THE Cornish All Blacks return to league action tomorrow against North Petherton (2.30pm) at Polson Bridge, as they look to cement their place at the top of the Tribute South West One (West) table.

Launceston have enjoyed a brilliant start to the season in winning 12 of their opening 14 games to sit a point ahead of Okehampton, in the race for promotion to the South West Premier.

Their Somerset-based visitors have won seven and lost seven of their fixtures, to sit ninth in the table. The All Blacks eased to a 48-14 victory at Beggars Brook back in September, with Dan Pearce scoring twice. Since then, ‘the Oaks’ have improved to win five of their last seven and are now just nine points off St Ives in fourth.

However, joint head coach Ryan Westren, is excited to get 2019 started.

He said: “We’re massively keen as obviously we want to get back to winning ways. It’s always tough losing just prior to a break as you can’t put it right the following week, but training has had a great edge to it this week so we’re buzzing to get back out there.

“North Petherton are a very direct side so we have to be ready for what they bring, and that is front up physically and stop them at source. But I’m more interested in us imposing ourselves on the game so they can’t get going, as opposed to us having to contend with what they are bringing.”

Former Saltash duo, Andy Knight and Will Morton both went off early in the defeat at Newent last time out and are absent due to injury.

Although they are missing along with long-term absentee Marc Williams, the rest of the squad is available.

However, the coaches have sprung a surprise by handing Harry Lightfoot his first start of the season at blindside-flanker, with Torin Clarke taking Knight’s place in the second-row.

Westren said: “Harry brings an energy and work-rate that you can’t ignore, especially defensively and that maybe is something we have lacked in George Bone’s absence. He has earned it through honest hard work.”

Although they have a potentially season-defining clash at Okehampton next Saturday, Westren says they are concentrating on tomorrow.

He said: This week is our only focus, we go week to week and give every challenge our upmost attention so that come kick-off that week, we have done all we can to give ourselves the best shot at winning.”

The seconds were scheduled to be at home to their Saltash counterparts in the Duchy League but the visitors have conceded while the Colts entertain Penzance at 12.30pm.

Bude’s quest for a return to the Western Counties (West) division resumes tomorrow, as they welcome Torquay Athletic to Bencoolen Meadow (2.30pm) in the Tribute Cornwall and Devon League.

Torquay make the long trip to North Cornwall in fifth-place despite relegation last season, and Bude player/coach Angus Hodges wants his side to show why they are five points clear at the top with 12 games remaining.

However, the South Devon side are the only team to have beaten Bude this term, when they won 43-13 at the Recreation Ground back in September.

He said: “With a short break over Christmas we’ve had plenty of time to focus on this game. Being the only team to turn us over so far, the boys are fired up to put right our issues we had away at the beginning of the season.

“We’ve got a big point to make to prove that we deserve to be number one in this league, and this is our biggest opportunity yet.”

Bude will be missing forwards Simon Jeffery and Adam Black who are away, while second-row Joel Troke is out through concussion.

In the backs, Jack Horwell is away in Iceland, while Will Pharo is also missing.

However, there are returns from injury and unavailability, as Matt Williams returns at loosehead-prop and key backs — Steve Yates, Ed Hilliam-Cooke and Charlie Watton — are all included.

Camelford will try to bounce back from their poor result at home to St Just, as tomorrow they face high-flying Perranporth in Tribute Cornwall Two.

‘The Ford’ have won just one of their five games so far, to sit second bottom, while their visitors, who have been victorious in four of their five outings, are second.

See next week’s Post to find out whether Launceston and Bude remain top of the pile and whether Camelford can pull off an unexpected win.