This was as close as it is likely to get of a demonstration of how to throw away a game. Coming back from 0-10 down to take an apparently unassailable lead of 29-10 and the bonus point secured the Cornish All Blacks went to pieces. The tackling and handling by the backs was woeful and the pack appeared to exert no pressure at all on the visitors, despite them being down to 13 men on one occasion. Take nothing away from Tynedale, they battled hard and came very close to causing a major derailment to Launceston's plans for a swift return to Division One and thoroughly deserved their bonus point, writes Tony Randel.

Tynedale looked dangerous from the kick-off and were rewarded with the first points with an easy Rob Miller penalty after Launceston had been caught off-side in their own 22! As though that were not bad enough Tynedale were gifted a soft try on the quarter hour when winger Danny Williams evaded two tackles before passing to scrum half Ross Samson to score; Miller converted. The tide looked to be flowing inexorably in favour of the visitors as Cornish All Blacks had not looked like scoring at this point.

Before dismay turned to rout Cornish All Blacks began to get a grip of themselves. Tynedale were forced into conceding two penalties on the trot and Adam Staniforth slotted the second. This was definitely better as the home pack showed more determination and were getting the ball out. Neverthe­less it was not until well into the second quarter that Launceston made a real chance for themselves when Adam Staniforth and Mal Roberts combined to put Sam Hocking over the line. Staniforth converted to bring the scores level.

A good move down the right sent Tynedale's dangerous winger Danny Williams away but the home defence were up for the game this time and bundled him into touch. Minute 33 saw the Cornish All Blacks take the lead. A penalty for off-side was sent to about the Tynedale 22; good quick ball from Mike Myerscough to Lewis Webb enabled Lewis to get round the tail of the line-out and through the defence before anyone could stop him. Staniforth converted. Another chance that might have been came three minutes later when Jon Marlin made a good 40m run but he was brought down with no support anywhere near him.

As the end of the first period approached Launces­ton camped in the Tynedale 22 and twice went over the line only for the ball to be held up on both occasions (one certainly very controversially). So the first period ended with Cornish All Blacks looking better but by no means convincing.

Whatever was said in the home changing room had effect for the first seven minutes of the second period. A try to Ryan Westren came straight from the kick-off but the conversion went wide. Launceston pressure was rewarded with two penalties both kicked to the corner. Although the catch-and-drive was stopped Lewis Webb gathered the second from the breakdown and scuttled over the line.

The extras by Staniforth opened the gap to a respectable 29-10 and a big score looked on the cards. However it was not to be; the home defence seemed to fall to pieces as Tynedale conspired to have at least one man over whenever they attacked. Cornish All Blacks had a good scoring chance after occupying the Tynedale 22 for some while towards the end of the third quarter but could not get over the line.

The Tynedale come-back really started just into the fourth quarter when scrum half Ross Samson ran round the back of a line-out to score without a hand being laid on him. At 29-17 Tynedale could sense that things were turning in their favour. Launceston conceded a penalty in their own 22, Miller took the quick tap and raced through the defence to score. His conversion brought the score to 29-24 with Tynedale looking by far the more dangerous and aggressive team at this stage.

The gap was further narrowed on 75minutes when Gavin Beasley slotted a penalty from 30m. At last the Cornish All Blacks seemed to come back to life and took the game right to Tynedale for the last ten minutes but it was a mighty relief when the final whistle sounded with five league points in the bag.

Every team will have the odd bad day — let us all hope that this was the bad day Launceston got away with. A lot more will be needed over the next few weeks against the old foes Redruth, Stourbridge and Birmingham.

Cornish All Blacks: tries, Hocking, Webb (2), Westren; cons, Staniforth (3); pens; Staniforth.

Tynedale: tries, Samson (2), Miller; cons, Miller (3); pens, Miller, Beasley

Cornish All Blacks: Jon Fabian, Jon Marlin (Steve Perry 58), Ryan Westren, Mal Roberts, Hamish Smales, Adam Staniforth, Lewis Webb (Ben Turner 65), Sam Hocking (Steve Pape 70), Tony Roques, Josh Lord, Mike Myerscough, Tim Collier, Danny Porte, Darren Semmens (Glenn Cooper 54), Keith Brooking (capt); rep not used, Jason Bolt.

Tynedale: Jack Smales, James Hoyle, Jack Harrison, Rob Miller (capt) (Fraser Shaw72), Danny Williams, Gavin Beasley, Ross Samson, Greg Irwin, Grant Beasley (Matthew Fieldhouse 8), Andrew Murray, Kevin Showler, Ben Marshall, Rupert Harden, Joe Graham, Dan Herdman

Referee: Mr Ed Turnille (RFU)