Sun 3 Dec 2023
Launceston Ladies have reached the halfway point in the season and go into the Christmas
break undefeated but were made to work for their 5-22 result against newly promoted
Helston.
Launceston made their longest away trip on Sunday, travelling down the depths of Cornwall
to find the frost of Saturday had thawed and uncovered a wet and boggy Helston pitch. The
showers forecasted throughout the day would only enhance the mud bath that followed as
both teams took to the field to do battle in a good old fashioned Cornish derby.
The awful conditions had an immediate impact as Launceston dropped the kick off, giving
early possession to the home team. Helston, who boast one of the biggest packs in the
league, showed no fear and looked to attack Launceston head on with their physicality and
strength. But the Launceston defenders made their tackles and yielded no ground,
eventually forcing a turnover. Launceston's turn to test the Helston defence and at first they
looked up to the task but with the quality of players the Cabettes have in their arsenal, it
wasn’t long before they exploited a gap. Rhian Thomas showed her quality recognising a
disjointed defensive line and scythed through. Good cover defence from the Helston full
back halted her stride but the supporting Kim Upcott was just a short pop away and steamed
in from 20m out. Joey Sandercock slotted the conversion.
Both teams now suitably caked head to toe in mud and barely distinguishable, the referee
had his hands full to recognise who was who. The ball was also doing its best impression of
a bar of soap as neither side could hold on to it for very long. But after conceding a couple of
penalties, Helston found themselves defending a lineout deep in their 22. Launceston looked
to catch and drive to the try line but the Helston pack disrupted the maul very well, forcing
the Cabettes to change the point of attack. Joey Sandercock received the pass at 10 and
was greeted with the rush defence outside. She stepped inside through the gap left and
danced her way to the tryline, leaving defenders chasing her shadow. Her conversion
attempt rebounded off the crossbar.
Helston though weren’t about to roll over as they came straight back at Launceston with the
belief they could do some damage. They did just that as the Helston full back caught the
Launceston defence narrow and broke down the right side. The speedster weaved around
the last defender and arched round to head under the posts. But Amy ‘Podge’ Warman
proved no chase is a lost cause as she hunted down and tackled the fullback over the dead
ball line before she could ground the ball. The remaining 10 minutes of the half was all
Helston as they hammered at the Launceston tryline. The Cabettes showed why they have
the best defence in the league and produced their strongest defensive set of the season,
tackling like their lives depended on it. An eventual knock on ended the onslaught and the
Launceston camp cheer masked the sigh of relief as the referee blew for halftime. Helston
were proving a force to be reckoned with.
HT: 0-12
Helston were buoyed by the final minutes of the first half and looked to continue on their
good work but Launceston starved them of possession. In their pursuit to win the ball back
they became over eager in their tackle height and gave away one too many high shots that
the referee could no longer leave unpunished and a yellow card was brandished. Less than
a minute later one turned to two as in Helston’s attempt to keep Launceston out, the Helston
prop produced yet another high tackle as well as not rolling away from the ruck so she had
her 10 minute marching orders and her team were down to 13. At 5m out from the tryline
Launceston were in prime ‘Kimbo’ territory as Upcott cleared a path to the tryline for her
second. The conversion was short.
Despite being down to 13, Helston continued to make it difficult for Launceston to build any
momentum. Every Helston player defending for two, they held out the 10 minutes without
conceding. But even after Helston were back to a full complement, Launceston still had a
score to add as the relentless defending took its toll. The Cabettes produced their longest
attacking set, stretching the Helston defence. Phase after phase, Launceston patiently
worked their way deeper into the Helston 22 before Mel Ruby found a gap to burst through
and score. Conversion was wide.
Helston bounced back once more and their never roll over attitude finally gave their crowd
what they had been calling for. They managed to find themselves in the Launceston 22 but
kept coughing up the ball. Launceston though twice failed to fully clear their lines and
Helston kept the pressure on. Searching for that score, the pressure told for only the second
time this season. The powerful Helston pack wore down the Launceston defence and the
gap opened for Helston to get a much deserved try.
Helston sensed blood and again went after the Launceston defence but the Cabettes never
looked in danger again and saw out the game.
FT: 5-22
Helston showed why they dominated the league below last season and, along with the awful
conditions, gave Launceston their toughest game of the year so far. The Ladies next game is
not until the new year when they host Bideford for the third instalment of the season on the
7th January. The Cabettes wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look
forward to your continued support into 2024.
Forward of the Match: Kim Upcott
Back of the Match: Joey Sandercock
Report by: Dan Pearce
