LAUNCESTON ended a season of two halves with a crushing 87-14 defeat at runners-up Brixham on Saturday.

The All Blacks, who won 11 of their opening 14 games to sit right in the title picture, then lost eight on the spin to drop to fifth, the same position they finished last term.

Launceston were once again missing several key players and found themselves 12-0 down inside eight minutes.

The opener arrived on three minutes as hooker Koree Britton powered from a line-out before winger Matt Crosscombe added the second which was added to by fly-half Mitch Pinkus.

Launceston gained some possession but failed to convert and on 15 minutes lost winger Jamie Chapman to a broken arm. He was replaced by Kuda Chisango for his second appearance at first team level.

They soon got on the scoreboard and after several phases prop Charlie Short powered over the line from close range which was added to by George Hillson (12-7).

However the visitors lost another key player to injury in inside-centre Cam Fogden, and was replaced by debutant Ben Greene, usually a front-five forward in the Castles.

Brixham had to win and hope Barnstaple slipped up against St Austell, and racked up five tries in the final 13 minutes of the half all of which were converted by Pinkus.

The first arrived from No.8 Tommie Drennan, before after Chisango was sin-binned for tackling a player in the air, full-back Joel Ashworth dotted down.

Crosscombe scored again on 38 minutes before moments later inside-centre Andre Simonetti crossed under the posts.

Launceston were given a helping hand when flanker Jason Capaldi was sin-binned, but there was still time for outside-centre Louie Drennan to score despite a fine tackle by Chisango on the winger.

At 47-7 down the visitors were on a hiding to nothing and they conceded once more when prop Kai Alton dotted down following a maul.

Chisango’s fine individual try which was added to by Hillson saw some temporary relief, but the Fishermen soon responded with replacement Kai Kidd getting the final touch.

Try number ten arrived as they again used their dominant scrum to win the ball and push themselves over the line with Tommie Drennan scoring (66-14).

Andre Simonetti was yellow-carded following a number of home infringements, but it didn’t stop their momentum as they soon sent the ball wide for Kidd to add his second.

Tommie Drennan completed his hat-trick and there was still time for the final score via Scott Puleston.

With a plethora of injuries and unavailabilities, Launceston have conceded Saturday’s Papa Johns Community Cup Regional One Championship clash at Barnstaple.

However, there is still a big game to come on Sunday, April 20 as they take on Wadebridge Camels in the final of the Cornwall Cup at Bodmin on April 20.

It would be great to get as many of the CABs supporters there to cheer the players on.

LAUNCESTON: James Tucker, Jamie Chapman, Callum Smith, Can Fogden, Billy Martin, Jose Luis Juarez, George Hillson, Mitch Hawken, Levent Bulut, Charlie Short, Dan Goldsmith, Oli Martin, Dom Ellery, Tyler Westlake, Brandon Rowley (capt). Replacements: Ben Greene, Tom Walton, Kuda Chisango.

Tries: Short, Chisango; Convs: Hillson; Pens: N/A.

Launceston man-of-the-match: Brandon Rowley.