Cornwall women beat Devon to win inaugural Tamar Cup game
Despite their win Cornwall were unable to progress to the knockout stages of the County Championship
- Published
Cornwall beat Devon 31-27 to win the inaugural women's Tamar Cup as the sides met for the first time in the County Championship.
But Devon's two losing bonus points ensured they topped their pool and reached the knockout stages in Division Two of the Gill Burns Cup while Cornwall finish third.
"Any Cornish person knows this means everything," Cornwall head coach Jo Holden told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"They put everything out there, they made us suffer through this one, but it's so, so good, I'm so proud."
Charleigh Hopkin's unconverted 11th-minute try and a Bethany Plumpton penalty four minutes later put Devon 8-0 ahead at Launceston's Polson Bridge ground.
Michaella Roberts' try cut the gap to a single point before Amy Bunt crossed to put Cornwall 12-8 up in the 24th minute.
But Devon hit back as Issy Edworthy crossed twice, either side of a yellow card to team-mate Megan Heath to see Devon lead 22-12 at the break.
There was a frantic spell 10 minutes after the break as Megan Oakey and Bunt scored for Cornwall either side of Edworthy's third try as Devon led 27-24, but with Plumpton in the sin-bin Abi Smith was able to get the winning try for Cornwall with six minutes to go.
The win meant Cornwall finished third in the four-team pool, having lost to Hampshire and beating winless bottom side Gloucestershire.
"It's massively important," Holden added.
"We needed to put our stamp down today, we know that we could have done better against Hampshire, so we know next year we've got a lot to work on to go again.
"But this group of people is absolutely fantastic and every year it gets better and better and I cant wait for next season."
The win came as Cornwall's men ensured second place in their County Championship pool after a 42-31 win over Hampshire.
It means they finish second in their pool, after losing to group winners Kent in their opening game last week.