CORNWALL'S chances of retaining the County of Origin title are back on track after squaring the series on Saturday.

Having been defeated 26-24 in Redruth on May 24, the Cornish knew they had to bag a victory at Launceston's Polson Bridge in the second match of the three game series to stand any chance of retaining the Martin Roddy Cup.

Proceedings were tricky again in the encounter as Devon took a half time lead of six points before the Cornishmen turned the tables to battle back and win 40-34.

It has set up a tasty final clash at Teignmouth next month and John Beach, Cornwall Rugby League's chairman, said it will be a tough tie, but believes the Duchy can retain the trophy.

Beach said: "I'm extremely proud of the strength, character and application shown by everyone involved with Cornwall Rugby League today.

"We came here as underdogs after Origin one and we've blown the series wide open.

"We are now looking forward to the final game in Teignmouth on August 23rd to decide the series."

In the second game, a slow start was made by Cornwall with a number of the players having not played for a couple of weeks due to the Cornish Rebels' clash with North Devon getting called off.

This allowed a sharper looking Devon to open up an early advantage with tries from Keli Bainivalu and Scotty Diack.

Darren Jacques got Cornwall back on track, bouncing off two defenders to dot down, but bad news was to come as captain Peter Joyce was soon forced off through injury.

Sam Conway extended Devon's lead, but the Duchy's side were starting to click with tries bagged by Josh Durant and Shane Johns to level matters.

Diack added his second of the day just before half time to give Devon the lead again, but not long after the restart Jamie Prisk raced over the whitewash to prompt a permanent momentum shift for the Cornish.

Tries came from Decarlo Trerise, Taff Roko and another from Jacques as the gap widened before a rare mistake from the latter saw Conway intercept the ball and run in from 40m out.

However, Prisk showed great composure with the boot to kick a penalty, making it a two score game and despite a late try from Diack to complete his hat-trick, Cornwall closed out the victory.

Grant Thirlby, acting as a team assistant due to his injury keeping him out of the side, said it was brilliant performance from the county side.

"I was so proud to be on the sideline and watch the passion the lads put in to every moment of that game," he said.

"Every tackle, every carry, they all meant something.

"We had something to prove to our doubters and we showed them that we are not down and out and that we are very much still here."

CORNWALL: Roko, Nicks, Martin, Prisk, Trerise, Pellow, Pallett, Jacques, Johns, Tompsett, Ballard, Joyce, Lawrance. Reps: Thomas, Prout, Durant, Wilson.

TRIES: Jacques (2), Durant, Johns, Prisk, Roko, Trerise.

CONS: Prisk 5/7.

PEN: Prisk.