Sat 8 Mar 2025
The away game against St Austell was a game of two very different halves, the first half the CABs were powerful, creative and threatening every time they played phases and kept the ball. However, St Austell controlled the second half with their own sustained pressure and capitilised on the loss of Tom Sandercock and James Tucker to injuries, either side of the half time whistle, leading to a league double with a very resounding 47 – 21 victory and close the gap to one point.
After an encouraging game last week against RWB, hopes were high for the local derby against St Austell and the first half was an entertaining close game, but Launceston didn’t seem to get going in the second and St Austell took the wind out of their sails and they never recovered.
Only 7 minutes in the game, Brandon Rowley, The Black’s number eight, scored a try and George Hillson converted it, taking the CABs into an early lead by 7 points.
5 minutes after, St Austell’s hooker, Pete Harris, scored a try and the conversion was missed, making the score five to seven.
Both teams were fairly equal in strength, neither one dominating the scrums and both played hard with quick phases of play.
George Hillson went on to score a try after he slipped through St Austell’s defence and he converted it, increasing the lead to five to fourteen.
21 minutes in, Matt Boothby, St Austell’s tighthead prop, scored a try and the conversion was kicked by Matt Shepard.
St Austell passed the ball wide and found a gap in Launceston’s defence and ran half the length of the pitch. A great chase down from James Tucker, Launceston’s number 13, tackled the player and he knocked the ball forward to give the Blacks a penalty.
30 minutes in, the Saint’s number 8 was sin-binned, and the CABs took advantage of the extra man and James Tucker scored a try next to the posts and Hillson converted it, extending the CAB’s lead to twelve to twenty-one. Once again, the CABs didn't effectively manage the kick-off receipt plays and gave St Austell the chance to put pressure on and with a few minutes left in the half another try from St Austell made the score nineteen to twenty-one and Tom Sandercock, The Blacks fly half was injured and brought off the pitch and was replaced by Jamie Chapman. The Blacks had a small lead going into half time, but they also had the strong breeze behind them. it was now a case of managing a reshuffled backline and using the wind to play in the St Austell half.
As the second half started the Blacks didn’t seem to have the drive or determination they had in the first half and mistakes crept into their game which St Austell was quick to capitalise on.
54 minutes in, a try from Matt Shepard, St Austell’s number 13 took advantage of a missed tackle and scored a try, and it was converted, making the score twenty-six to twenty-one.
James Tucker was sin binned for not releasing a tackled player and never returned with a series of painful knocks to his nose.
A scrum close to the CABs tryline gave the Saints possession and number 12, Sam Parsons, scored a try, and it was converted, increasing their lead to thirty-three to twenty one.
St Austell’s number 17, Hector Bright, exploited a gap down the right-hand side of the Blacks defence and touched the ball down earning another 5 points and converted it, making the score forty to twenty-one.
Another try was scored after a lineout turned into a maul which the Saints pushed over the line and ended the scoring with forty-seven to twenty-one.
Launceston struggled to create opportunities for themselves in the second half, and despite some flashes of encouraging forward play, a simple mistake would let The Saints off the hook by giving them possession and territory.
The CAB, currently on a frustrating six game losing streak have a week off, giving them time to reset and prepare for a difficult home game against Barnstaple who are now top of the league, courtesy of Sidmouth overcoming Brixham.
Launceston: Mitch Hawken, Levent Bulut, Charlie Short, Dan Goldsmith, Alex Bartlett, Tom Bottoms, Pete Bebbington, Brandon Rowley, George Hillson, Tom Sandercock (capt), Billy Martin, Cam Fogden, James Tucker, Zerran Hammond, Ollie Bebbington, Jamie Chapman, Dom Ellery.
Tries: Rowley, Hillson, Tucker. Convs: Hillson
Launceston Man of the Match: Brandon Rowley
report Lucy Beacham
