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Cornwall RLFC winger Henry Symons Plays in University Origin Game

February 7, 2022

Henry Symons

Cornwall RLFC winger Henry Symons admitted that a combination of weather conditions and fatigue contributed to the South of England’s 36-20 University Origin defeat to the North at Loughborough University yesterday.

Symons, who started the game on the left wing for the South, helped his side race from blocks with Charlie McCurrie crossing the whitewash and Sam Hughes converting. But the North came back strongly as two quick scores from Cameron Gray and Ben Gray, neither of which were converted, handed the holders a slender 8-6 lead.

However, the South weren’t behind for long as Ben Thewlis cut straight through some powder-puff North defending. Hughes found the mark with the extras and right on the half-time whistle, Jack Cherry’s try further stretched the South’s advantage.

The South dominance continued after the turnaround when Michael Holden’s score opened up a 12-point gap and at 20-8 behind, it looked like a long road back for the North.

With the wind at their backs, falling two converted tries behind seemed to reignite the fire inside the North outfit with AJ Towse starting the comeback with a fine score, which was converted by Jack Quinn, who as the game wore on, found his range from the tee. Adam Lavin picked up the scraps to cross with just under 20 minutes left and another successful Quinn conversion left the game perfectly poised.

The pendulum then swung towards the North straight from the restart after Lavin’s try with centre Leon Stewart restoring the lead. Replacement Max Flanagan scooted over from close to the South line and with five minutes left, victory was wrapped up by Brown who scored his second of the afternoon.

“I was happy to play and it was also the first year I have been involved with University Origin,” Symons told cornwallrlfc.co.uk. “There were England shirts up for grabs and from the South’s point of view, we had a good group of talented boys.

“The coaches put on a great programme and everyone had a fair chance to show what they can do. The first 20 minutes of the game was hectic but all the boys pulled together to play well and put ourselves in a good position.

“In the second half, the weather didn’t help and at one point we were playing in a real storm. The ball was wet and with the wind in front of us, we struggled to get out of our own 30 or 40 metre zone because our kicks were going nowhere.

“We also made a few soft mistakes and some the boys got fatigued which was to be expected. Overall, though, I felt I did well and playing in a game like this will certainly help with my fitness. I know it is something Neil Kelly (Cornwall RLFC head coach) really wants us to work at before the season starts and we have a really good fitness programme in place.”

North: Quinn, C Brown, Croston, Stewart, Fitzhenry, Heaton, Riley, Bradshaw, Wood, Newbound, Eyres, Charlton, Earl. Interchange: Rudd, Jones, Flanagan, Towse, Gray, Lavin, Trulson.

Tries: Brown (2), Gray, Towse, Lavin, Stewart, Flanagan.

Cons: Quinn (4)

South: Thewlis, Holden, Cherry, Davidson, Symons (Cornwall RLFC), Hughes, Edwards, Gale, Littlewood, Gittens, McCurrie, Bejandze, Hunter. Interchange: Priest, Bofenda, Fosket, Boag, Struttle, E Brown, Mitchell 

Tries: McCurrie, Thewlis, Cherry, Holden

Cons: Hughes (2)

Referee: James Collins (Leicester).