusty boot of scrum half Sam Cullen for the points that made the difference and gave them a hard-fought win against the club at the bottom of the league at the Sports Centre on Saturday, writes Richard Trewhella.

In challenging, windy conditions he kicked three conversions and a penalty.

With Friday's storm blowing itself out, Withycombe opted to play with the stiff breeze from the kick off, but it was the Hornets who drove the ball into their opponents' half.

However, they gave the ball away after a minute, and paid dearly for the mistake as Withy gave notice that they hadn't come west to surrender the two points. They put together a handling move that flowed 80 metres to give winger Dan Bradford a try near touch on the right.

Hornets responded with a series of forward drives and after 14 minutes, under severe pressure on their own line, Withy spilled the ball in goal. The referee judged that a Hornets' player was impeded as he went to touch down and awarded a penalty try, which Sam Cullen converted to give Hornets the lead.

Crucially, in the five minutes that followed Withy missed two eminently kickable penalties.

Hornets dominated territory in the second quarter, but their play was disjointed, they were giving away too many penalties at the ruck and they just couldn't turn their advantage into points.

Then out of the blue, with five minutes of the half remaining, on his side's only visit to Hornets' territory in the quarter, the Withy fly half, Adam Morris ran at the Hornets' defence and threw an outrageous dummy to go over under the posts for the try. Wing, Adam Laws converted to put Hornets 12-7 in arrears at the break.

Hornets restarted and were lucky not to concede again, as they contrived to get themselves bogged down in their own 22 for the first five minutes of the half.

Eventually they broke out when wing Rob McIntyre fly hacked the ball to within 10 metres of the visitors' line only to be thwarted by the bounce.

No.8 Tim Eustice probed the defence and good ruck ball gave the backs the opportunity to release full back, Dan Pearce, who slipped a tackle to cross for a try. Again Cullen converted for 14-12.

Withy were playing the better of the open rugby at this stage, but it was the Hornets' pack that provided their side's third try on 65 minutes. After their backs ran at the Withy defence, the pack won ruck ball and drove over the Withy line for hooker, Alex Woodley to celebrate his 21st birthday with a try. Cullen completed a perfect trio with the conversion.

Withy returned to Hornets' territory from the restart. Hornets gave away two penalties in quick succession and were lucky to clear through skipper Rob Ley.

Then after 80 minutes Sam Cullen completed an excellent afternoon with a well-struck penalty to move Hornets two scores ahead.

Withy ran at the Hornets again, supported well, and on 84 minutes they won a five-metre scrum. They pushed over for second row Dave Thompson to claim the try. Adam Morris added the extras for 24-19. The win gives Hornets two very valuable league points and puts them ahead of Minehead Barbarians, Tavistock, Devonport Services and Withycombe.

With no match this weekend, Hornets look forward to the visit of North Petherton to the Sports Centre on Saturday November 28.

Newquay Hornets: Dan Pearce, Rob McIntyre, Rob Ley, Tom Bazeley, Adam Rainey, Chevy Reed, Sam Culllen, James Bayley, Alex Woodley (Lee Pascoe), Simon Lutey (Alex Woodley), Simon Morgan (Simon Lutey), Mark Turton, Matt Orton, Stuart Williams, Tim Eustice; Matt Cross, Jon Hyatt

Scorers: Newquay Hornets: Penalty Try: Dan Pearce, Alex Woodley.

Conversions: Sam Cullen (3).

Penalty: Sam Cullen.

Withycombe Tries: Dan Bradford, Adam Morris, Dave Thompson.

Conversions: Adam Laws, Adam Morris.