National Two South

Cornish All Blacks 5

Worthing Raiders 34

Polson Bridge

A LAST minute try for the Cornish All Blacks prevented them from a whitewash against Worthing at Polson on Saturday.

In what was seen as a winnable game for the Cornish side, Worthing pulled out all the stops to dominate the majority of the clash.

The All Blacks gave away a penalty in the opening minutes of the game, which led the way for Worthing to take the advantage and Robert Smith scored their first try four minutes in.

The visitors then caught the All Blacks on the hop, quickly passing the ball and dodging any tackles, to give Jonathan Whittal a clear run to go over for their second try just minutes later. Matthew McLean converted both.

Less than ten minutes played and the All Blacks trailed by 14 points. Not the best start for a team desperate to start clawing their way from the bottom of the table.

The All Blacks often lacked direction and strength to compete against Worthing. The visitors made it three converted tries before half time, after Alexander Wilcockson touched down just before the whistle.

The second half wasn’t much better for the home side. The pace picked up but the game turned scrappy in places. McLean scored two tries for Worthing and converted the second, pushing the visitors way out in front.

At times it seemed the All Blacks were putting in the effort but weren’t getting any reward. Matthew Farnes scored a quick try for Worthing, taking their tally to six.

In the dying minutes of the game, the All Blacks went on the attack and out in a huge effort to push the ball over. It was tussle of black and yellow shirts as the Launceston side tried to find touch. The ball went wide and was picked up by Martin Kneebone who scored the home side’s consolation try.

Cornish All Blacks — Try: Kneebone (83)

Worthing — Tries: Smith (3), Whittal (5), Wilcockson (41), McLean (53, 56), Farnes (78); Convs: McLean (4, 5, 43, 56)

Half time: 0-21

Full time: 5-38

Referee: Claire Hodnett

Man of the match: Richard Friend (Cornish All Blacks)

Attendance: 657

Teams:

Cornish All Blacks —

Edwards A, Kneebone, Westren, Chapman S, Edwards L (McGinley 58), Honey (Swash 68), Friend, Dugard (Reynolds 54), Bulut, Chapman L (Burden 71), Tripcony (Childs 58), Hilton, Hamber, Haines (Tripcony 68), Duke.

Worthing —

McLean, Wilcockson, Loosmore, Greenwood, Farnes, Montgomery (Richards 58), Leeming, Storer (Margetson 58), Luke (Watson-Brooks 77), Sargent, Barlow (Arthur 64), Ure, Smith (Whittal 64), Whittall (Hewick 54), Perkins.

• This Saturday the All Blacks travel to mid-table Clifton hoping to avenge the 54-19 loss earlier in October.