The one who got away for Cornwall RLFC against North Wales

Cornwall RLFC could justifiably classify this latest Betfred League 1 clash as one that got away after North Wales Crusaders prevailed by just six points.

The visitors made it three wins on the spin with a hard-fought victory over the Coughs, who led 10-0 approaching the interval.

After a dominant start to proceedings from the Coughs, the pendulum swung towards North Wales five minutes before the break when Nathan Cullen was sent to the sin bin for a top tackle.

Visitors Colwyn Bay then made their numerical advantage count in the final minute of the opening stanza when Dan Coates spotted a gap in the Cornwall defensive line to feed Olly Davies who slotted over.

That proved to be the case in the second stanza as tries from veteran Patrick Ah Van and giant prop Chris Barratt brought them back into contention and then into the lead.

But Cornwall wouldn’t have stretched and if we hadn’t had a bit more composure the result could have been so different.

(Image: Colin Bradbury)

The hosts opened the scoring after just six minutes when Cameron Brown grabbed his 10th try of the season.

Brown couldn’t get over the two extra points but the Coughs were up and running as North Wales struggled to cope with Cornwall’s line speed.

It got even better for the Coughs just after the 20 minute mark when homegrown forward Decarlo Trerise scored for the first time in a Cornwall shirt.

Running the ball down the last, Nathan Conroy found Trerise who slipped off a tackle to go over.

Brown found his range from the tee and Cornwall were comfortably and deservedly ahead.

(Image: Colin Bradbury)

The dispatch of a second try to Cornwall saw Forster throw himself into the fray, and this immediately saw a larger attack from North Wales, but Cornwall were still the dominant side.

Everything changed when Cullen received a yellow card.

Davies was the first Crusader to cross the whitewash, closely followed by Ah Van.

Ah Van took over from Coates but failed to find the mark and Cornwall were still in front.

But the lead was soon erased after Forster delayed a brilliant offload to find Barratt who did just enough to touch down. Ah Van turned it into a six-point score from the bang in front.

(Image: Colin Bradbury)

Although the hosts were behind, they enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory but could not breach a tight North Wales defensive line.

As time expired, in a rare foray in front, North Wales were awarded a penalty for a swinging arm and Ah Van knocked over two more from the bang in front.

Cornwall still had further chances in the dying embers but North Wales held on for the win.