National League Three South West

Cornish All Blacks 19

Camborne 11

THE Cornish All Blacks kept their survival hopes intact with a thrilling 19-11 derby day victory over promotion chasing Camborne at Polson Bridge.

After successive away games at Ivybridge and Salisbury, the home side were forced into a number of changes.

With regular fly-half and goalkicker Fraser Honey ruled out for at least six weeks with a broken thumb, Colts winger Harry Brewerton was give his first start with 17-year-old Reuben Edwards switching to the number ten role. With scrum-half Sam Stevens unavailable, he was joined by Tom Sandercock who switched from inside centre to scrum-half to make a combined half-back partnership age of just 36.

Danz Faamautuainu switched from blindside flanker to take Sandercock’s position while Chris McDonald came in for his debut at six.

There was also a change in the front row as Rikki Bentham replaced the absent Andy Knight.

With so many changes, you might have expected the home side to take time to get into the game, however they roared into the visitors from the off, although they failed to get on the scoreboard.

Camborne went 3-0 up on eight minutes after full-back Rhys Brownfield kicked a good penalty. The Cornish All Blacks instantly responded, passing the ball out wide and down the line for lock Marc Williams to go over for a try. The conversion was missed by full-back Martin Kneebone, who took over kicking duties from Honey.

Kneebone kicked a good penalty through the posts shortly after to give the home side an 8-3 lead.

Both sides conceded a number of penalties but the All Blacks were on top form.

Brownfield kicked another penalty before the half-time whistle to go in just two points behind at 8-6 down.

The All Blacks were desperate to keep hold to their lead, and they were doing well to hold Camborne back.

The visitors suffered a blow in the 47th minute, when prop John Drew was red carded by referee Nick Wood for a high tackle.

It was an added boost for the All Blacks who moved the game down the pitch and notched up another five points when number eight Barrie-John Chapman touched down for an unconverted try.

The All Blacks didn’t have it all their way. They dug deep to keep Camborne’s men out, but Jack Simmons found a gap to go over for the visitors. Brownfield’s conversion attempt went left of the posts.

Camborne now trailed by two points. The All Blacks were tiring and brought on Dom Theobald and Jake Crabb.

They soon found their feet once more and increased their lead with a Kneebone penalty. With four minutes to go, the All Blacks were looking to score again. Play moved in front of the posts, and they were awarded a penalty. However Kneebone’s kick at the posts hit the upright.

Minutes after he prepared to kick another penalty. The ground went silent. Kneebone delivered in the 84th minute, extending the lead to 19-11.

There was a last minute flurry by Camborne, but it wasn’t long before the ball went out of play and the referee’s whistle was blown to give the All Blacks another boost in their battle for safety in National League Three South West.

They currently sit six points behind Lydney who they need to catch for survival, although the Forest of Dean have two games in-hand after successive postponements.

Although the result was a surprise to many, Launceston’s head of rugby Jimmy Tucker had belief in his team all along.

He said: "I was confident of a victory. I’ve been confident on many, many occasions. 2017 so far we’ve looked 10% a better team, 10% fitter and 10% more hungrier. Today the boys did really well.

"All week in the build up to the match, they were aware of the importance of a Cornish derby. I talked to them a lot about going in search of memories and hopefully this is one that they can savour and talk about in 20-years time. For me as a coach these games are easy to get the players up for. They’re all pretty much local now and it showed. They’re proud to play for us and to beat Camborne is great.”

Tucker was full of praise for all of his players but believed that it was his front five which really won them the game, as they put in their best performance of the season.

“Our front five were absolutely immense. They gave us a solid platform from which to kick on and the rest of the team responded.

"Although we’ve won other games this season, I think this is the first time that we’ve won the game fair and square. It wasn’t scintillating rugby but we were the better side and the boys are absolutely buzzing.”

There were also plenty of debutants on show at Polson Bridge, all of whom impressed the former Exeter Chiefs star.

Tucker added: “They all did excellently. Rikki Bentham did well in the front row, Chris McDonald who trained with us in pre-season but has been away with the Navy did great as well. We didn’t know what to expect but he was physical and scrapped away while in the backs I was really proud of Harry Brewerton and Reuben Edwards.

“Reuben had to fill in for Fraser in a position where you are expected to run the game and he did everything we asked of him. He fills the coaching staff with confidence, which is wonderful to see, while Harry was the same. He coped with everything thrown at him and he took it all in his stride. That’s the biggest compliment we can pay them.

“It would be great to continue and have our home grown players come into the first team."

"January has been a great start, winning two out of three. We’ve got to keep on it and continue to keep our heads down and keep working. There’s enough league matches left for us to find our way out of the relegation zone, but we’re not going to look any further forward than Bromsgrove.”

The Worcestershire-based club have struggled this term after being controversially being moved from National League Three Midlands to National Three League South West.

But despite facing the league’s bottom side, Tucker isn’t taking anything for granted and is demanding the players front up like they did against Camborne.

Tucker continued: “The players know they have to perform on Saturday. We’ve never played at Bromsgrove so we don’t really know what to expect but we’ve got no excuses.

“We need to go there and win and that’s what we’ll hopefully do.

“We know that they’re struggling as well. So if we can see off the opening stages when they’ll come at us then we should be alright.”

Saturday’s game will also see the players sat on the bus for over three hours before they get there, but Tucker is adamant that they’ll be ready.

Tucker concluded: “We plan to get there a couple of hours before kick-off so that we can get the journey out of our system.”

Scrum-half Sam Stevens is back in contention although Fraser Honey and Andy Knight remain unavailable.

Kick-off is at 2.15pm.

Cornish All Blacks

Kneebone, Brewerton, Westren R, Faamatuainu, Snell, Edwards, Sandercock, Bentham, Bulut, Parsons, Williams, Duke J, McDonald, Duke L, Chapman.

Replacements: Thomas, Crabb, Theobald.

Cornish All Blacks

Tries: Williams (9), Chapman (49)

Pens: Kneebone (14) (73) (84)

Camborne

Brownfield, Westren M, Simmons, Semmens, Kevern, Mankee, Peacock, Hearn, Bartle, Drew J, Cook, Kava, Woolcock, Drew B, Goldsworthy.

Replacements: Penrose, Welstead, McAtee.

Camborne

Try: Simmons (60)

Pens: Brownfield (8) (37)

Half-time: 8-6

Full-time: 19-11

Referee: Nick Wood

Attendance: 669

Man of the match: Digby Parsons

Red card: J Drew (47)