Cornwall 'a work in progress' after heavy 1895 Cup loss

Cornwall just have their League One campaign to focus on having been knocked out of both cup competitions

Cornwall's squad is still developing, says forward Kaine Dimech, following their 64-12 1895 Cup loss at Rochdale Hornets.

It was a second successive heavy defeat for the team in as many weeks after losing 52-0 at home to North Wales Crusaders in the Challenge Cup second round.

Former Cornwall player Tom Ashton came back to haunt his former club as he scored four of Rochdale's 12 tries.

Max Flanagan and Lameck Juma also scored hat-tricks in the victory.

But Cornwall did get on the scoresheet for the first time this season as Harry Aaronson and Callum Abbott both went over in a four-minute spell after an hour to reduce the score to 46-12.

Cornwall return to action on 23 February when they travel to Workington Town in their opening League One fixture.

"At the moment it's still a case where we're building out the squad," Malta international Dimech told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"There's lots of new faces, lots of people coming in and it takes some gelling, it takes some coming together and growing as a team.

"That obviously makes it difficult, and a long away journey against a well-drilled side, but there's sparks in there.

"There's definitely the heart and desire for it, a lot of enthusiasm in defence and momentary sparks with the two tries, so there's positives to take, but it's a work in progress."