CORNISH All Blacks player/coach, Ryan Westren, believes the club’s short-term future will be affected by the run-in to the season.

The Polson Bridge club are looking to win promotion back to the Tribute South West Premier and are currently second in the table, three points off leaders Okehampton with four games remaining, which starts with a home clash with bottom side Coney Hill on Saturday (2.30pm).

The All Blacks were in sensational form before Christmas, losing just twice to Okehampton and at Newent, but a poor start to 2019, which saw them heavily affected by injuries, means that they are now relying on their local rivals to slip up.

Oke begin their run-in with a home clash against Bridgwater & Albion, who left Launceston with a convincing 35-17 victory back in February.

However, since then, the All Blacks’ injury crisis has lessened and they have bounced back to form with three good victories, including a 26-22 victory at Devonport Services last time out, who Oke go to on the final day on April 13.

The All Blacks are nine points ahead of third-placed Newent, meaning 12 points will secure a minimum of a promotion play off against the runners-up of the Tribute South West One (East).

Whoever finishes second will, as it stands, face Old Centralians who are four points clear of third-placed Banbury and five ahead of fourth-placed Marlborough in the race for the runners-up spot.

Westren said: “We’re in the situation we’re in because we’ve slipped up a couple of times. With six games to go we said we wanted maximum points and see where that leaves us, and we’ve now got ourselves into a good position.

“We thought that if we take 30 points from 30 we’ll probably win the league but fair play to Okehampton as they beat St Ives when they could have easily slipped up, but we’ve got the bit between our teeth as we know that second spot isn’t yet 100% secure.

“But we’re in a good place right now and we hope that’ll take us somewhere good in five or six weeks time.”

Following Bridgwater on Saturday, Okehampton go to Weston-super-Mare to tackle mid-table Hornets and entertain relegated Cullompton before a potential promotion party at Devonport on April 13.

The All Blacks have the easier run-in on paper as they go to Keynsham next weekend before home games with lower mid-table sides Thornbury and Lydney.

Westren continued: “Their games are probably tougher but at the end of the day everyone has to play everyone and whatever happens, teams are in these positions for a reason.

“But we had a really tough game at Devonport and we showed that we can battle it out and get the win.

“Winning becomes a habit and hopefully we’re now back on the horse and hopefully we can see it home.”

With no game last weekend, it gave the players a chance to freshen up and also to give something back to the club.

Westren said: “We changed our training night last week to Wednesday, which allowed the boys who have a niggle to have a low key session but we made sure we maintained our momentum moving forward. We challenged the boys mentally rather than physically to keep up that side of the game.

“But the best part of the week was being able to and coach every age group of the Minis and Juniors from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

“Each age group had two players from the first team taking the session and the kids love it and it also gives the coaches a chance to take a back seat for a little while. It’s nice for us to be able to give back to those who come and support us on a Saturday.

“Then, from 7.30pm while we trained, the boys who were injured or had a uni game earlier in the day, carried on the coaching.”

Training has returned to its normal days of Tuesday and Thursday this week as they step up their preparations.

Westren said: “We’ll be looking to revisit some stuff which will ensure we get back into our stride and help us beat Coney Hill.

“Their position looks worse because they’ve conceded four times but every team on it’s day in this league can win games.

“But we’ve got a big five or six weeks coming up. Obviously the club’s short-term position is reflected by what happens over the next six weeks, that’s not to say anything actually changes but our standing within the rugby league structure could change.”