AFTER a confidence boosting win at Matson 26-39 the previous weekend, the Blacks were hoping for another win in front of their home crowd of 258, but with heavy rain falling the conditions weren’t going to make it easy.

The Cornishmen were missing influential players Cam Fogden, George Harris, Charlie Short and James Tucker, resulting in a few of the backs changing positions and debut Charlie Atwood playing scrum half.

Only two minutes into the game, the Blacks deep in the Marlborough half, forced the visitors into giving away a knock-on penalty. The Blacks had an advantage in the scrum and after a few phases of play managed to get Ben Bryant to exploit a gap in their defence and score. Morgan Woods, the Blacks inside centre, kicked the conversion. (7-0).

Just three minutes after Bryant’s try, Marlborough’s winger intercepted a long pass but was tackled just short of the tryline and knocked on. They then gave away a penalty in the scrum by pushing too early and the Blacks cleared the ball by kicking into touch.

The Cornishmen proved to be the stronger team, constantly pushing the visitors back in both the scrums and the mauls.

10 minutes in, James Adams – Marlborough’s winger – scored in the far-left corner as they had a man over and capitalised, but the conversion was missed. (7-5).

Both teams made many handling errors, interrupting the flow of the game due to the wet weather conditions.

28 minutes in, Marlborough gave away a penalty deep in their 22 and Charlie Atwood, Launceston’s scrum half, took it quickly and scored on his debut game. Woods missed the conversion making the score 12-5.

Eight minutes later, the Blacks won a lineout in Marlborough’s 22 and Morgan Woods scored in the far-left corner but the conversion was missed. (17-5).

In the second half, the CABs were playing against the wind and rain. With the wind behind them, the visitors held the Blacks out of their 22, and with continued handling errors from both teams it was a very tight game.

After 30 minutes the stalemate was broken as the Blacks kicked to touch following a penalty in their half and Charlie Tummon won the lineout. The Blacks dominated the maul, forcing Marlborough back and Ben Hancock dived over the tryline, but Woods missed the conversion. (22-5).

With two minutes left on the clock the Blacks were looking for another try and were well into Marlborough 22 but a handling error gave the visitors possession and they quickly broke through the line and allowed number 12, Kevini Tuaimei’api to get over the try line after some quick running and handling, beating the Blacks full back and centre who gave chase. The conversion was missed making the final score 22-10 to the Cornish All Blacks.

The club will hope to keep the momentum going in their next league game away to Sidmouth on Saturday, October 4.

Launceston: Ollie Bebbington, Corey Jenkinson, Ben Bryant, Morgan Woods, Billy Martin, Tom Sandercock (captain), Charlie Atwood, Oliver Martin, Rory Mead, Mitchell Hawken, George Bone, Cian Baker, Charlie Tummon, Ben Hancock, Brandon Rowley.

Replacements: Alex Bartlett, Levent Bulut, Callum Smith.

Tries: Bryant, Atwood, Woods, Hancock.

Conversions: Woods

Launceston Man of the Match: Ben Bryant