PLAYER/coach Ryan Westren believes that Coney Hill’s failure to raise a side for Saturday’s Tribute South West One (West) clash in Gloucestershire won’t affect the Cornish All Blacks as they prepare for three crucial fixtures before the Christmas break.

The Polson Bridge outfit have won ten of their 11 league fixtures so far this term to sit six points ahead of nearest challengers Okehampton, who are the only side to beat them in league competition.

The All Blacks hoped to keep up their momentum at Coney Hill but were informed on Friday morning that the Metz Way club were unable to fulfil a fixture for the third time this season, due to a front-row crisis.

However Westren has no worries that the cancellation could derail them.

He said: “It was a funny one. They made contact with us in the week with their issues saying that there’s the possibility of them not being able to field a front-row.

“They talked about the possibility of playing the game with uncontested scrums which we weren’t really too keen on; one because it takes away a massive advantage of ours and secondly, the rule is if you can’t scrum you lose five points anyway, so in the end it would have been pointless and not worth the risk.

“The boys were disappointed as we’re in a good place and wanted to keep our league momentum going, but it gives the boys a rest that wasn’t planned and means we should hopefully be chomping at the bit for Saturday.

“We also trained last week as if we we were going to have a game, so there’s no difference in that respect and we’ll do the same this week, so it’s only one Saturday missed.”

Fourth-bottom Keynsham are the visitors on Saturday (2.30pm) for the final home league game before Christmas, and Westren knows the Bristol-based club are dangerous despite winning just five of their 11 games so far this term.

Westren said: “Keynsham are a decent outfit. They can match anyone in this league as they’ve shown a few times. They gave us two good games last year and they have a really good number eight. They compete really well at the breakdown and if we’re not prepared for that they’ll make it into a dogfight, so we’ve got to be at it.”

Despite Launceston’s lofty position, Westren knows there’s still improvement to be made.

He said: “We know that there are areas for us to work on. We’ve shown that in glimpses in every game, but we’re working on getting everything right.

“We’re not naive enough to think that because we’re scoring 60 points some weeks we’re going to win each week because you can’t always do that, and if you’re conceding 30 points you’ll eventually lose.”

The 14 days off has also allowed Westren a better chance to be fit after going off during the 66-15 victory over Devonport Services in their last game with a hamstring injury, although he rates himself as doubtful, while flying winger Will Morton got a run out in the seconds’ victory at their Brixham counterparts.

Westren added: “Will was supposed to be on the bench at Coney Hill but in the end he had a full 80 at Brixham so he’ll be in contention while Greg Thomas hopefully should be back for next weekend. Andy Knight is also back in contention after having to work. It’s a bit unfortunate on some of the lads who were in the squad for Coney Hill, but we’ll approach it as if we played last week and go through the selection process and then select the best 18 which gives us the best opportunity to beat Keynsham.”

The All Blacks’ promotion hopes will be put to the test with two away trips before Christmas as they head to Thornbury and then Newent, a place they were well beaten at last season.

Westren said: “Those games are huge and will test whether we are ready to make the leap. We’ve answered most of the questions put to us so far but to go away to two tough places and get back-to-back wins would be a huge statement, a confidence boost for the second half of the season and leave us in a fantastic position to push on.”

Westren also had a message for club captain Lloyd Duke.

He said: “I would also like to, on behalf of the squad, congratulate Lloyd and his wife Sami on the birth of their first child.”