DAN Pearce scored 27 points including a hat-trick as the Cornish All Blacks gave supporters an early Christmas present with a fantastic 47-0 win over Thornbury.

Seven tries for the All Blacks with six converted, made it a one-sided affair, with Thornbury struggling to make any impact on the game whatsoever.

The All Blacks made three changes from their narrow defeat at home to Exeter University as they gave a debut to tight-head prop Zac Cinnamond in place of his brother Rory who dropped to the bench, Jordan Duke came in for Jake Crabb in the second-row while player/coach Ryan Westren failed to recover in time from a knock picked up last week and was replaced by Shaun Crawford.

The home side were fired up from the off, and it took less than two minutes for the first try to be scored, when Torin Clarke made space for himself to run down the field and touch down on the left wing. Dan Pearce’s conversion curled through the posts.

The All Blacks were strong in the scrum, which allowed the ever-improving Dom Mulberry to provide quick ball for the dangerous backs. A good floating pass to Pearce led to the side’s second try to give them a 12-0 lead inside the opening ten minutes.

Conditions worsened as the game progressed, yet the home side still managed to score another try before half-time as second-row Marc Williams went over.

The All Blacks were playing the advantage in the second-half, and came out more fired up then their opponents. Jon Dawe increased the home side’s try tally, making the score 26-0.

They did give away a couple of penalties, but Thornbury were not able to use them to their advantage.

It looked like the All Blacks were on course for another try but as Tom Sandercock went for the line, the ball slipped from his grasp.

Nonetheless the Launceston side were camped on the Thornbury try line and it was only going to be a matter of minutes before they scored.

A huge push off a scrum took the pack over the line, with skipper Lloyd Duke scoring.

The All Blacks continued to utilise their backs as much possible despite the driving rain and a mud-soaked pitch, but it was the home side who always seem to shine in these conditions.

Man-of-the-match Pearce notched up two more tries before the end of the game, both of which he converted, The first saw Pearce pick up the ball from a good offload from Dawe. He picked up speed and weaved his way through the Thornbury defence.

The second saw Pearce leap for the line, but fall short, and he scrambled the remaining distance needed. He kicked both conversions, signalling the end of the game.

The result coupled with Okehampton’s defeat at Cullompton allows the All Blacks to head into the Christmas break in fourth spot, ahead of their next league fixture against Matson at Polson Bridge on Saturday, January 6.

Captain Lloyd Duke said it was the perfect way to end the calendar year.

He said: “We spoke about making sure that we sent the supporters into Christmas with a good win and thankfully we did it. With Hayle conceding our Cornwall Cup quarter-final on the 30th, there’s a three-week gap now before we play Matson, so to put on a good performance was vital. The supporters here are very loyal and follow us both home and away. The clubhouse afterwards was packed so it was a great day.

The All Blacks couldn’t have got off to a better start as the rampaging Torin Clarke scored in the left-hand corner inside two minutes and they added a further six tries in a one-sided game of rugby, leaving Duke delighted.

He said: “It was great to score twice so early on as it made our life a lot easier. Saying that, between those two tries we didn’t really create a lot apart from Marc Williams’ try as we might have taken our foot off the gas a bit. The players were reminded of that at half-time and we went out and scored four good tries in the second-half.

“Considering the conditions, our pace of ball was really good and our handling was good. And we made very few errors. The conditions didn’t hamper us and we we played some good, clever rugby.

“In the second-half we knew that they had the advantage with the wind so we decided to make sure that we play rugby in the right areas and not too much in our own half.

Although they had a good lineout and a decent maul, I don’t really remember them getting into our 22 in the second-half which shows how well we defended.

“In three of our home games we haven’t even conceded a try, which is always nice. Although we’re delighted with the 47 points, it’s even more pleasing to keep a team to nought.”

Duke was also quick to praise his players, including hat-trick hero Pearce and Clarke.

He said: “Dan thought a lot of last week’s defeat was his fault when it wasn’t as we had plenty of opportunities before that. A week is a long time to think about it but to go and score 27 points was a brilliant response.

“I also thought that Torin had his best game for us since joining and also Dom Mulberry over the last couple of weeks has had his best games since joining us.

“I was also delighted with our scrum which was fantastic and our maul was really good as well and that allowed us to get good quick ball for the backs to do what they do.”

Duke admitted that the return of Rikki Bentham and the signing of Zac Cinnamond made a big difference.

He said: “Rikki and Zac are probably the best two scrummagers we’ve got and we also had Rory on the bench who adds a bit more around the park.

“We’ve gone from being in a situation eight weeks ago where we struggling to find a prop to now having almost too much choice. It’s a great position to be in, especially as the conditions worsen.”

With no game until the first Saturday in January, the squad will have a few days off from training and Duke admits that the Matson game should be explosive.

He said: We’re not training now until the 28th and I’m sure that we’ll have a few good sessions leading into the Matson game. They’re going to be desperate to beat us after the RFU allowed us to play it at home after they conceded earlier in the season, so it should be a very interesting game.”

Cornish All Blacks —

Bentham, Bulut, Z Cinnamond, Williams, J Duke, Rowley, L Duke, Clarke; Mulberry, Coles, Hawke, J Dawe, Crawford, Pearce, Sandercock

Replacements: R Cinnamond, Crabb

Tries: Clarke, Pearce 3, Williams, J Dawe, L Duke

Convs: Pearce 6

Pens:?N/A

Thornbury —

Panting, Sheldon, Summerfield, Evans, Whitlock, Goodridge, Osborne, Hussey, Glew, Wood, Ogilvie, Tarling, Bennett, Donohue, Panting

Replacements: Low, Cullimore

Tries: N/A

Convs: N/A

Pens: N/A

Man-of-the-match: Dan Pearce

Attendance: 489

Referee: Steve Bubyler