Cornish All Blacks 16

Dings Crusaders 21

THE Cornish All Blacks put up an encouraging fight against Dings Crusaders but some costly errors led to a 16-21 defeat in their National League Three South West opener at Polson Bridge.

Despite the loss, the Cornish side picked up a losing bonus point, and walked away with lots of positives.

Player/coach, Ryan Westren, said: "It wasn’t the result we wanted but I think there’s a lot that can be taken away from the game. I think we had the opportunities there to take it, but a few things didn’t go our way.

“The team spirit that maybe wasn’t there last season was there. We will make mistakes, we’re very inexperienced. There’s a lot of positives to take from that today. We were in the game til the end. We’ve got one point on the board, and there’s plenty more to come."

It was a bright start for the All Blacks, being awarded a penalty in the opening minutes of the game. Fraser Honey kicked and put the home side in the lead.

Dings equalised shortly after, when Ben Bolster also kicked a penalty and he made it 6-3 a minute later following another infringement.

The Cornish All Blacks were given a massive helping hand early in the game when Dings’ number two, Paul Fricken, was given a red card for punching and it didn’t take them long to take advantage.

A minute later, Andy Knight went over the line to score the All Blacks first try. The conversion was missed.

The All Blacks gave away a number of penalties, and lost their way toward the end of the first-half.

Josh Lloyd touched down for two tries for Dings, one of which was converted. The visitors meant business and the All Blacks were on the defence. They extended their lead with another Bolster penalty before the whistle, to lead 8-21.

The All Blacks had a better second 40.

Although they had a disallowed try, Tom Sandercock went over to make it two tries for the home side, who were beginning to come back in the game.

A penalty, kicked by Ben Hawke, brought the All Blacks within touching distance of equalising and taking the lead (16-21). The side tried their hardest in a nailbiting end to the game, but they were unable to score any further points meaning the Bristol-based Crusaders went back up the A30 and M5 with four crucial points.

Cornish All Blacks

Hurdwell (Stringer 46), Bulut, Knight, Merritt, Duke J, Duke L, Bone, Williams, Sandercock, Honey, Kneebone, Faamatuainu, Westren, Tharme (Snell 51), Hawke.

Replacement not used: Stephens

Tries: Knight (11), Sandercock (56)

Cons: N/A

Pens: Honey (5), Hawke (71)

Dings Crusaders

Taylor, Fincken, Lloyd, Curry, Ivall (Canulli 64), Wright, Williams, Holcombe, Plummer, Bolster, Scott, Wright-Hyderabad, Smith, Rees, Tovey.

Replacements not used: Harvey, Hooper.

Tries: Lloyd (28 (35)

Convs: Bolster (30)

Pens: Bolster (7) (8) (47)

Man of the match: Tom Sandercock (Cornish All Blacks)

Referee: Zerren Bell