A small piece of history was made with perfect timing by Canterbury as this first ever victory on Cornish soil lifted them out of the drop zone.

Six tries and a maximum five point return gave their National 2 South survival prospects a real shot in the arm as they crushed the league’s bottom club with a first half blitz of 27 points.

It was a hugely important result and the impressive quality of the city club’s rugby in those first 40 minutes will surely give them momentum to carry into their remaining seven games.

By half time they had scored four top class tries, secured a bonus point and then killed off any serious hopes of an All Blacks revival with a fifth touchdown shortly after the break.

For the first quarter of an hour they called on solid defensive credentials to repel a lively home side who enjoyed the bulk of possession but failed to capitalise.  Once they had navigated that spell unscathed Canterbury turned to attack with stunning results.

It started with an Aiden Moss try set up by the back line’s eye for space which created a huge overlap for the wingman.  Tom Best converted and was left with a much simpler kick for the second score.  It was the try of the day as Canterbury turned over possession at a threatening All Blacks catch and drive, counter attacked at speed, with Moss again involved, and scrum half Dan Smart sprinted 50 metres to the line.

There was now no holding a side whose pack bossed the set pieces, carried forcefully in the loose and watched their backs tear holes in mid-field.

The pressure paid off when Martyn Beaumont’s quick reverse pass gave Tom Burns the third try, Best landed a penalty goal and in the final minute of the half Smart, enjoying an effective game, caught the home side out with a quick tap penalty to claim the bonus point.

When Canterbury struck again four minutes into the second half, Smart playing a prominent role before Charlie Kingsman got his reward for some neat touches, they must have fancied they would keep the scoreboard busy.

But with the game theirs for the keeping they went slightly off message.  All Blacks, winless this season, were never less than determined and produced good tries by skipper Richard Friend, converted by Chris Swash, and late in the day one by David Parish. Canterbury, however, were still able to work a neat lineout peel, which a pugnacious Tom Best finished off and converted, and cruised home despite yellow cards for Alex Wake-Smith and Ollie Best.

Canterbury: O.Best, C.Kingsman (repl H.Sayers). C.Horey (repl G.Hilton), T.Best, A.Moss, M.Beaumont, D.Smart, J.Green (repl S.Kenny), T.Rogers (repl M.Cantwell), S.Kenny (repl A.Wake-Smith), R.Cadman, T.Burns, S.Nixon, R.Ward (repl S.Rogers), G.Micans