Sun 2 Oct 2022
Launceston Ladies kicked off their league campaign on Sunday with a resounding
0-53 win against old rivals Bude.
After a successful pre-season and a National Cup win against Sidmouth last
weekend, what better way to get the league season underway than taking the
familiar trip to their seasider neighbours Bude. Always a hotly contested derby fixture
with players holding nothing back and this was no exception.
Bude came out the starting blocks a little faster than Launceston, firing into rucks
and winning the initial collisions but it was the Cabettes who grabbed the first score
through captain and former Bude player Mel Ruby via a trademark hardline through
the heart of the Bude defence. Conversion missed.
The next score came swiftly afterwards. Recently engaged Joey Sandercock with a
thunderous downtown kick, chased hard by centre Holly Williams. Her efforts were
rewarded with a penalty and the ever quick thinking Amy ‘Podge’ Warman tapped
and went before offloading to 1 of 6 debutants Rhiannon Thomas for the score.
Conversion from Holly Williams was good.
Launceston started to find width through their speedy backs as full back Mia Wray
got on the outside of the defence before being brought down just shy of the line. A
couple short phases eventually allowed Lyn Pridham enough room to get over the
whitewash. The conversion out wide missed.
Scores started to come thick and fast for Launceston as Kim Upcott found herself in
a props worst nightmare, clear through with nothing but 60m of open field in front of
her. She put her head down and was eventually stopped/saved by the Bude defence
just outside the 22. The ball recycled and worked to league debutant wing Meg
Tucker who weaved her way to a score. Conversion missed.
Bude ended Launceston’s purple patch by retaining the ball and adding their own
tempo through the excellent scrum half Lisa Allin. After making a number of gutsy
cover tackles, she employed the tactic of her opposite number by taking some quick
tap and goes. Launceston's defence not retreating fast enough resulting in the
referee marching the Cabettes 10 more metres each time. Bude on the front foot but
unable to break through the infamous Launceston wall.
The final play and score of the half went to Kim Upcott. Kimbo, again finding herself
in a props nightmare, this time from just outside the 22 sped her way to the tryline for
a dreamy score. Conversion successful from Joey Sandercock.
Halftime score: 0-29
The first 15 minutes of the second half was a brutal affair with both defences holding
firm. Ruck time was where the battles were held with a number of turnovers by both
teams resulting in little continuous phase play but made for exciting rugby. This
savage period took its toll as a number of players started to falter with Bude having
to go down to 14 for the remainder of the game. Launceston sportingly matched
Budes 14 by dropping a player to the sidelines.
Launceston were soon able to reap the benefits of a bit of ball retention as a well
worked team effort saw Rhiannon Thomas go over for her second score of the day.
Conversion successful from Joey
A Launceston scrum on Bude’s 22 looked a prime location to launch a backs move
but the Wile E. Coyote Podge spotted the blindside unguarded. A quick snipe and
she was away, tackled by full back Xen Howarth she offloaded to Rhiannon Thomas
who must have thought she was in for her hattrick but for yet another cover tackle
from Lisa Allin. The faithful Vicki Doidge was on hand though to graciously accept
the offload and grab her first score of the season. Holly Williams agonisingly close
with the conversion attempt
With Bude tiring but still resilient, Launceston were able string phases together
moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and back again. Eventually a
gap opened up in the middle for debutant Avril Crabb to sythe through and score.
Conversion missed
The final play of the game now saw Vicki in a predicament that Kimbo can empathise
with, a forward in the open. With some 60m in front of her Vicki turned on the
afterburners and motored her way to the tryline, making 55m before being grounded.
Once the support was able to catch up to the speedster, Meg Tucker duly picked
from the ruck and dotted the ball down. Conversion missed
Final Score 0-53
The ladies from both teams put on a show in front of a bumper crowd and can all be
proud of their efforts. With a weekend off next week, the Cabettes next fixture is the
16th October at Polson Bridge against Bideford Ladies.
Forward of the Match: Megan Arnold
Back of the Match: Megan Tucker
