Sat 7 Mar 2020, 15:00
The All Blacks put in a workmanlike performance at Polson in their win against Bracknell on Saturday which probably consigns the visitors to relegation.
Bracknell had few chances throughout the game to score and the eager and well-marshalled defence contained them. On the only occasion in the first half they broke through a perfectly timed headon tackle by Alfie Lang drove the Bracknell forward back 3 metres to allow the All Blacks defence to realign. Launceston should have been in the lead within the first 10 minutes but were penalized on the Bracknell line after a clear break by Dan Goldsmith. Dan Pearce had earlier uncharacteristically missed a penalty. The breakthrough came when Bracknell tried to move slow ball along the line which was intercepted by Torin Clark who ran in from 75 metres unopposed to score by the posts. The lead was extended by a Pearce penalty.
In the second half the All Blacks were in complete control and from a well worked driving maul from a lineout Brendon Rowley scored. The home side scored their final try after several scrums and lineouts near the Bracknell line when the ball was moved wide for Tom Sandercock to flop over. Each win brings the All Blacks closer to safety and with a little more cohesion they would have had the bonus point.
