Duchy League Cup (semi-final)

St Austell 2XV 22

Cornish All Blacks 2XV 3

THE Cornish All Blacks’ second string lost 22-3 to St Austell in the semi-final of the Duchy League Cup last Saturday.

The scoreline doesn’t do Launceston justice for a spirited and committed performance, which showed that there is plenty of talent and skill in the club.

Having to play up the slope in the first-half, it was very cat and mouse stuff as Launceston would smother any attack from the home side who also forced the visitors into plenty of mistakes too.

It was 30 minutes in until Launceston piled on the pressure. After the backs made some good ground, some strong forward play forced St Austell to give away a penalty, which was converted

This seemed to wake St Austell up, with attack after attack, they replied with a converted try to make it 7-3 at half-time.

Launceston had a slope with them after the break but St Austell defended well.

It was way into the second-half before St Austell finally broke down the Launceston defence in the 70th minute.

With seven players to bring off their bench, the fresh legs certainly played a part as Launceston brought on their two bench players and suffered two injuries.

In the end St Austell added another two tries to seal their place in the final.

Player/coach, Mike Haines, said: “Fair play to the boys, they put in a big shift and did their shirt proud.”

Cornish All Blacks 2XV

Burden, Hawken, Dingle, Stringer, Theobald, Sandercock, Thompson, Statton, Christophers, Kelly, Brewerton, J Osborne, T Osborne, Knight, Gillbard

Subs: Yeatman, Perry