Sat 22 Mar 2025
With 580 eager spectators, the Blacks started like a team determined to avenge their 40-5 loss after their last encounter with Barnstaple and try an arrest a winless streak that goes all the way back to end of January. Only a minute in, Brandon Rowley, the CABs number 8, powered over the line to score (5-0) and this gave the CABs just the boost they needed to take it to the league leaders. However, each time the CABs looked like they were just about to open up and stretch Barnstaple a turnover occurred, which let them off the hook and gave them early opportunities to establish the edge they had in the scrum and maul.
A red lineout on the Black’s 22 line was won by Barnstaple and they mauled closer to the tryline, they passed it wide to number 11, Connor Swan, who found a gap in the defence and scored (5-5). Gaining momentum, Barnstaple ran half the length of the pitch after slipping through a gap in the Blacks defence but Black scrum half George Hillson intercepted the pass but knocked on so they were brought back for a scrum on the Black’s 22 yard line. Only 2 minutes after, Barnstaple worked the ball through the phases before Callum Morgan, the Red number 14, dived over the line and it was converted, making the score 5-12.
After a few phases of play Barnstaple kicked the ball up the pitch and the Blacks couldn’t get a hand on it and the cruel bounce enabled Barnstaple’s number 11 to gleefully gather the ball and had a clear run to the tryline where he scored under the posts. Tom Bottoms, the Cornishmen’s number 5, painfully ruptured his Achilles during the charge down and Oliver Martin was brought on and the ball was converted (5-19).
Barnstaple were a strong team, each phase they gained territory and a maul from a lineout let Brandon Moore, Barnstaple’s hooker, scored and Tyler Gordon-Oke, the fly half, kicked the conversion (5-26).
32 minutes in, José Luis Juarez, the CAB’s number 10, scored a try after a few phases and Hillson converted it (12-26). The key focus, during half-time was to not give Barnstaple any easy-outs (as there was a strong breeze blowing up the hill) and also keep the ball through phases and use CABs' sharp backline to stretch the visitors. Only 3 minutes after half time, George Hillson scored a try under the posts and he converted it (19-38).
However, just when the CABs were sniffing an opportunity, a series of needless penalties enabled Barnstaple to use another driving maul which the Blacks had no answer for after a lineout to score as their hooker, Albert Stretch, powered over the line and the conversion was missed (19-31). A few mistakes from the CABs gave Barnstaple a slight advantage and used a maul to score 14 minutes after the last as Brandon Moore forced his way over the line and the extra points were kicked (19-38). 64 minutes in, the ball was passed wide after a maul that stretched the Cornishmen’s defence and Callum Morgan scored his second try of the game which was converted (19-45).
José Luis Juarez was sin-binned for talking back to the ref and Barnstaple took advantage of the disparity in numbers and their hooker, Albert Stretch scored his second try (19-52). Barnstaple’s Tyler Gordon-Oke scored after breaking through the Blacks defence running half the length of the pitch and he kicked the conversion (19-59). With 3 minutes left on the clock, Barnstaple’s outside centre Alex Penny scored a try despite the CAB’s determined defending and the extra points were kicked (19-66).
In the last play of the game, Launceston’s hooker, Levent Bulut, dived over the line to round off the scoring and Hillson kicked the conversion, leaving the full time score a 26-66 to Barnstaple.
With St Austell winning the game against Marlborough (23-12), the Blacks have dropped to 5th in the league on 59 points and Barnstaple remain at the top on 90 points.
Next week is a free Saturday before the CABs travel up to Astley Park to take on Brixham who are 2nd in the league on 88 points.
Launceston: Ben Bryant, Billy Martin, Callum Smith, Cam Fogden, Ollie Bebbington, José Luis Juarez, George Hillson, Mitch Hawken, Levent Bulut, Charlie Short, Dan Goldsmith, Tom Bottoms, Dom Ellery, Pete Bebbington, Brandon Rowley (capt).
Replacements: Oliver Martin, Tyler Westlake, Jamie Chapman.
Tries: Rowley, Luis Juarez, Hillson.
Convs: Hillson (2); Pens: N/A
Launceston Man of the Match: George Hillson
Supporters Player Of The Season: George Hillson
Report by Lucy Beacham, who0se brother Ben continues with his game photography. Please see the gallery for Ben's photos.
