National Two South

Barnes 40

Cornish All Blacks 0

Queen Elizabeth Walk

CORNISH All Blacks produced a spirited second half performance but they were still whitewashed in London to leave them yet to win a National Two South game this season.

The Cornishmen trailed 26-0 at the break, and even though they served up a much better second 40 minutes, they could not trouble the scoreboard.

Barnes had the try-scoring bonus point in the bag inside the opening half an hour, with tries from Frasier Carlisle, Matt Cornish, Matt Steele and Tom O’Toole, who added three conversions.

The All Blacks were struggling at the line-out, and there were far too many missed tackles, no doubt, for head of rugby Jimmy Tucker’s liking.

A few stern words must have been exchanged in the changing room during the interval, and with that, as the Cornishmen entered the field with dogged determination on their faces, the second half was a different story to the first, with the All Blacks improving in those poor areas noticeably, and it took Barnes another 20 minutes to get their fifth try, but it was worth the wait for the home fans.

A fantastic, free-flowing move saw Carlisle and Cornish set up a score for flying winger James Greenwood, with O’Toole improving the try for a 33-0 advantage.

The sixth touchdown for Barnes rather summed up the All Blacks’ season, when the ball popped out of a ruck, and it was hacked downfield where it went out of play five metres from the visitors’ line.

Barnes won the line-out and Jimmy Remfry grabbed the try, again converted by O’Toole, to complete the rout.

It left the question in the visitors’ minds that had they started the match like they played in the second half, it could have been a different story.

Instead, they are now 31 points adrift of climbing out of the relegation zone, with 11 matches left to play — a pretty hopeless situation to say the least.

The chances of the Cornish All Blacks pulling off what would be one of the greatest of escapes are slim at best, but it is a positive sign for the club that their supporters have really stuck with them in this challenging time, and with that, surely there are good times ahead again at Polson Bridge in the not too distant future.

It is safe to say that no one involved with the National Two South side at the club has had an easy ride this season with players leaving left, right and centre from the outset of the season and even during it.

Only this week, Jamie Tripcony and Eddie MCGinley have decided to walk away from the club, but as ever with the Development XV in fine form at the top of the Duchy League this season, there are young players at the club that will be looking to make the step up to fill the void.

Next up for the Cornish All Blacks this weekend is another away trip, this time to Dorking.

Jimmy Tucker will be hoping to lift the spirits of everyone at the club after the recent departures, and there would be no better way to do it than by grabbing the first win of the season. No easy task, but now that players can all but play with freedom, perhaps results may start swinging their way.

Barnes —Tries: Carlisle, Cornish, Steele, O’Toole, Greenwood, Remfry. Convs: O’Toole x5

Half time: 26-0

Full time: 40-0

• ELSEWHERE in the county, also hoping to get back to action this weekend after either having no fixture schedule, having their match postponed, Launceston’s Development XV are home to Wadebridge Camels, and Bude are also home, welcoming Plymouth Argaum to Bencoolen Meadow.

Camelford are away to Lankelly-Fowey in the cup at 3pm KO.

• IN THE RBS Six Nations this weekend, France and Italy kick things off at 2.35pm on Saturday, before Wales and Scotland go to battle at 4.50pm.

On Sunday, England are back in action, after their impressive win against the Scots, against Italy at 2pm.

The England Ladies’ team also hopes to carry on their good form, after thrashing Scotland 32-0 on Friday, as they too face Italy — their game at 2pm on Saturday.