Sat 21 Oct 2023
The CABS faced their stiffest challenge of the season on a typical autumn afternoon, at Polson, and managed to end up on the correct side of the scoreboard with a 20-17 victory.
Barnstaple were viewed, by the CABs, as the benchmark team this season. Not because of league position (that is early pace-setters, Chew Valley), but due to their recent successes, experience of promotion and the National 2 experiences. For Launceston there was a proper focus on a game plan of stay low at scrum, challenge and compete in the air and maintain real width in defence to nullify the opposition’s very organised way of playing.
The CABs kicked off, down the slope, and a couple of early penalties gave Barnstaple an early opportunity of points. To the great surprise of the crowd (and both sets of players), former CAB playmaker, Jake Murphy, missed a kick in front of the posts. As the afternoon progressed the tale of the two kickers would eventually be the difference. Some solid defence by the CABs gave them a scrum on the Barnstaple 10m line and sharp play by Tom Sandercock and Cam Fogden put Ollie Bebbington away. A scramble defence, by Barnstaple, conceded a 5m scrum and from a series of close play, LLoyd Duke crashed over the line and Dan Pearce added the extras for a 7-0 lead. The game then settled into a pattern that would be set for the rest of the game; scruffy, lots of set piece and very little opportunity for attacking rugby - defence was very much on top. By now, the scrum was also becoming an issue (and a frustration for everyone). Barnstaple were penalised 3-4 times in a row, then it became the CABs turn not to give the referee a good picture at scrum time. A 5 m lineout ensued, for Barnstaple, and following a series of drives, the huge Barnstaple centre crashed over for a 7-5.
However, one area that the CABs were certainly getting the edge was at lineout and maul. Daniel Goldsmith, Tom Bottoms and debut second row Bertie Horne were providing clean ball for the CABs and disrupting Barnstaple at virtually every lineout. This area gave the CABs the chance to extend their lead, with Pearce adding a tough kick at goal for a 10-5 lead. Further scrum penalties against the CABs, resulted in a yellow for Ethan Pearce-Cowley, and some serious pressure on the CABs try-line. However, some proper dogged and intense defence, by the CABs, allied to a better picture at scrum time, with replacement prop Alex Bartlett on for the sacrificed winger Ollie Bebbington left Murphy with another shot at goal, for last play of the half - again a miss meant a half-time lead of 10-5.
Everything in the half-time cha, was focused on giving the referee a better picture at lineout and maintaining a high possession game when in custody of the ball, as the Barnstaple forwards were just starting to show signs of heavy legs. Barnstaple started the half with a real purpose and another scrum (10m out from the CABs line) resulted in a yellow for Mitch Hawken. Fortunately, Pearce-Cowley's yellow was up so Bebbington had to spend a further unlucky ten minutes off the pitch. A training ground move penalty enabled Barnstaple to level to game at 10-10 with another unconverted try.
It was now a case of the CABs hanging in there, especially at scrum time, and using the lineout as their friend and keeping ball in hand, rather than employ a kicking game. Some great defence, both organised and scramble, kept Barnstaple out for some good time. A Pearce penalty restored the lead (13-10) and a full complement of players now gave the CABs the impetus to play some dynamic rugby. Just as they were looking to cause Barnstaple more problems, a rare handling error gifted Barnstaple the ball and a break down the left touchline resulted in Barnstaple going over and from a difficult angle convert the score for a 13-17 lead. In the past, and especially against teams like Barnstaple, this is where the CABs would have just fallen short and ended up as plucky losers. But this season is very different and the resolve and confidence the CABs have built up, over the calendar year and start to this season, meant that they weren't out of it. Whilst the CABs were struggling with scrum, Barnstaple were not able to deal with the CABs lineout and driving maul. A yellow, for a Barnstaple forward, gave the CABs a 5m lineout and a strong drive ended up with Adam Collings diving over the line and Pearce adding the extras for a 20-17 lead.
Now it was a case of hanging on to the ball in possession, being really disciplined in defence, and managing the last three minutes. To their credit, the CABs did that. Brandon Rowley off the base of the scrum produced some super carries, to give really good go forward and Adam Collings was able to put the ball into touch for the end of the game. It was not a rugby spectacle, but it was a thriller between two evenly matched teams. For the CABs, it showed that they can drink and eat at the top table of this league and it continued their unexpected, but enjoyable start to the season.
