PROMOTION-CHASING Cornish All Blacks will look to put a miserable early part of 2019 to bed when they travel to Hornets tomorrow (2.30pm) in Tribute South West One (West).

Last Saturday’s 35-17 defeat at the hands of third-placed Bridgwater & Albion was their third in five games and they now have just a five-point cushion in second place.

But despite losing five times this term, they are only three points behind leaders Okehampton after their rivals lost 32-29 at North Petherton.

Saturday’s opponents are based in Weston-super-Mare and enjoyed a superb start to the season, winning six of their opening nine league outings, although they were thrashed 60-36 at Polson Bridge back in October.

However, in the same number of games since, they’ve won just three times, two of which came against Coney Hill and Cullompton.

Six of their nine wins have come at The Nest’ with the three defeats suffered against Bridgwater & Albion, St Ives and North Petherton.

Joint coaches Ian Goldsmith and Ryan Westren have made three changes with Westren fit to return for the first time since January in the midfield alongside the in-form Reuben Edwards. He’s replaced Shaun Crawford who’s on the bench.

With Dan Pearce dropped from the squad altogether, Tom Sandercock switches from scrum-half to full-back with Dom Mulberry stepping up to fill the number nine shirt.

In the forwards there is just one change as lock Andy Knight replaces Brandon Rowley. Jordan Duke has moved from the second-row to number eight to accommodate Knight.

Flying winger Will Morton is still not quite ready to return but is likely to be back for the home game with Cullompton in 15 days time while Marc Williams, Adam Collings and Torin Clarke are still injured.

Westren said: “Changes are a combination of a reaction to last week, availability and also what we think is the side capable of beating Hornets.

“Training this week has been really good, but that counts for nothing unless we transfer that into tomorrow’s performance.”

Cornish All Blacks —

Sandercock, Jacob, Edwards, Westren, Kneebone, Coles, Mulberry; Bentham, Bulut, Thomas, Knight, Goldsmith, Lightfoot, L Duke (captain), J Duke

Replacements: Jenkins, Rowley, Crawford

BUDE are back in action for the first time since their 30-0 defeat at Honiton on January 26 when they entertain mid-table Liskeard-Looe in the Tribute Cornwall and Devon League (2.30pm).

The Bencoolen Meadow outfit are four points off leaders Honiton following Withycombe’s decision to concede last weekend, and know that if they are to secure promotion back to Western Counties (West), need an almost perfect run of form over their final seven fixtures.

However with Honiton and second-placed Penryn facing off tomorrow, the equation could be considerably in their favour come 4.30pm.

They make three changes from last time, with two of those enforced as Ed Hilliam-Cooke is out injured for the rest of the season and Kieran Sharp has gone travelling.

Charlie Watton is available again and returns at inside-centre with Sharp’s place at 13 being taken by skipper Olly Denford who has vacated his usual role at full-back to play in the midfield.

Youngster Will Pharo is given the task of replacing Denford.

In the front row, Matt Williams replaces Simon Jeffery who is on the bench after going off injured at Honiton.

Liskeard-Looe, who are coached by former Launceston director of Rugby Neil Bayliss, have enjoyed an excellent first season back at Step Eight, winning nine and losing nine of their 19 games so far, and are in no danger whatsoever of an immediate return to Cornwall One.

Bude —

Pharo, R Hodges, Denford (captain), Watton, Green, S Yates, Mounce; Williams, Bolt, Allin, Kingdon, Troke, A Hodges, F Fry, Wilson

Replacements: Jeffery, Dunkin, Horwell

CAMELFORD’S final league game of their tenth anniversary sees them entertain Stithians in a battle for fourth spot in Cornwall Two (2.30pm).

‘The Ford’ have won two of their nine league games but have shown signs of improvement over the year.

Club captain, Martyn Baker, wants his side to make sure they end the season on a high.

He said: “This is the fight for fourth in the league and we are determined to finish off a hard season with a win. Stithians won 55-10 in our away fixture and we are determined to turn that result around.

“There’s no Ian Burnard so captain Dan Yeatman moves to loosehead with myself moving to tighthead. With the future in mind, Micheal Burton plays at 12 with Mike Willshire at 13.

“Stuart Roach comes in at number eight and Jamie Belsey moves to six with Rob Headon playing in the second-row.

“Debutant Alex Ferguson will look to impress when he enters the game while Luke Palmer plays his final game before retirement.”

Buckley, Lovell, Willshire, Burton, Welch, Stuckey, Grimes; Yeatman (captain), Schofield, Baker, Evans, Headon, Belsey, Boundy, Roach

Replacements: Luxton, Ferguson, Thorne, Palmer