National Two South

Cornish All Blacks 0

Redingensians 34

Polson Bridge

THE end of the season cannot come quickly enough for Cornish All Blacks, writes Nigel Walrond.

This was a woeful display against a Redingensians Rams side who themselves are fighting against relegation from National Two South.

The Cornishmen’s own fate was realistically sealed several weeks ago, even though mathematically they can still stay up.

However, anyone watching this game – and there were plenty of them as it was the club’s annual ‘Farmers Day’ – will know what a ludicrous suggestion that is.

The All Blacks never looked like scoring in the whole 80 minutes, and barely crossed into the visitors’ 22, and at times it looked like men against boys.

The hosts played with the benefit of the slope and a very strong wind behind them in the first half, but instead of leading at the break, they found themselves trailing 12-0.

The Rams, who had won their previous three league games, took a 21st-minute lead with a catch-and-drive line-out try from lock Jamie Guttridge.

Impressive No.8 Robbie Stapley then added another on the stroke of half-time when he bashed his way through off the back of a five-metre scrum, and fly-half Jamar Richardson converted superbly from the touchline, with the ball going over off the far upright.

Any slim hopes the All Blacks had of a second-half fightback were ended three minutes into the second period when powderpuff tackling allowed Guttridge to roam through the middle and offload to blindside flanker Samir Kharbouch, with Richardson adding the extras.

Another move off the base of a close-range scrum provided the bonus-point try in the clubhouse corner for winger Conor Corrigan, and just before the hour mark, slick hands saw winger Sean McDermottroe touch down on the opposite side of the pitch. Richardson missed both conversions, and the extras for the Rams’ sixth try of the game, and a second of the match, for No.8 Stapley to complete the rout.

Too many performances like this next season and, in 12 months’ time the All Blacks could be facing the prospect of relegation to South West One West, rather than National Three South West.

All Blacks’ head of rugby Jimmy Tucker said: "We were aware they were a good scrummaging side, and in weather like that, scrummaging is everything.

"We were on the back foot in the scrums and we were living off scraps and going backwards."

Redingensians — Tries: Guttridge, Stapley x2, Kharbouch, Corrigan, McDermottroe. Cons: Richardson x2

Cornish All Blacks: A Edwards, M Kneebone, R Westren (H Dawe 52), S Chapman, L Edwards, C Swash (F Honey 52), R Friend (capt), R Dugard, L Bulut, L Chapman (C Reynolds 60), D Parish (S Hockridge ht), B Hilton, J Childs, L Duke, J Duke (D Theobald 63).

Redingensians: J Foxley, C Corrigan, S Bryant, D Barnes, S McDermottroe, J Richardson, G Drury (J Hill 56), M Weller (K Ball 63), B Henderson (R Crame 63), J Baker, T Bryson (A Amor 68), J Guttridge, S Kharbouch, T Vooght (C Nightingale 65), R Stapley.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

Attendance: 664