MATCH REPORT: CORNWALL RLFC 6-72 MIDLANDS HURRICANES
Recently broken records, broken again in the Duchy!
Words by Thomas Kiernan
The Hurricanes bounced back in style with a record breaking win in Cornwall, beating the RFL’s most southern team by 72-6.
Whilst The Memorial Ground in Penryn has not been the happiest of hunting grounds for the Hurricanes in years gone by this was a different Hurricanes team and one hungry to gain their second league victory of the season in the Dutchy as Mark Dunning’s men retained focus from the off.
The first 20 minutes on Sunday largely matched the first 15 against Hunslet last week – the Canes started strong and blew away the hosts to take a commanding four-score lead. Just three minutes in, Jake Sweeting's high kick was gathered and led to Tom Wilkinson scoring his 6th try of the season in just 5 games – a great feat for a second rower (0-4). Sweeting complimented Wilko's efforts by scoring from the kicking tee (0-6).
Just three minutes later, we doubled our lead as our Man-of-the-Match Jake Sweeting took advantage of a Canes scrum 20m from the Choughs line to score his second try in as many games (0-10). Unsurprisingly, Sweeting and his homing boot added the extras (0-12).
Less than fifteen minutes in, we added our third of the day as Ross Oakes stepped inside and drove low to get the ball over the try-line (0-16). Sweeting duly obliged with the extras (0-18). As we finished the first quarter, returning half Callum McLelland was the beneficiary of Cornwall's misfortune as an initially successful charge-down attempt of Sweeting's kick made its way to McLelland who raced away to score (0-22). There was no charging down of Sweeting's conversion attempt – not that its allowed in league anyway! (0-24).
The Hurricanes took charge once again in the final ten of the first half. In the 30th minute former Canes loanee Ryan Johnson – now back with the squad on dual registration - got his first of the afternoon on the back of an attacking scrum (0-28). Sweeting was more than grateful for Johnson's efforts in getting closer to the sticks as he added the extras from the boot (0-30), and with a few minutes before the hooter Ross Oakes broke away and ran the line to score his second of the afternoon to the jubilation of the travelling support (0-34). With magnets seemingly in the ball and within the sticks, Sweeting went six from six (0-36). A devastating attacking performance in the first forty saw us go in with a commanding lead.
Half-time: Cornwall RLFC 0 – 36 Midlands Hurricanes
Following the break, the first 15 minutes of the second half matched the first. A trio of fours for our captain saw Matty Welham score his fourth try in as many games just four minutes into the second half (0-40). In doing so, he became the Canes joint-second top try-scorer (30 in 56 games, level with ex-Bears winger Jamahl Hunte's 30 in 49). Sweeting scored once again from the kicking tee (0-42). Three minutes later, Matty was the provider as he expertly caught Jake Sweeting's kick and threw the ball overhead to Tom Wilkinson for his second of the day (0-46), with Sweets going eight from eight between the posts (0-48).
With just under 25 to go, the Canes found a collector's item as ex-Castleford prop and 2023 Young Player of the Year Aaron Willis collected a Cullimore pass and ran full-tilt to crash over under the posts (0-52). Sweeting once again didn't miss from in front of the sticks (0-54). Things went from bad to worse for the Choughs from the resulting restart, as a short kick-off led to full-back Todd Horner breaking the line and racing away to score his second try in as many games as we went back-to-back (0-58). Sweeting gratefully kicked the extras (0-60). Just before we entered the final 20, Ross Oakes broke the line again and selflessly passed inside to Liam Welham for his first try of the season - he still has some catching up to do compared to his younger brother Matty! (0-64). Sweeting once again kicked the extras and, in doing so, matched David Hewitt's recent record for the number of conversions kicked in a single game that he set against Newcastle just a month ago (0-66).
The home side were able to avoid being nilled in front of their own fans as an attacking Canes scrum was intercepted by Coby Nichol who galloped up the Memorial Ground hill to score Cornwall's only try of the afternoon (4-66). Cameron Brown added the extras (6-66). However, it was the Canes who had the last word as Ryan Johnson got his second of the afternoon by racing down the wing and stepping the Choughs fullback to score (6-70). Sweeting completed a perfect day from the kicking tee as he kicked 12 from 12 (6-72). In doing so, an unbelievable performance saw the Hurricanes break five records:
Biggest winning margin (66 points, beating the previous 58 v West Wales Raiders in 2018);
Most points scored by a Canes side (72, beating the previous 70 v Newcastle just a month ago);
Most points scored by an individual player (Jake Sweeting with 28, beating Daniel Parker (2015) and David Hewitt (2024)'s record of 22);
Most conversions scored by a player in one game (Jake Sweeting with 12, beating David Hewitt's 11 v Newcastle just a month ago); and
Most consecutive conversions scored by a player in one game (Jake Sweeting with 12, beating David Hewitt's 10 v Newcastle just a month ago)
A memorable performance and a result that reflected it on the road for the Hurricanes against a spirited Cornwall side who we meet again at the Alex in just three weeks time.
With the two points secured, we now turn our attention to an unbeaten Oldham side who are the bookies favourites to secure automatic promotion following substantial investment both on and off the field. A challenge undoubtedly, but Mark Dunning's men will be looking for a similar performance as we welcome the Roughyeds to The Alex next Saturday.
Man of the Match:
Jake Sweeting (sponsored by Barkston Plastics)
Scoring sequence:
0-4, 0-6, 0-10, 0-12, 0-16, 0-18, 0-22, 0-24, 0-28, 0-30, 0-34, 0-36, 0-40, 0-42, 0-46, 0-48, 0-52, 0-54, 0-58, 0-60, 0-64, 0-66, 4-66, 6-66, 6-70 and 6-72.