Dateline: 16th January 2010

From Alan Mitchell,
Cornwall RFU Hon. Secretary.

The Cornwall RFU is delighted to announce that the Skinner's Brewery CRFU Senior Cup competition will be staged this season between Launceston RFC and Redruth RFC, and would like to give credit to its Competitions committee and the Chairman Denis Preece for their efforts working with Jon Hill of Launceston RFC and Dave Penberthy of Redruth RFC.

The matches will be played on a 'Home and Away' basis with provisional dates for the fixtures to be at Launceston on Sunday March 14th and with the return leg at Redruth on Sunday April 11th, We would hope to confirm these dates within the next couple of weeks.

The prospect of the games being well supported will be welcomed by the respective Club Treasurers and with part of the gate money passing to the Cornwall RFU for distribution to all clubs taking part in the 'Skinner's Brewery' CRFU Cup Competitions, Rugby across the whole county will benefit.

Cornish All Blacks Jon Hill states, "Both Dave Penberthy and I will be working hard with our respective committees, the Cornwall RFU and Skinner's Brewery in order to maximise the publicity for these games. The recent game down at the Rec and the game back in September at Polson Bridge were huge fixtures and were well supported.The 'True Cornish Derby' never fails to disappoint and games tend to be close and high in drama. Our players are still talking about our most recent game and it is obvious that these games mean so much to the players, coaches and supporters in both camps."

Redruth's Dave Penberthy comments, "As both our clubs are feeling the pinch, with the reduction in funding from the Rugby Football Union, reduction in income from sponsorship and other fund raising activities within the clubs due, in the main, to the recession it was good to discuss the possibilities of our clubs competing for the 'Skinners Brewery Super Cup'. Our respective gates this season have proven that the clash between the Reds and the Blacks is the most eagerly awaited and supported derby in Cornwall. The atmosphere at both games was electrifying and it was a wonderful occasion for both sets of supporters and players alike. Games between our clubs are always fiercely competitive and this year's encounters did not disappoint, to take that competitiveness into a two legged Cup Final can only be good for the game in Cornwall. It has been reassuring that the Cornwall RFU and Skinners Brewery are keen to work with our clubs and I am sure that all rugby supporters in Cornwall will look forward and support these games which look likely to be played in March and April. Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Steve Skinner, of Skinner's Brewery for his very valuable support for all the Cup competitions over the past years, he has stuck with us through and thin."