Sat 18 Jan 2025
The Blacks went head to head with Lydney, both fighting for the win to consolidate their positions in the top 5 (& for the CABs to keep in the hunt at the top). On a perfect day for rugby; dry, no wind and unseasonably good ground conditions it was set for a really abrasive and skilful game - which is exactly how it turned out to be. The CABs started the game playing towards the river end and made the early running. Excellent handling, running lines and effective clearouts put the visitors under huge pressure; three times in the first 12 minutes Brandon Rowley got over the tryline, but Lydney's robust held it up. Although the third time, he inexplicably tried to pick it up from a 5m scrum and knocked on, when it was easier to just flop on it! This cost the CABs, as after14 minutes in, the Black's scrum collapsed, and Jake Hanley, Lydney's fly half, kicked for points following a penalty to make the score 3-0 to the visitors. Shortly after this, Lydney charged over the line, but the Blacks held it up, leaving the score unchanged.
The game was now evening itself out, which was mainly due to Lydney's breakdown defence, which produced several turnover throughout the game. Grady Alford - Lydney's scrum half - had a clear run to the try line, but George Hillson tackled him into touch, right on the CABs line. The lineout was overthrown by CABs and the hooker Sam Baker ran in unopposed to score which was also converted to make extend their lead to 10-0. 27 minutes in, the visitors’ full-back, Alex Nelmes, was sent to the sinbin for deliberately blocking Ollie Beddington when he chipped ahead . Charlie Short replaced Oliver Martin and from a lineout the CABs drive to the line and Charlie dived over. Charlie Short smashed over the line and scored Launceston their first try. The conversion was then missed, making the Blacks 5 points behind the visitors. Going into half time, the visitors were 5 points ahead of the Blacks. It was pretty obvious what the CABs needed to do in the second half; be more energetic and effective at breakdown, as this was really becoming an Achilles Heel. At the start of the second half, Cam Fogden broke through Lydney's defence and was just short of scoring a try when there was a turnover ball. Reilly Scriven, Lydney's number 8, was injured shortly after Fogden's charge, and Jack Knox was brought on. Leion Cole was subbed off, and Llyod Duke replaced him, who immediately had an impact, stopping the visitors in their tracks. The Cornishmen had possession after a scrum, and the ball was kicked into touch, resulting in a lineout close to Lydney's tryline. After several attempts to get over their tryline, the ball was passed a bit wider to Dan Goldsmith, allowing him to dive over the line, scoring his first try of the season, which Hillson converted, just by the posts to give the CABs a 12-10 lead. The CABs were now starting to have a better time at collision and breakdown with Charlie Short, Rowley and Tom Sandercock becoming more influential, as was the kick return game by No.15 James Tucker. Lydney made a charge for the Black's tryline but was tackled into touch, which gave the Black's possession. 68 minutes in the game. Again, the CABs misfired at lineout and Lydney were able to build pressure and from a resultant scrum, Lydney's number 14, Brad Dunn, slipped through the Blacks defence and scored a try but injured himself while jumping over the line, making the score 12-15 to Lydney. 72 minutes in, Seb Cox was subbed off, and Dom Ellery was brought on for the Blacks and made some significant contact areas contributions.. Ollie Bebbington charged for the try line but lost possession, in yet another turnover. From the next lineout, the CABs hammered away at the line, until eventually a gap was made allowing James Tucker to score his 2nd try of the season and Hillson converted it, to end the game with the Cornish All Blacks winning 19-15.
It was another nail-biter, at Polson and two well-matched teams. Lydney will be kicking that they didn't quite hang on for a deserved win; for the CABs it was a good example of finding a way to win a rugby match when things are going to plan. So, the CABs move onto the much anticipated first meeting between themselves and second-placed Barnstaple in the re-arranged game.
Report by Lucy Beacham
