Sun 20 Nov 2022
Launceston Ladies continue their perfect start to the season with yet another win and
clean sheet after eventually brushing aside a dogged Camborne team 0-56.
After last week's home game against Withycombe was cancelled due to the away
side unable to field a team, the ladies had been 2 weeks without a fixture and with a
number of personnel changes they could have been forgiven for being a tad rusty.
But in true Cabettes style, the girls got off to a flying start. Despite the wind and the
rain, Launceston looked to spread the Camborne defence by moving the ball left and
right and when the ball eventually found its way to Mia Wray, she shimmed her way
to a score. Conversion from Holly Williams was successful.
Launceston, straight back on the attack, marched their way up the pitch through a
number of pick and goes making yard after yard. With momentum fully in
Laumceston’s favour, Jenna Arnold picked and dove over the line for another score.
Conversion again successful from Holly Williams.
From here it looked business as usual for the Cabettes but Camborne shook of the
early onslaught and showed real spirit to rock this Launceston team. Camborne
began to win the race and the physical battle at ruck time, turning the ball over a
number of times disrupting Launceston’s momentum and even making a visit or 2 to
Launceston’s 22. Launceston, feeling the pressure to keep the ball away from the
rucks, tried to force the ball wide and make offloads but with the weather against
them the ball hit the deck more often than not and with Camborne requesting the
scrums be uncontested it meant they had a clear platform to clear their lines.
Thankfully, Camborne started to become over exuberant at the breakdown and
began giving away penalties, resulting in Launceston making headway up the pitch.
From one said penalty, a tap and pop to Avril Crabb had the desired effect as she
powered over the line for try. Conversion missed
With halftime looming and the game still uncertain, Launceston managed a final
score to ease the nerves. Launceston’s strong runners as always sucked in the
defence effort from Camborne allowing Amy ‘Podge Warman a chance to unleash
the deadly backline. With the defence scrabbling to get across, Emily Kneale saw
her chance to straighten and canter in for a score against her former side.
Conversion missed
Haltime: 0-24
Both sides came out for the second half eager to get the next score. Camborne,
back to stealing the ball at breakdowns, had their tails up and ready to fight for every
collision. One such collision though seemingly changed the game in Launceston’s
favour as the introduction of Kim Upcott at halftime was as impactful as intended.
Podge taking a tap and pop to Kimbo, she charged at the Camborne line. Bravely up
stepped the Camborne captain to make the tackle, body on the line she threw herself
at Kimbo and brought her down. That was to be her last contribution though as she
was helped gingerly off the pitch with suspected concusion.
This seemed to knock the wind out of Camborne sails and blow in the favour of
Launceston as they began to play with some freedom. Rhian Thomas exploited the
gaps created making a storming run up the field before offloading to Alex Hutchings
who weaved around the fullback for a score.Coversion successful from Joey Sandercock.
Launceston managed to work there way up the pitch with a little more ease and with
Cabettes on the Camborne 22 they fed Kimbo for another run. After her last charge,
nobody seemed to want get in her way as she stormed through for a try. Conversion
missed
With Launceston on the ascendancy, Camborne gave away more and more
penalties allowing Joey to kick to the corner. A line out 5m out they set up for a
driving maul only for Kim to break down the unguarded blindside for another score.
Conversion outwide missed.
Again with Launceston motoring their way up the field they found themsleves deep in
the Camborne 22. A steal from Camborne seemed to give them chance to clear their
line but the Smiling Terrier was on the case. Caitlin Hancock, who had been a
menace throughout the game, went on a tackling rampage. Like the fox that got in
the hen house she chased the ball wherever it went, making 4 or 5 tackles in row
before the ball was dropped over t
he try line which Jenna Arnold gladly pounced on
for a score. Conversion missed.
An inspired move to finish the game off, bringing Charlotte Crocker in from the wing
to inside centre, Launceston shipped the ball to her to have a go and she sythed her
way straight through the middle to round off the game in style.
Final Score: 0-56
With the next 2 games at Polson Bridge, Launceston rev up for their big encounter
with fellow table toppers Exeter Academy with a game against Helston in the next
round of the Junior Cup on the 27th November. (breaking news - Helston have conceeded the game sothis has been very unfortunately cancelled)
Forward of the Match: Cailin Hancock
Back of the Match: Mia Wray
Report By: Dan Pearce
