National Two South
Cornish All Blacks 12
Canterbury 39
Polson Bridge
.jpg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
.jpg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
IT WAS another defeat for the Cornish All Blacks when they took on Canterbury in the re-arranged game at Polson, with the home side losing 12-39.
Jimmy Tucker’s Cornish side started off in control and began making ground on their Kent counterparts.
Play was deep in Canterbury’s half and the Cornish All Blacks were showing a lot of fight, leading to many supporters speculating whether it would be their first win of the season.
But after a failed penalty kick and a couple of missed chances, Canterbury started the onslaught. Seventeen minutes in and Aiden Moss found a gap to go over for a try in the corner. Thomas Best converted.
This was the first of six tries for the visitors, who also picked up a crucial bonus point. The second try was scored by Daniel Smart who ran a good part of the pitch to secure an easy five points, with no one from the Cornish All Blacks there to stop him. Best converted.
The difference in experience between the two teams was evident. The Cornish All Blacks were putting in the effort, but they couldn’t compete. Canterbury wasted no time in scoring another try, this time by Thomas Burns, before their score was extended further with a penalty, kicked through the posts by Best.
Just before the half time whistle, Smart scored his second try for Canterbury, securing a bonus point. At the break, they led 27 nil.
Canterbury had the upper hand in the second half, but the home side did claw back some confidence and some points.
Charles Kingsman touched down for Canterbury’s fifth try, before the visitors were penalised and a yellow card given to replacement Alexander Wake-Smith.
The Cornish All Blacks struggled to find a space, but as the ball was passed wide, skipper Richard Friend went over for a try, which was easily converted by Chris Swash.
The home side stopped Canterbury from scoring with a number of good tackles and strong defence skills, but nonetheless, play was precariously close to the try line.
As the visitors returned to full strength, it wasn’t long before Thomas Best made quick work of scoring the sixth try, that he also converted.
The Cornish All Blacks were able to score again with a try by Dave Parish, but despite a few glimmers of hope, the home side were outplayed and remain rooted at the bottom of the table.
Cornish All Blacks — Tries: Friend (53), Parish (72). Conv: Swash (53)
Canterbury — Tries: Moss (17), Smart (24), Burns (28), Smart (49), Kingsman (44), Best T (62). Convs: Best T (17) (24) (62). Pen: Best T (35)
Half time: 0-27
Full time: 12-39
Referee: Adam Leal
Sin bin: Wake-Smith (51, Canterbury), Best O (73, Canterbury)
Man of the match: Richard Friend, Cornish All Blacks
Attendance: 397
Cornish All Blacks: Edwards A (Sandercock 58), Chapman S, Westren, Dawe, Kneebone, Honey (Swash 48), Friend, Dugard, Bulut, Chapman L (Reynolds 54), Hockridge (Parish 58), Hilton, Duke J, Duke L, Childs (Theobald 44).
Canterbury: Best O, Moss, Horey (Hilton 48), Best T, Kingsman (Sayers 48), Beaumont (Kingsman 67), Smart, Green (Kenny 50), Rogers T (Cantwell 50), Kenny (Wake-Smith 32), Cadman, Burns, Nixon, Ward (Rogers 11), Micans (Green 55, Micans 62).
• THIS weekend, the Cornish All Blacks are back on the road after two home-defeats on the trot and are up against Southend — who sit just one place above them in the National Two South table.
Kick off is at 3pm, and the All Blacks will hope they return from the 500-mile round trip with their first win.