The squads line up before the match
Following the British & Irish Lions strong win in New Zealand on Saturday, a fierce, hungry Home Nations team took on a strong and determined Kiwi squad in a special Lions-inspired match at Camborne RFC on Saturday afternoon.
After a fast and furious match that seesaw-ed throughout, the Doom Bar Select XV, representing the Home Nations, took victory by 40 points to 33.
Doom Bar is the official beer sponsor of the British & Irish Lions, and as such Cornwall’s Sharp’s Brewery created the friendly match at Camborne RFC, replicating the test matches between The British and Irish Lions and the All Blacks out in New Zealand, as well as recreating an epic Cornish game from the history books.
Camborne RFC is deep in the heart of Cornwall and is a place steeped in rugby heritage. It was there, in 1924, that 19,000 people gathered to watch Cornwall, including seven players from Camborne Club, take on the All Blacks. In that game, the All Blacks triumphed with a score of 29-0, devastating the Cornish squad.
Fast forward 90-plus years, on that same pitch, to two teams representing their respective nations, sporting the jerseys of the Lions and the All Blacks.
Legendary Cornish player and Lions veteran, Andy Reed, was there for the game and said: “For the majority of the game, the Doom Bar Select XV were in control and had the majority of the possession. The Kiwis capitalised on a couple of mistakes to score tries, and they started really strongly in the second half, scoring a couple of good tries.
“But the Home Nations team stuck to their patterns and I think that paid dividends for them. It was a tight game throughout, with plenty of quality and physicality from both sides, and some massive collisions.”
Bill Hussey, president of Camborne RFC said: “Today has been a wonderful experience for everyone here at the club and we’re really proud that one of Cornwall’s great successes, Sharp’s Brewery, chose our ground for this very special match.
“This is our 140th anniversary season, and this game has been a key event in the middle of our ongoing Project 2018 fundraising initiative to improve our facilities at the Recreation Ground.
“Today also had a special personal significance for me. My wife’s grandfather, W T Biddick, was one of the seven Camborne players in the 1924 game against the All Blacks, and today’s match really brought back that spirit of a palpable will to win. This was far from a ‘fun’ game, it was a tight contest and a great game of rugby for everyone to witness.”
James Nicholls, Senior Brand Manager at Sharp’s Brewery, said: “The reason that the British & Irish Lions approached us for this sponsorship is that the Lions values are rugby values, and rugby values are Doom Bar values. It’s about energy, it’s about respect, it’s about focus, it’s about teamwork. It’s about everything you see before you when the Lions play. And the guys today have done those jerseys proud.
“It was a fantastic game in New Zealand this morning, and it was evident that the guys here on the pitch in Camborne this afternoon brought the same passion and determination to win for their countries. Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to making this match happen and congratulations to the winners!”
