THE Cornish All Blacks return to league action for the first time in three weeks on Saturday when they head to runaway leaders Barnstaple (2.30pm).

Fourth-bottom Launceston, who have won five of their last six league games in the South West Premier, were last in action when they completed the league double at Okehampton, but since then saw a home game against Weston-super-Mare fall foul of the weather, while last Saturday was a bye weekend.

As things stand, the All Blacks are five points above second bottom Newbury Blues and crucially have a game in-hand.

Player/coach Ryan Westren admits the weather has been frustrating, but they have still been able to prepare for the final seven games.

He said: “We’re very much into the back end now, and we’d just got some real momentum going, so it’s not been ideal. We knew we had one bye and with the weather being the way it has, it’s something we thought we may have to deal with at some point in the season. You just have to deal with it the best you can.

“The weather has limited the sessions we have been able to do, but that being said, it’s given us a chance to get some extra reviewing of where we’re at, injuries to settle and get some extra conditioning in, all things that will help us heading into this very important part of the season.”

Barnstaple, who lost in a promotion play-off at Westcliffe back in April, are once again flying high at the top, sitting 19 points clear of second-placed Weston-super-Mare, although the Somerset club have two games in-hand plus a trip to Barnstaple on April 4.

Amongst their squad are former Launceston favourites Ben Hilton and Jake Murphy plus ex-Bude winger Kyle Speare.

Barnstaple have slipped up twice in recent weeks at Exeter University and Ivybridge, but have lost just once at Pottington Road, back in October to Ivybridge.

Westren wants his side to take the game to ‘Barum’.

He said: “Playing the league leaders at their place is as tough as it gets so we’ve got to perform to the best of our ability. But we’re at a place now where we feel that if we get everything right, we can compete with any team in the league. So hopefully that, and the excitement of getting back out on the pitch will raise us, and allow us to go there and do a job.

“They’re obviously leaders for a reason, and are extremely consistent as shown by the gap they have at the top.

“The most important thing for me is to go there and impose yourself on them, the last thing we want to do is go there and not try to attack and take the game to them. To often teams go to places like that and come away thinking they haven’t fired a shot in terms of making them defend.”

Following Barnstaple, the All Blacks host bottom club Bracknell next Saturday before the final bye of the campaign.

Five consecutive games will then decide Launceston’s fate to see if they can survive.

Westren said: “Since Christmas it’s been very stop-start with the pre-planned breaks and the postponement against Weston-super-Mare, so every time you get going you feel like you have to start again. So it’ll be nice to build some form and then carry it through to the end of the season.”

Launceston’s turnaround since Christmas has come as a result of Westren and Ian Goldsmith being able to make minimal changes from game to game, but Westren wants the whole senior squad to be ready.

He said: “Having a fairly consistent squad is important, especially once you get on a good run, it’s hard to change that. Over the course of the season it’s a squad effort, it’s important that those guys who aren’t involved over the next couple of weeks stay sharp and stay hungry as they don’t know when they’ll be called upon. When they do it’s important that they are able to come in and add value.”

Westren expects to have a near full strength squad to choose from in North Devon.

He said: “I think we’re in pretty good shape, there’s always a couple of niggles floating around, but generally we’re alright and looking forward to the rest of the season.”