A BRACE of tries from Lewis Webb helped Cornwall retain the Tamar Cup for the fourth year in a row.

The Taunton fly-half, who grew up in Penryn, was amongst the scorers at Brickfields in Plymouth as the Duchy started their 2015 campaign with a comprehensive 38-13 victory over Devon.

Also getting on the scoreboard for Cornwall against their arch rivals were scrum-half Matt Shepherd, who put in a man-of-the-match performance with a try, three conversions and a penalty, Robin Wedlake and Billy Searle.

The first starting XV of the year from head coach Graham Dawe saw a number of last season’s regulars such as Ben Hilton and Chris Fuca included alongside fresh faces like Penryn captain George Jones and highly rated Redruth prop and Helston native Tommy Phillips.

Shepherd put his county ahead after just four minutes when he split the line to dot down and the Cornish All Black star also converted the score.

Problems were being suffered though by Cornwall as they gave away penalties regularly and after several infringements, hooker Rupert Freestone was sin-binned.

Falmouth Packet:

Matt Shepherd dots the ball down to open the scoring. Picture: SIMON BRYANT/ITKIS PHOTO

This created an opening for Devon who went in front courtesy of a Dan Williams try which Teignmouth fly-half Joe Simmonds converted before booting home a penalty.

Cornwall levelled proceedings as Shepherd slotted a penalty between the uprights and he played an integral part in getting back the lead as he set up a try scoring move for his half-back partner Webb.

This was duly converted, but Simmonds cut the gap back to four points with a penalty just before the half time break.

Dawe’s side came back onto the pitch in a more fluent mood and put in a rampant second half performance as they pushed themselves away from Devon.

Redruth winger Wedlake dotted down before Webb added his second of the day, with both tries being converted.

Searle completed the evening with a wonderful try in the corner before kicking home a conversion from the touchline which even the late sin-binning of lock Chris Courtier could not spoil.

Next up for Cornwall is their opening County Championship clash against Gloucestershire at Cinderford on May 9.

CORNWALL: 15 Venables (Saltash), 14 Wedlake (Redruth), 13 Murphy (Cornish AB), 12 Webber (Redruth), 11 Dawe (Cornish AB), 10 Webb (Taunton), 9 Shepherd (Cornish AB); 1 Phillips (Redruth), 2 Freestone (Clifton), 3 Judge (Cornish AB), 4 Courtier (Cornish AB), 5 Hilton (c, Cornish AB), 6 Goldsworthy (Camborne), 7 Jones (Penryn), 8 Fuca (Redruth).

REPS (all used): Salter (Cornish AB), Drew (Redruth), Brown (Redruth), Grubb (Wadebridge), Friend (Cornish AB), Peacock (Camborne), Searle (Cornish AB), Mankee (Camborne), Prisk (Redruth).

TRIES: Shepherd, Webb (2), Wedlake, Searle.

CONS: Shepherd 3/3, Searle 2/2.

PEN: Shepherd.

SIN-BIN: Freestone (16), Courtier (80).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Matt Shepherd.