Sun 8 Oct 2023
Launceston Ladies beat the heat and the opposition to maintain their perfect
record with a 0-36 win against top of the table Bideford.
In the unseasonable October heat, Launceston Ladies battled the elements as
well as a Bideford team that is sitting pretty at the top of the table, albeit with a
game in hand. With a number of key players missing though their spirited
performance was not enough to hold off a full strength Launceston squad.
A mistake from kick off gave Bideford excellent field position to mount some
early pressure. But the Launceston defence was up to the task, led by some
big tackles from the likes of Amy Warmen and Megan Arnold that took the
sting out of the Bideford attack. After 10 minutes of Bideford possession,
Launceston finally managed to get their hands on the pill and proved ruthless
in their first attack by flooding down the pitch, working enough space for Holly
Williams to find her way over for a try, converting her own score for good
measure.
Bideford tried to shake the shift in momentum and get back into the
Launceston half but soon coughed up the ball from the heavy pressure
Launceston's defence created and once again The Cabettes poured down the
pitch. A very familiar game plan executed by Launceston as their direct
forward runners sucked in defenders to bring them down before unleashing
their deadly backline, this time in the form of the deceptive Abbie Smith who
powered her way through a gap and gunned it for the corner for her first score.
Conversion outside missed.
Bideford once again regathered themselves to launch another attack at the
Launceston wall but, unable to find a chink in the armour, again relieved
possession and with Launceston’s backline firing they ship the ball wide and
broke down the field. Putting the ball through a number of hands, it eventually
found Meg Tuckers with an inch or so of room to work with which is more than
she needs to slip through and score. Conversion missed.
The final score of the half came from a set piece training ground move. A
lineout on halfway fed straight to Holly Williams running a switch with Abbie
Smith who hit the line at such a speed she pierced the Bideford defence like
an Olympic diver breaking the water surface. She swerved her way around the
final defender and dotted down under the posts for a very satisfying score.
Williams gladly added the extras.
HT: 0-24
The second half became more of a battle of braun. Launceston’s hard runners
in Mel Ruby, Vicki Doidge and Rhian Thomas all made yards but were unable
to make that breakthrough and seemingly unable to unleash the backline as
potently as they had in the first half. Bideford also held onto the ball for long
spells, denying Launceston chances to attack. But once they found
possession they began to string phases together, build an attack and patiently
waited for their opportunity to arise. When that moment presented itself it was
the clinical Abbie Smith who burst through the dogged Bideford defence to
scurry over for her well deserved hattrick. Williams added the extras.
The physicality began to take its toll as Bideford were reduced to 14 due to a
number of injuries and HIAs. But Launceston continued to send the brigade of
hard runners with Ann-Marie Risdon and Mel Ruby combining to the suck in
the defenders before sweeping the ball wide for Joey to scoot over for the final
score. Conversion from out wide was unsuccessful.
FT: 0-36
This was the first of three fixtures this season against Bideford and The
Cabettes can be happy with how they played against a tough Bideford side.
But with the next fixture against Bideford only three weeks away in the Cup,
they’ll hope to be up to full strength and surely be out for revenge. Firstly
though Launceston must overcome Totnes at Polson Bridge on 22nd of
October.
Forward of the Match: Vicki Doidge
Back of the Match: Abbie Smith
Report by: Dan Pearce
