THE Townsmen and Countrymen teams had a ‘flipping” brilliant time taking part in the Shrove Tuesday hurl in St Columb Major but a number of players took a “battering.”

The traditional hurl was played in biting cold and persistent rain yet a large gathered in the Market Square, helped in part by the school half-term break.

A reward of £40 was offered by Dan May, who, having been chosen by last year’s winner, started the game by throwing the ball into the crowd.

The opening phase was intense. A heavy scrum lasted around 15 minutes before the ball finally broke free into the narrow streets of the town.

Unsuspecting motorists, caught out by the sudden surge of play, could only look on in confusion as the hurl swept around them.

An effort was made to force the ball out of town via Trekenning Road, but it was quickly turned back toward the centre.

Countryman Ben Lomax broke from near the Wesley car park with the ball, running hard down Treventon Rise to the foot of Union Hill.

The ball was then passed to fellow Countryman Jack Pollard, who was ‘stood’ by Marco Ciarleglio at the Penkernick junction.

The game settled into a series of punishing scrums and rapid turnovers, moving down the lane into Retreat Court and back out again. The physical nature of the contest was evident throughout.

Countryman Phil Ellery was forced to retire and receive treatment at Truro Hospital after a heavy tackle ended in a collision with a tree.

Townsman Sean Johns Jr secured the ball and made a bold break across the bypass after several dead ends and more fierce scrumming on Union Hill.

He drove up Hillhead and down toward Reterth, where he was finally challenged by Countryman Will Ellery.

Marco Ciarleglio emerged with possession as the scrum broke apart, and headed decisively for the boundary, pursued by a small but determined group.

The winning moment came when defending champion Marco Ciarleglio carried the ball across the boundary at Criftoe into the Parish of St Wenn. This was Marco’s 12th win for the Town, extending the record he set only last year.

Post-match celebrations began at Westlakes, where younger hurlers were treated to Silver Cocoa.

The tradition continued into the evening with Silver Beer shared among the adults at the Coaching Inn, the Red Lion, and finally the aptly named Silver Ball Inn.

Phil Ellery, the chairman of St Columb Old Cornwall Society, said: “St Columb hurling is an ancient Cornish tradition played with a solid, silver coated, wooden ball and contested through the streets, lanes, and fields of the parish.

“The game is traditionally played on Shrove Tuesday and again on the second Saturday after, marking the passing of winter and the coming of spring. The silver ball is said to represent the sun, or some say, the moon, and is closely associated with good health, good fortune, and prosperity for the year ahead.

“The two sides are formed by Town and Country, depending on which part of the parish a player lives in. There is no referee, no written rulebook, and no organising committee.

“In the days leading up to the games, shop windows are boarded up for protection, giving the town the unmistakable appearance of being under siege during the eleven-day hurling period.”

The final hurl of the season will be played on Saturday, February 28 with the Countrymen aiming to level the year’s score following the Town’s victory on Shrove Tuesday.

Residents and visitors are asked to avoid driving or parking within the town between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on February 28.

The streets will be occupied by the hurl and, for the safety of both participants and vehicles, routes should be kept clear.