Sun 21 Nov 2021
Launceston Ladies seal bragging rights in the North Cornwall derby after beating Bude 0-13 at Bencoolan Meadows this Sunday. The last time
these two sides met was pre COVID 20 months ago in a friendly match in which Bude ran out convincing winners, so this result shows just how
far these ladies have come in a short space of time.
The game started with Bude dominating the territory, camping inside the Launceston half. Both teams firing with furious intensity with some bone
shaking hits at times going in but with handling errors rife in both camps, neither team were able to build any serious attacking threats. The first
real break came from Bude on the 25th minute as Launceston were caught napping and not retreating 10m quick enough after conceding a
penalty. Quick thinking from Bude 9 Lisa Alllin saw her take the tap and run through the would be tacklers to break through. Good scramble
defence from the Launceston back 3 saw Joanne Smith make a well timed covering tackle some 5m out from Launceston tryline. The
Launceston defence were able to retreat and clear their lines but this showed the ladies what Bude are capable of.
For the remainder of the half Launceston had to rely heavily on what has been an immense defence so far this season as handling errors kept
coughing the ball up to Bude, keeping them pinned in their own half. Launceston’s mighty defence held firm though to see out the half. The
0-0 scoreline did not do justice to the intensity of the match. The second half saw the territory game flip on its head as it became
Launceston’s turn to go camping in Bude’s half. Launceston’s defence forced Bude further and further into their own half until Bude winger was
tackled into touch on her 5m line. From the resulting lineout, Launceston started hammering at Bude’s defensive door with no luck until ex Bude
maid Mel Ruby had the answer with a trademark power run to score a fitting try against her former teammates. Conversion missed.
With the extended spells of territory, Launceston seemed to find their hands and were able to string together phases and produce some
exciting rugby. Bude outside centre, with some incredible tackles, was a continuous thorn in Launceston’s side but not even she could stop Kim
Upcott on the charge, players hanging off her as she made her way over the tryline. Well positioned hanging though meant a Bude player or 2
was able to get underneath Kim and prevent her from grounding the ball. Bude cleared their lines from the goal dropout. For the first time in the 2nd period,
Bude found themselves in the Launceston half and threw what they could at Launceston’s wall. Launceston’s defence was able to hold firm and eventually win a penalty
just inside their own . Amy ‘Podge’ Warman, not to be outdone by her opposite number, made an eidetic tap and go to race the ball into Bude’s 22. But for yet another
superb tackle from Bude’s outside centre, Podge looked sure to score. Launceston worked the ball around the 22 finally being awarded with a penalty right in front of
the sticks. Holly Williams gladly kicked the ball through the posts to add 3 more points. 0-8. Bude, now chasing 2 scores, started to put some heat on the
Launceston defence and after a string of conceded penalties, a high tackle from centre Meg Armsstrong meant she suffered a team accumulated
yellow card.
The final play of the game saw some barn storming running from the immense Kim Upcott. Taking the ball just outside the Bude 22 and
running through tackle after would be tackle to be finally taken down 5m out. Launceston worked the ball back left and hammered away at the
Bude’s tryline until they finally broke and Sam Sleep was able to dive over to add icing on the cake. Conversion missed but the final whistle
went and the mighty roar from Captain and Forward-of-the-Day Vicki Doidge showed just how much that win meant to the girls.
An amazing game of rugby in front of a large crowd shows just how much women's rugby is growing.
The result sees Launceston to the top of the table with 4 wins from 4. The ladies next game is against bottom of the table Teignmouth on December 5th at Polson Bridge. If you
haven’t already, come down and support the girls.
By Dan Pearce
