THE Cornish All Blacks were only losing 21-15 after 'a ding dong' first half. However, Tynedale hit top form after the interval and, fielding their strongest side of the season, put the visitors under a lot of pressure, especially in the tight.

The All Blacks played bravely and with great spirit throughout, never gave up, scored three tries and threatened a bonus touch down at the end and were only thwarted because the Tynedale defence was often as good as their attack and because time ran out.

The visitors led 7-0 after five minutes, lock Nathan Hannay, a new signing from Sidmouth, on his debut, burst over from a maul after right wing Jason Luff had gone on one of his characteristic 50 yard runs to set up a ruck and a maul. Fly half Tony Yapp added the conversion. The All Blacks dominated the first 20 minutes without any further reward.

Tynedale replied with two penalties before the tenth minute, for holding in a ruck and offside, both kicked by centre Pete Belgian, and went ahead soon after when wing Sep Visser crossed from a maul and a set piece in the corner for Belgian to slot a fine touchline conversion.

It was virtually a score a minute now and the All Blacks were soon just a single point adrift after Luff again from 50 yards out-raced to the 22, set up a ruck and centre Ryan Westren crossed wide out.

Back came the Northumbrians with a penalty by Belgian for coming in at the side and the All Blacks landed one in response by Yapp, for handling in a ruck.

The half ended with Tynedale winning a lineout and ominously showing what they did extremely well in the second half - retaining good possession and handling brilliantly left and right before number eight Alistair Murray crossed.

Nevertheless, the All Blacks felt that they had had the upper hand in the first half, but now Tynedale turned it on, dominant in the pack and giving a superb display of handling.

In the 49th minute from a scrum the ball was recycled and the move ended with a try in the corner for scrum half Dominic Shaw to which Belgian added a good conversion to give his side a 28-15 lead.

Within five minutes this was stretched to 33-15 when the All Blacks suffered a bit of bad luck.

Captain and centre Mal Roberts saw his kick charged down and go straight into the hands of a Tynedale player. The ball was quickly recycled and on the overlap, Belgian crossed in the right corner.

With 15 minutes to go, the All Blacks came roaring back. They won a penalty, Yapp kicked to the right corner and from a catch and drive ten metres out Tynedale were firmly driven back, Hannay and Salter peeled off the maul and Salter touched down for a fine try which Yapp converted. 33-22.

However, Tynedale were not going to let this one go and again in open play produced a wonderfully fluent passing move for Visser to go over for his second try.

ln the last ten minutes the All Blacks stormed back relentlessly but that fourth try which would have given them at least a deserved bonus point eluded them.

Tynedale: H Smales, P Cole, J Harrison, P Belgian (J Hoyle 65), S Visser, Gavin Beasley, D Shaw, J Williams, J Graham (capt) ( S Ridley 78), D Jupp (A Harrison 49), B Marshall (G Restall 56), K Showler (D Whitehead 49), Andrew Murray, Grant Beasley and Alistair Murray.

Scorer: tries, Visser 2, Alistair Murray, Shaw, Belgian; cons, Belgian 2; pens, Belgian 3.

All Blacks: J Fabian, J Luff, R Westren, M Roberts (capt), B Turner (S Perry 35), T Yapp, L Webb, J Bolt, D Semmens (J Salter 59), B Pow (N Bayliss 53), N Hannay, B Jenkins, G Fleming ( T Freeman 58), T Rawlings, and D Kimberley (J Tripcony 71).

Scorers: tries, Hannay, Westren, Salter; cons, Yapp 2; pen, Yapp

Referee: Mr Chris Sharp RFU.