Launceston Ladies produced another dominant display on Sunday, dispatching
Plymstock Albion Oaks 5-67, to sit top of the table after the opening 2 games.
Launceston travelled down to Plymstock in the pouring rain, preparing themselves
for a very wet and windy game of rugby but as kick off came, the skies cleared and
the temperature rose. The Cabettes embraced the new conditions and came out
flying, scoring twice in the first two plays. Jenna Arnold grabbed the first score from a
pick and go and from the restart Holly Williams made a break to then offload to Abbie
Smith who ran it home from 50m. Joey Bartlett converted the latter.
Launceston continued to pile on the pressure and after being held up over the line
twice, Meg Tucker took it upon herself to return the goal line dropout for a definitive
score by running around the would-be defence. Conversion missed.
It was Plymstock’s turn to have some ball but Launceston’s defence proved ruthless.
Tackles from the likes of Abbie Smith, Meg Arnold and Vicki Doidge drove Plymstock
back into their own half and eventually drawing a penalty. Amy ‘Podge’ Warman was
keen to keep the momentum and tempo high so promptly tapped and went, making
20 metres before spinning it out to Joey Bartlett to scoot around and score in the
corner.
Two more tries from Tucker finished off the scoring for the half. The first after some
strong direct running from Smith, the ball was spun to Tucker out wide to glide in.
The second came straight from the training paddock as direct from a scrum the ball
was whisked wide to Bartlett who switched with Tucker to put her through a hole in
the defence much bigger than she required to gallop the 70m to the tryline.
Launceston played defence for the final part of the half, testing their resolve. After
conceding a number of penalties, Launceston’s Chloe Samways saw yellow for the
team's ill discipline with an aperated high tackle.
HT: 0-34
The heat sapped the tempo for the second half as both teams came out a little
tentative. Abbie Smith got the scoreboard moving again though as the Moorland
Maid won a collision in the midfield for the ball and ran it up the slope for her second
of the day. Conversion was good from Bartlett.
The ‘retired’ Vicki Doidge proved she can still canter through a gap as she made a
break up the field, setting up a good position for the forwards to attack from. Holly
Williams playing her new role as flanker spotted a gap that she picked and went
through for her score. Conversion was good again.
The Cabettes continued to find space for their speedsters to run in. Tucker once
again in more space than she needed, dodged and weaved her way through, leaving
defenders chasing her shadow as she ran over the line from 50m out. Conversion
once again was good from Bartlett.
Plymstock’s frustration began to grow leading to a verbal outburst from the
Plymstock centre for which the referee deemed a red card was warranted.
Launceston made use of the extra number as good hands from the backs opened up
the Plymstock defence once again. Falling short, Kim Upcott picked it up and steam
rolled her way over for her score. Bartlett’s kicking boots gleaming as yet another
conversion sailed through. The Cabettes final score came for debutant Abbie Taylor
as the backs once more showed good hands to make use of the overlap, putting
Taylor in for her dream debut score in the corner.
The clean sheet was ruined though as Plymstock had the final say, grabbing a
deserved score in the last play of the game.
FT: 5-67
Launceston’s next fixture comes in three weeks time against old rivals Crediton at
Polson Bridge. Crediton edged out Launceston to a maiden league title on points in
their first attempt at league rugby 3 years ago. The Cabettes will be looking to put
that demon to bed on the 13th October.
Forward of the Match: Avril Crabb
Back of the Match: Joey Bartlett
Report by: Dan Pearce - see photo below
