SPARKLING rugby by both sides, sunshine in the glorious Dales amongst real rugby people but the wrong result; but you can't have it all! Launceston had 70 per cent possession and territory in the first half and near the same in the second but dogged Dales defence and the ability of their backs to turn half chances into tries saw them just scrape home, writes Tony Randel.Much has already been said about Launceston using the remainder of this season to build the Cornish All Blacks team for next. That policy gave starting chances to Jake Murphy, Mike Rawlings, Jon Brandling-Harris and Tom Rawlings who was also captaining the side. The all really faced up to the plate, took their chances, played like seasoned veterans and showed what a bright future the club can look forward to. The first six minutes was a real baptism of fire for anyone but they fought right back!

Things started well with the Launceston pack, then the backs working through the phases until they were well inside the hosts' 22 and an early try looked on the cards. The early try happened but not the way expected. Suddenly winger David Hall intercepted a perfectly 'normal' pass between two backs and set off up the field at a blistering pace; it was soon obvious that no-one was going to catch this fast and powerful runner who had all the time in the world to touch down between the posts to leave a simple conversion for Mark Bedworth.

The play started again in exactly the same way. Launceston cleverly but cautiously going through the phases and gaining ground. When 10m from the Wharfedale line exactly the same thing happened again but this time the 'culprit' was Luke Gray. The chasers ran him a bit closer so that he was only able to touch down in the corner thus preventing a second Bedworth conversion. Nevertheless 12-0 down after six minutes was going to mean playing catch-up with a vengeance!

Give credit where credit is due the Launceston side, veterans of many a campaign and youngsters alike, really got stuck in and took the game straight pack to the Dalesmen. One catch and drive almost went over the line as did a 5m scrum but the Dales defence was sold. The pressure on Wharfedale was beginning to tell with the visitors forcing a number of penalties. Adam Staniforth missed one kickable one. Then the tide started to turn.

More good solid work by the Launceston pack in the Wharfedale 22 laid the foundations for a Jon Fabian try far out on the right. Adam Staniforth landed the difficult conversion. The Cornish All Blacks were straight back into the Wharfedale 22 but then lost a line-out in the corner. An infringement in the resulting ruck gave a penalty to Wharfedale. As the Launceston team were making their way back the required 10m Wharfedale seized their chance. David Hall took a quick tap penalty and started off. He had caught the whole Launceston side asleep so there was no way they were going to catch him! Another simple conversion for Bedworth made it 19-7 with the half-time whistle looming.

But again back stormed the Cornish All Blacks. More of the same; going through the phases until you have made space then go for it. This time Jon Fabian and Ryan Westren made the space for flanker Tom Rawlings to join the line and scoot over for a real captain's try. When the conversion sailed between the posts 19-14 seemed respectable after the early debacle!

The second half started just as the first had been. Top class rugby played in a good spirit to entertain a very knowledgeable and critical audience. The first few minutes were all Launceston pressure which resulted in a penalty for offside duly converted by Staniforth to bring the score to 19-17.

Both sides were beginning to feel the intensity at which game had been played and things slowed slightly. New legs and lungs for Launceston upped the tempo again. They nearly had a score when Jake Murphy and Jon Fabian made a strong move down the centre but the strong tackling backs, for which Wharfedale are renowned, brought that effort to an end. Two minutes later another similar run but joined by Ryan Westren and Mike Rawlings. This time Rawlings was on the end of the 'last pass'; thinking and acting far more like a winger than a flanker he chipped over the top of the last of the Wharfedale defence to touch down. As Staniforth landed another difficult conversion they went into the lead for the first time in 66th minute at 19-24. Could they hold out or increase the lead.

Wharfedale were getting pretty desperate as a loss would put them only six points clear of the relegation zone whereas a win would make them 95 per cent safe! The pressure intensified but the game stayed composed. The hosts took a leaf out of the visitors' book and started gradually working the ball into the Launceston 22. At the right moment they pounced to get the ball once again to David Hall who this time only had to go 10m or so to cross the line. When the Luke Gray conversion sailed between the posts on 70 minutes there were very audible cries of relief from the partisan but very knowledgable home supporters.

The last ten minutes was a bit scrappy as both sides 'tried too hard' but it was nail-biting for both sets of supporters. Three of the Wharfedale tries were opportunist, well seized but should not have been allowed to happen. As long as Cornish All Blacks learn from that very quickly they can take a lot of good from this match.

Wharfedale: Adam Whaites, Luke Gray, Chris Malherbe, Andrew Hodgson, David Hall, Mark Bedworth (Joel Gill 45), James Doherty (capt), Chris Steel (Peter Hall 37), Gavin Hindle, Ben Fear, Oliver Renton, Antony Capstick, Andy Allen, Dan Solomi and Rob Baldwin; reps not used, Dave Charnley, Chris Howick and Tom Cokell

Cornish All Blacks: Jon Fabian, Marc Dibble, Ryan Westren, Jake Murphy, Gary Kingdom, Adam Staniforth, Lewis Webb (Ben Turner 66), Jason Bolt, Glenn Cooper (Darren Semmens 70), Billy Moss (Andy Knight 56), Tom Skelding, Jon Brandling-Harris (Bryn Jenkins 64), Mike Rawlings, Tom Rawlings (capt) and Sam Hocking

Scorers: Wharfedale: tries, Hall (3), Gray; cons, Bedworth 2, Gray. Cornish All Blacks: tries, Fabian, T Rawlings, M Rawlings, cons, Staniforth( 3); pen, Staniforth

Referee: Mr Richard Kelly (RFU).