BIRMINGHAM & Solihull head coach Russell Earnshaw was proud of his players’ display after they came from behind twice to record a 15-10 extra-time victory over the Cornish All Blacks in the fourth round of the National Trophy at Polson Bridge.

The visitors were five points down at half-time thanks to home No.8 Sam Hocking’s unconverted try, but struck back early in the second half through Rob Connolly’s right-wing touchdown on the counter attack.

The hosts took the lead again in the 75th minute through centre Ryan Westren before replacement fly-half Rod Petty put the teams back on level terms in the dying minutes.

Both sides had chances in extra time but it was Birmingham’s Jack Preece who won the day, scoring in the left corner as the visitors gained the upper hand physically and territorially the longer the game went on.

A delighted Earnshaw said afterwards: “I said to the boys that I was really proud of their efforts. We knew they were going to give us a decent game. I know they had a few missing and it was the same for us, but I thought our effort levels were brilliant.

“I thought our defence was very good, maybe not so good close to the ruck, but outside there, the shape was good and overall I’m happy.”

CORNISH ALL BLACKS: Kingdom (Murphy, 100); Dibble, Westren, Roberts, Smales; Staniforth, Turner (Marlin, 92); Bolt, Cooper (Semmens, 80), Knight (Moss, 62); Jenkins (Collier, 50), Myerscough (Skelding, 50); Lord (Brandling-Harris, 80), Rawlings, Hocking.

BIRMINGHAM: Culpin; Hunt, Tomlinson (Young, 50), Mitchell, Aston; Woodrow (Petty, 50), Brown (Preece, 65); Davies (Long, 47), Phillips (Earnshaw, 92), Lawrence (Voisey, 47); Davidson, Pammenter; Connolly, Clayton, Halavatau. Not used: Gardiner.