Saturday, February 1

South West Premier

Cornish All Blacks 22

Newbury Blues 12

ADAM Collings denied Newbury a crucial losing bonus point as the Cornish All Blacks picked up a third successive home win, with a 22-12 victory at Polson Bridge.

After Tom Thorne put the struggling Berkshire side ahead with a well-taken try, Launceston dominated the rest of the first-half but only had Glenn Coles’ penalty and Greg Thomas’ 39th minute try to show for it.

Left-winger Harvey North finished off a swift counter attack just 35 second into the second-half, but Launceston gradually got back on top and tries from Rory Cinnamond and Collings ensured the hosts’ continued their superb home form.

Such has been the turnaround in Launceston’s fortunes in recent weeks, joint head coaches Ian Goldsmith and Ryan Westren again made just one change from the 22-17 defeat at high-flying Maidenhead a fortnight earlier, recalling full-back Alfie Lang in place of Dan Pearce, which allowed Reuben Edwards to move to the right-wing.

The first five minutes were pretty even until Newbury took the lead.

An All Blacks lineout midway in the Newbury half evaded everybody before fly-half Dan Thorne played a long pass out to Thorne, who ran just into the Launceston half before passing to full-back Tom Martin who beat a defender before drawing the last man for the onrushing Thorne to score from 15 metres. Thorne then added the extras for a 7-0 advantage.

This seemed to wake the Blacks up who from then on camped themselves in the Newbury 22 for almost the remainder of the half.

They got on the scoreboard when Coles knocked over a penalty from just to the left of the posts after Newbury were penalised for holding on.

However as much as they tried, Newbury defended manfully, even dumping winger Martin Kneebone into touch inches from the line.

It appeared as if Newbury would get through to half-time, but they didn’t. The home side were dominant in the scrum and after Newbury were penalised, which included a yellow card for James MacAuley, Thomas powered over from a couple of metres out. Coles missed a difficult conversion, but the All Blacks held the lead until the break.

But within 35 seconds of the restart the Blues were back in front. A box kick from scrum-half Adam Collings was caught just outside his own 22 by Martin who broke through some poor tackling to run 50 metres before a couple of nice passes set away outside-centre Toby Holland who had a simple stroll to the line.

The next 25 minutes were pretty even with both sides battling away without creating any try-scoring opportunities.

With both sides at the wrong end of the table and battling for survival, both sides knew a loss could be potentially damaging come April. However it was Launceston who seized the initiative in the latter stages.

On 67 minutes after a penalty was kicked into the Newbury 22, the All Blacks won the lineout and kept the ball for several phases before prop Rory Cinnamond bulldozed his way over from a couple of metres out. Coles added the extras for a 15-12 lead.

Newbury failed to exert any real pressure as they looked for a match-changing try. In the end it was Launceston who scored with seven minutes to go. Another penalty conceded by Newbury was kicked into the left-hand corner, and from seven metres out, a driving maul was set-up, which was driven over the line. Collings was the scorer with Coles again adding the two points.

The rest of the game was played out with little alarm as Launceston moved five points clear of Newbury, who have played a game more.

Westren admitted his side had to work hard but the four points were all that matters.

He said: “The result was the most important thing. We were fairly dominant in the first-half but due to a few inaccuracies we couldn’t score. To be fair to Newbury, they put in a superb defensive effort. At half-time we talked about sticking to what we were doing as we were camped in their 22, and we knew eventually it’d tell.

“Even the tries they did score were off the back of our mistakes, two big errors cost us. But bar that, although they’re a dangerous side, we contained them really well.”

Launceston have lost just one of their last six games at Polson Bridge, to leaders Barnstaple.

Westren said: “Obviously home wins are key to survival, most weeks you see that home teams win. However all wins at this time of year are crucial, and our form across the board has improved as the season has gone on.”

That will be put to the test this weekend when they make the shortest away trip of the season to neighbours Okehampton (2.30pm), who are up to fourth in the table following a 22-21 victory at Ivybridge on Saturday.

Oke and Launceston have faced off five times in the last three seasons in the league with the Devon side currently enjoying a 3-2 record.

However in the reverse fixture back in October, an excellent first-half performance gave Launceston the bragging rights.

But Okehampton at home are a different animal, only losing once at the Showfield this season.

“We know it’s a huge game but it’s one of those which we can’t build up too much. Like last week we can’t play out the match during the week. We’ve got to build up to it quietly, prepare for it like any other fixture and get ourselves right.

“People from the outside will build it up as a derby, but we’ve got a job to do. We’ve got to go up the road and try and get a win on the board.

“They’re a formidable side at home, so we know we’ve got a job on our hands, but we’re worried about what we do. They’re clearly a good side and know what it takes to win games at this level, but we’ve already beaten them once this season and I’m confident we can do it again.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, Launceston Seconds picked up an 18-12 victory at St Agnes in Group One of the Cornwall Cup.

Due to injuries and unavailability, Launceston were forced to field a player from the home side, although it was fly-half Ben Hawke who kicked the Blacks in front with a penalty.

The home side responded with a try before Launceston hit back before the break by scoring out wide through St Agnes’ own player, Charlie Barry.

A driving maul, finished off by Dom Theobald, put the North Cornwall side 15-7 up, before the hosts, who play in Cornwall One, responded once more following a series of pick and gos.

However, a late Hawke penalty extended the visitors’ advantage, which was how it stayed.

Launceston’s next cup game sees them host Redruth Seconds on Saturday (2.30pm).

In Group Three, Bude lost 48-7 at their St Austell counterparts while Camelford were awarded an away walkover by Penryn Seconds.

Cornish All Blacks —

Lang, Edwards, Sandercock, Westren, Kneebone, Coles, Collings; Cinnamond, Bulut, Thomas, Bottoms, Clarke, Lightfoot, L Duke (captain), Rowley.

Replacements: Bentham, Goldsmith, Pearce.

Tries: Thomas, Cinnamond, Collings.

Convs: Coles 2.

Pens: Coles.

Cornish All Blacks’ man-of-the-match: Brandon Rowley.