A DISASTROUS opening 20 minutes cost the Cornish All Blacks dear as they were defeated 26-20 at old rivals Okehampton in the first derby between the clubs in 24 years.

Oke roared into a 19-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes and were 26-7 up at half-time after each team traded further tries.

The All Blacks dominated the second period but could only add 13 further points, which included a try from Ryan Westren, as they fell to their second successive away defeat.

Head coach, Jimmy Tucker, made just one change from their 18-15 victory over North Petherton as Chris McDonald was brought in at number eight for Brandon Rowley, who dropped to the bench.

Okehampton’s Oaklands Park ground has a significant slope, and it was the home side who got to attack down it in the first-half.

After starting well, they scored their first try inside 12 minutes as inside-centre Rhys Palmer bulldozed his way through after receiving the ball on the visitors’ 22. Former All Blacks scrum-half, Richard Friend added the extras.

Martin Harrison-Browne’s men were on top as they touched down for a second time on 16 minutes as Palmer’s midfield partner Gareth Espin went over. Friend again slotted the conversion.

The Maroon and Ambers added their third try not long after when an excellent move across the pitch ended with left-winger Ryan Lee going over in the corner. This time Friend missed, but they were 19-0 ahead with less than half an hour on the clock.

Knowing that they needed to score next to make a game of it, the All Blacks started to build up a head of steam as their forwards battered away in the Okehampton 22.

They were rewarded for their endeavours in the 32nd minute when winger Martin Kneebone found a gap to score. Dan Pearce added the extras to reduce the lead to 12 points.

The home side fought back and used the slope and the strength of their forwards.

After a succession of scrums close to the All Blacks’ line, referee Scott Baker awarded a penalty try, which gave Okehampton a commanding 26-7 lead at half-time.

The All Blacks knew that they had the elements in their favour during the second 40 and forced the home defence into plenty of hard work, although they held out until the 53rd minute when outside centre Ryan Westren went over for his sixth try from just five starts this term, after a quick tap and go from one of a number of penalties that Okehampton conceded. Pearce again converted to make it 26-14.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, it was all to play for, but Okehampton were given a helping hand as replacement winger Shaun Crawford was sin-binned.

However, a high tackle from the hosts allowed Pearce to slot over a penalty and reduce the lead to nine.

The All Blacks continued to probe away but without much success. They needed a stroke of luck and Okehampton obliged as they tried to run the ball out of their own 22 and were caught, gifting the visitors a penalty with two minutes to go.

Pearce’s successful kick made sure that a converted try would win the game, while at the same time ensuring a losing bonus point if the scoreline remained the same.

Despite the best efforts of the All Blacks, the home side held firm to ensure that the bragging rights stayed in Devon.

Cornish All Blacks’ skipper Lloyd Duke, admitted that Okehampton wanted it more and pulled no punches in his assessment.

Duke said: “It was a game that got away and Okehampton wanted it more than us, which is incredibly frustrating to say. The slope and wind made it a game of two halves but when you ship 26 points in the first-half it’s going to be very hard to win.

“There were two basic errors for two of their first three tries, which came from missed tackles. We also didn’t compete very well in the contact area and that’s down to the desire of the player.

“Saying that, the most frustrating thing is that we conceded the penalty try right on half-time and we would have won else although we were 19-0 down early on which has ultimately cost us the game.”

Duke was more pleased with the second-half but admitted that Okehampton had more about them on the day.

He said: “We left some points out there and we had more opportunities and another frustrating thing was that in most aspects of the game they seemed to have the edge. They wanted it more and if you come up against a team who’ll die for each other it’s very hard to win and it showed on Saturday. As a team we weren’t competitive and that’s the most frustrating thing in the world.

“Although we nilled them in the second-half Okehampton were without doubt the most physical team we’ve played this season. Whether that’s because they were playing against us I don’t know but they were very physical and solid in defence. The pitch was also pretty narrow but we did the hard work and got close to their line three or four times, but then made a mistake so it was our fault.”

Despite the scoreline, Duke admitted that it was a great game to play in although it felt different to a normal derby encounter.

Duke said: “To be honest I thought there would be more people there. There was probably only around 250 people in the crowd. It was a great atmosphere but it was weird that there were still less there than a normal home game for us.

“However, it was great to see the supporters stood amongst each other and the game must have been good for the supporters to watch as it was close.”

The All Blacks now have a week off before they entertain Teignmouth on Saturday, October 21. For the first time in a number of years, they’re eligible to take part in the Cornwall Cup, however they’ve been given a bye in the first round.

Summing up the season so far, the All Blacks’ skipper believes that they’ve got to be relatively content.

Duke said: “We’d probably have taken third at this stage of the season with four of the six games being away. At the start of the season we didn’t know much about the leagues and although I’d say that Exeter Uni look like the team to beat, more than half of the league are capable of beating each other.

“Looking at ourselves we still have plenty to work on. I would say that our defence has been good but the last two away games we’ve let ourselves down in that area although we’ve probably been tested more. Going forward we’re scoring more tries and the backs have played well. As the conditions now get worse, the forwards really need to step up, so hopefully we can do it.”

Asked whether he thinks the break is an advantage, Duke admits that they can’t do anything about it, but is demanding an improvement from last time they were forced into a break, when Matson conceded their clash at Polson Bridge last month.

“Everybody wants to keep playing at this stage of the season. We don’t really want a break but we’ll train this week as if it’s a match week. The game after the last weekend we had off at Newent, we were taught a lesson. So next week we need to make sure we show no rust. It’s about keeping the tempo up in training and make sure there is no repeat of last time.”