Last updated 13:40, Thursday, 02 October 2008

Launceston 29, Tynedale 27A BLIZZARD of yellow cards cost Tynedale victory against unbeaten National League Division Two leaders Launceston on Saturday.

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Big Ben strikes: Ben Marshall builds up a head of steam.

No fewer than four Tynedale players were invited to spend 10 minutes on the Naughty Step by London referee Ed Turnhill, in a pulsating game of fluctuating fortunes.

That meant at one stage, Tynedale were down to 13 men, and Launceston – also known as the Cornish All Blacks – scored all their points when Tynedale were numerically inferior.

Most Tynedale players accepted the yellow cards – all for technical offences – were merited, after warnings had been issued, and they learned a hard lesson that it is not as easy to get away with things at this level as it was in division three.

But at the end, the league leaders were hanging on grimly, as Tynedale – again down to 14 men – hurled themselves at the defence like dogs at broth.

And even though they failed to make the breakthrough, Tynedale could be well satisfied with the first of their three visits to the land of tiddy oggies and starry gazy pie.

They had proved beyond all doubt they could more than hold their own against the upper echelons of their new league.

They had a try disallowed for reasons that remained obscure even to the Cornish fans, and only a couple of crucial knock-ons denied them still further success.

Tynedale travelled to Cornwall in style, taking a leisurely 85-minute flight down to Newquay before travelling to Launceston, another contender for the John Inverdale list of the most picturesque grounds in the country.

The weather was glorious, and it was also good to see the reunion between Whittonstall brothers Jack and Hamish Smales.

Back in May, the brothers were in the same Northumberland side which defeated Cornwall at Twickenham in the County Shield.

This time, Jack wore Tynedale’s famous blue and white hoops, while Hamish, a student in the West Country, was in the Launceston ranks.

Dad, Stuart, was among the modest contingent of Tynedale supporters, and while clearly racked by a clash of loyalties, was spotted sporting a Tynedale tie!

With Jonny Williams injured and Peter Southern unavailable, Tynedale were lean on props, so all credit was due to Dan Herdman, who stepped in at the last minute, and acquitted himself stoutly.

Tynedale began well, camping on the home 22, before fly half Gavin Beasley put out a long pass.

It went to ground, but centre Jack Harrison dribbled on, and managed to pick up the ball.

He fed a supporting forward, but the ball was knocked on.

From the scrum, Tynedale’s livewire scrum half Ross Samson beetled forward, supported by his pack, and the All Blacks conceded a penalty, which was stroked over by Rob Miller to give Tynedale the lead with seven minutes gone.

Things got even better on 13 minutes, when winger James Hoyle wormed his way through a posse of defenders to the edge of the 22, from where Tartan terror Samson streaked in for a try close to the posts.

Miller’s conversion took Tynedale into double figures.

Launceston hit back on 17 minutes, when in a series of punishing drives, Tynedale failed to roll away, conceding a penalty which was converted by full back Adam Staniforth.

Then came the first of the yellow cards, with Jack Harrison sent to the sin bin for failing to roll away from a tackle on 21 minutes.

Less than a minute later, Launceston were level, as from a five metre scrum, number eight Simon Hocking muscled his way over for a try, converted by Staniforth.

And on 31 minutes, the Cornishmen kicked a penalty to touch, and a peal round the front from the line out led to a try for scrum half Lewis Webb to touch down, Staniforth converting.

Tynedale lost flanker Grant Rastall after a clash of heads, but the real problems came in first half injury time, while the home side were pressing hard.

First James Hoyle was carded for an offence at the tackle, and following the line-out from the resulting penalty, Samson was also carded for an infringement as the Cornishmen drove for the line.

That meant Tynedale had to start the second half with only 13 men, and Launceston needed no second invitation to take advantage of their extra men.

The half was only two minutes old when a clearance from Beasley failed to find touch, and the ball was run back at the beleaguered defence by centre Ryan Westren, who took advantage of some poor tackling to touch down close to the posts.

Tynedale – and most of the crowd – thought they had made an instant riposte when they counter-attacked from the kick off, Greg Irvin racing through to touch down for what appeared to be a good try.

Sadly, the referee ruled there had been some illegal crossing, and the score was ruled out.

Launceston were satisfied their day’s work was done after eight minutes, when the irrepressible Webb scuttled in for a try to the left of the posts after a series of penalties, catching Tynedale out with a quick one.

Staniforth converted, and sitting on a 29-10 lead, the All Blacks were confident enough to replace man of the match Webb with half an hour still to go.

They reckoned without Tynedale’s powers of recovery, as once restored to full strength, they counter-attacked with deadly purpose.

Launceston were pushed back, and after two chances had gone begging, one to a forward pass and the other to a knock on, they started to chip away at the lead.

On 26 minutes, a penalty was kicked to touch, Tynedale won the line-out, and there was Samson, darting in from 15 metres to score a try, which Miller converted.

Four minutes later, the quicksilver Miller went over himself, converting his own try to make it 29-24, and the tension was palpable.

With five minutes left, Launceston hearts sank when they were reduced to 14 men, after try-scorer Hocking was sin-binned for running over the top of the ruck.

Miller was almost the hero when he made an excellent pick-up, but a clattering tackle not only ended the move, but saw the centre leave the field injured.

With two minutes left, Tynedale had a penalty, and opted for the three points, secured by Beasley, as the line-out had not been particularly secure.

That made the gap just to points, with Tynedale’s extra man possibly crucial.

However, Rupert Harden then went to the bin for a scrummaging infringement, and Launceston hung on for the win.