Saturday, November 11

Tribute South West One (West)

Clevedon 19

Cornish All Blacks 21

MARC Williams scored a 77th minute try as the Cornish All Blacks ground a 21-19 victory at bottom of the table Clevedon.

Despite failing to win any of their last three away games at Newent, Okehampton and Bideford, the All Blacks were soon 14-0 up thanks to two tries from Dan Pearce, which he converted himself although that lead was reduced to two points by half-time as Dave Rawle and Matt Honour touched down.

Clevedon continued to fight and went ahead through Joe Tucker’s score in the corner.

However, with just three minutes left on the clock, Williams took a quick tap and go to crash over the line from a couple of metres. Pearce kept his composure to give the All Blacks a much needed four points.

Jimmy Tucker and his coaching staff made three changes from last week’s victory over Bridgwater & Albion.

In the front row, Nick Hocking dropped back into the seconds with Ben Collins coming into the side after Andy Knight was forced to pull out for the second week in a row. Fred Bulut came onto the bench as front row cover after a number of weeks out injured.

Jake Crabb was also injured meaning young Dan Goldsmith was called into the second-row while Reuben Edwards came in on the wing for Harry Dawe.

After a scintillating start to the season, Pearce has been quiet by his high standards. However, he proved his class in the opening stages of the game.

After receiving a kick deep in his own half, the flying full-back waltzed his way past a shell-shocked home defence to score before converting to put them 7-0 ahead.

Minutes later it was Pearce who grabbed his second try of the afternoon, following a fine team move.

After some great work in the forwards, the ball was shifted out to the midfield for an onrushing Pearce, who got past the home winger with ease to score before converting once more.

While the scoreboard reflected a sense of superiority, Clevedon’s scrum was immense as their weighty, experienced pack used their knowhow to put the All Blacks under pressure as they conceded seven penalties from it.

Number eight Dave Rawle grabbed the home side’s first try from a pushover before an excellent move at the lineout, which saw hooker Matt Honour feed a short lineout before receiving it back to run down the blindside and score in the corner.

Despite the half-time break, the home side continued to dominate at the scrum and it was from another set-piece, which set the platform for their third try. After a series of pick and go’s, they eventually went out wide for winger Joe Tucker to score in the corner.

Adam Coles made it two out of three conversions with a brilliant kick from the touchline.

Knowing they were in desperate need for a try. The All Blacks started to get their rolling maul firing, one of which saw the home side lose a player to the sin-bin with just under ten minutes to go.

Eventually after a couple of attempts at a quick tap and go from penalties, the referee eventually allowed Marc Williams to take one and he scored from a couple of metres out.

Pearce converted as the All Blacks comfortably held on to put an end to their recent poor form on the road.

Skipper Lloyd Duke admitted that it was a vital victory in ‘one of the ugliest games of rugby you’re ever likely to see’.

He said: “Clevedon were very very good in the scrum although fortunately for us that was about all they had. Apart from one or two, all of their forwards were in their 30s and they dominated the scrum from the first minute to last.

They were massive and they even brought on a prop to play in the second row. But thankfully we were good enough in the loose and the pace of Dan and a couple of good tries got us through.

“It’s great to come here and win a tight game. We were under massive amounts of pressure in the scrum but it’ll give us a massive lift going forward.”

The All Blacks have a week off from league action but welcome a Cornwall Development Squad side to Polson Bridge with many fringe players expected to be given a chance to impress.

Cornish All Blacks —

Cinnamond, J Duke, Collins, Goldsmith, Williams, Rowley, L?Duke, Clarke; Sandercock, Coles, Edwards, Crawford, Westren, Kneebone, Pearce

Replacements:?Bulut, Parish, Mulberry

Tries:?Pearce 2, Williams

Convs:?Pearce 3

Pens: N/A