Bees, who went into the game hamstrung by an injury situation which was so bad even Florence Nightingale would call for reinforcements, had their resources in the front row and back three stretched close to breaking point.

Not only were they forced to ask former England prop Mark Linnett to play his first game in two seasons — which he did so manfully as a 64th-minute replacement — they also had to shuffle their back line to such an extent that none of their regulars started the game in their usual places.

A fractured thumb did for Adam Billig, an eight-week ban discounted Dave Knight and the fact that he is cup-tied kept Jon Goodridge from adding to his running total of 11 tries.

All of which makes the potentially long-term loss of Dan Tuohy — one of the standout performers in the Bees’ pack since he arrived from Gloucester last summer — nothing less than a hammer blow.

The young blindside flanker suffered a knee injury midway through the first half and although he has not yet received a formal diagnosis — that will come when the joint is scanned later today — there is a suspicion he has damaged ligaments.

That could put him out for remainder of the season.

Bees will also be concerned about Rod Petty’s rolled ankle, which left the scrum half hobbling at the end of this comfortable victory.

Head coach Steve Williams could be forgiven for thinking that it never pours, it only chucks it down. In the build-up to this match, Williams cited the statistic that every time a team plays, it loses one player for an average of three weeks. He’d settle for that now.

"Dan’s injury is a big blow, it really takes the gloss off the win," Williams admitted. "He has been one of our best players this year — it’s been a good experience for him playing in National One.

"We just hope it’s not too serious. It could be an ACL or PCL injury which could be long-term; we’ll find out soon and hope it’s not."

Williams revealed his intention to try to resurrect the loan arrangement that brought Neil Fowkes from Nottingham for the holiday programme. The front-row forward returned to play in his parent club’s cup match yesterday.

Bees need him. Launceston, as they are known to anyone over the age of ten, gave the hosts a torrid time in the scrums, in the first half particularly. Indeed, it is probably not a figment of the imagination to suggest that it was only Linnett’s appearance that sorted out the situation.

The visitors made the more positive start and, on reflection, might regret kicking several penalties in advanced positions to the corner rather than at the posts.

Such was the confidence they had in their driven maul that they even ran several close-range set-pieces and scored from two.

That Steve Pape’s brace had naught but a cosmetic effect was down to some excellent defence from Bees and their opportunism.

Williams' men were pinned back into the own territory for much of the opening quarter and did well to keep out the All Blacks.

When they did get a foothold in the game, it took them until the 34th minute to find a way through.

Emyr Lewis broke off the side of a maul and trudged down the left sideline, from where Bees pushed their way through the middle.

Eventually, Jon Higgins released Akapusi Qera who handed off Ryan Westren and swerved under the posts. Higgins converted and the half ended 7-0.

Two minutes after the restart, Brodie Henderson claimed the first of his two tries when he beat former Moseley wing Nigel Simpson to Petty’s up-and-under.

The Canadian raced over his own 22 and across halfway before being tackled. Bees recycled quickly and Henderson popped up once more to cover the remaining 35 metres in even time. Higgins made it 14-0.

Bees went into their shells a little after that, but Launceston still needed Lewis and then Alex Davidson to be yellow-carded before they broke down the home side.

Pape’s two scores came either side of Henderson’s. Simon Martin disrupted a counter-attack Petty hacked on and Henderson took the ball on the bounce.

PERTEMPS BEES: Nuthall; Palm (Spee, 72), Davies, Martin, Henderson; Lewis, Pearl (Miles, 60), Lynch (Lewis, 80), Gabey (Davidson, 60), Cornwell, Tuohy (Miller 21; Linnett, 64), Qera, Halavatau (Rawlins, 75). Replacement: Baxter.
LAUNCESTON: Birkett; Simpson (Holt, 45), Sweeney, Westren, Matchett; Young, John (Chapman, 64); Bolt, Brooking (Ridson, 45), Reed (Langbridge, 71), Pape, Parker, Burnett (Kimberley, 57), Sprangle (Collings, 80), Williams (Turner, 67).
Referee: Mr L ApGeraint Roberts (RFU).