Sun 3 Mar 2024
Launceston Ladies all but secured promotion and the league title on Sunday after finally getting a game played in February, dispatching Devonport Services 0-62. After Polson Bridge was declared unplayable at 10:30am the two teams came up with a plan by 10:45am to get the game played at Devonports 4G pitch. Another hurdle was Devonport only being able to raise 12 players so an agreement was made that the match would be played 12-a-side and the halves cut to 20 minutes to meet the leagues standard for a competitive game. Both teams were just keen to get a game of rugby played and Launceston thank Devonport Ladies for being so accommodating.
Unfortunately with the way the leagues point system is structured, teams get a bonus point for fielding a full 15 players and due to only playing 12-a-side Launceston drop their first point in the league, dragging out the league title race a little longer. The Cabettes now know though a win against local rivals Bude will take them beyond being caught.
The shortened format made for a fast paced match with both teams going hell for leather from the start. Launceston though found the space quickest through Abbie Smith. As she looked to switch with the winger, she dummied and showed her pace to get around the outside of the defence to run it into the corner. Conversion out wide was short. Launceston quickly realised how much space was out there with only 12 defenders in front of them and more importantly they knew how to exploit it. Abbie Smith again getting on the outside after a break from Vicki Doidge and sprinting her way under the posts. Holly Williams with the extras. The Cabettes began finding space everywhere and were clinical once they got in behind the Devonport defence. The next score came from a kick over the top from Holly Williams. Wing Abbey Matthews hared after it and hacked the ball on, waiting for it to bounce up and into her arms. But a rugby balls bounce proved perfectly unpredictable and out of her reach. The ever supportive Amy ‘Podge’ Warman though was right behind her to gather and dive over for a score. Conversion was missed.
A lady possessed, Abbie Smith bagged herself a first half hattrick. The Cabettes were able to set up an out-the-back move, holding the defenders drift and allowing the backs to run into open space. Smith stepped inside through the space and gassed her way to the tryline. Joey Sandercock this time with the conversion
HT: 0-24
Launceston began the second half like a tsunami, an unstoppable wave of hard runs and fast rucks crashing over the Devonport defence, giving them no chance to get set or even slow the Cabettes down. It was Joey Sandercock that put an end to the onslaught as she darted over from 5m out. Williams with the conversion. Devonport regathered themselves and conjured some possession of their own, giving Launceston's defence a work out this time but the Cabettes held firm and eventually regathered the ball. They worked their way once again to the Devonport 22 and it was Anne Marie Risdon doing her best ‘Kimbo’ impression as she burst through a gap and charged her way to the tryline from 20m out for her first score for Launceston Ladies. Williams with the conversion.
6 minutes left to go and Launceston opened the floodgates. Rachel Hicks received out wide and with nothing but 50m of open black crumb turf in front of her, she turned on the burners and galloped down the far side for her score. Williams with the conversion. Launceston cleared their lines from the kick off with a huge boot from Williams. Prop and Captain Mel Ruby showed true leadership and heart by heading the charge chasing down that ball like it was the last Haggis left in Scotland. The pressure forced a loose kick back and Launceston rewarded their Captains hard work by getting the ball wide to Madi Vine to cruise in for a score. Conversion was missed. With a minute left to go there was time for the restart as Devonport kicked the ball straight to Joey Sandercock. She immediately jinked through a gap and pinned her ears. From 70m out she left the Devonport players in her dust and dotted down under the posts for her second. She converted her own try for good measure. The Cabettes weren't quite finished and Holly Williams ran in one final try rounding off yet another good day at the office.
FT: 0-62
To get this game underway took a collaboration from both teams and shows how much all players just wanted to play a game of rugby after a very wet February. That leaves 2 games left for Launceston with the next match against Bude away and a big one under lights at the Stade de Marsh on the 13th March.
Forward of the Match: Anne Marie Risdon
Back of the Match: Joey Sandercock
Report by: Dan Pearce
