REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST (SATURDAY)
Launceston 19 St Austell 29
LAUNCESTON fell further adrift of leaders Exmouth as St Austell ran out deserved winners in the Cornish derby at Polson Bridge.
The Saints had never beaten Launceston in the league before - albeit from just two previous meetings- but after racing into a 22-5 lead at the break, they never seriously looked like giving it up despite Brandon Rowley’s late double.
From the side that had narrowly beaten Royal Wootton Bassett a fortnight earlier, the All Blacks were boosted by the returns of prop Charlie Short and winger Ollie Bebbington, but were still missing key trio Tom Sandercock, Lloyd Duke and Jose Luis Juarez to injury.
In front of a packed crowd of nearly 700 – the early stages were physical, but it was the Saints that showed the killer instinct.
The breakthrough came on 15 minutes when strong carries from man of the match Adam Powell and Matt Boothby made big dents in the home defence.
The ball was swung wide along the backline to George Tregilgas and the winger’s deft offload inside found Ben Plummer in support to score (0-5).
The Saints’ tails were up and a 50/22 provided prime field position to launch the next wave of attacks.
Playing with advantage following a home infringement, the visitors went through the phases before centre Ben Plummer finished in the corner (0-10).
Sharp thinking by scrum-half George Hillson ensured a quick reply as he jinked his way through to the whitewash (5-10), but hopes of a home comeback were soon dispelled.
A blistering defensive set continued to knock the black shirts backwards with the home side tackled to a standstill.
Turnover ball allowed the Saints to launch a swift counter-attack with full-back Archie Bees outstripping the despairing rearguard from 50 metres.
Matt Shepherd’s conversion stretched the lead to 17-5 with just six minutes of the half remaining. The Saints continued to attack with first Bees and then teenage debutant Freddy Rolls both being hauled down just short of the line. The visitors were not to be denied with the ball quickly recycled allowing scrum-half Dan Tyrrell to snipe in on the blindside to make the half-time score 22-5.
The hosts were much improved after the restart as they penned the Saints in for long spells, but seven turnovers and three unsuccessful lineouts were constantly truncating any pressure on the defence and try line.
Midway through the half saw St Austell go further clear as hooker Peter Harris finished off a catch and drive routine. Shepherd added the extras for 29-5.
Despite the scoreline, the Saints were again put under pressure as the home side sparked into life.
The home side grabbed two late converted tries through Brandon Rowley to provide a glimmer of hope for a consolation bonus point, but the visitors had other ideas as they stirred themselves for a last defensive effort to see out the game.
It was fitting that it was a thumping tackle that dislodged the ball from a Launceston carrier to bring the game to an end as the Saints headed back down the A30 with a deserved five points.
For Launceston, the return of key players can’t come soon enough, before arguably the toughest assignment in the league, an away trip to Barnstaple on Saturday (2.30pm).
LAUNCESTON: Ben Bryant, Zerran Hammond, Billy Martin, Cam Fogden, Ollie Bebbington, James Tucker, George Hillson; Mitch Hawken, Levent Bulut, Charlie Short, Dan Goldsmith, Leion Cole, Tom Bottoms, Dom Ellery, Brandon Rowley (capt). Replacements: Alex Bartlett, Pete Bebbington, Dan Pearce.
Tries: Hillson, Rowley (2); Convs: Hillson (2); Pens: N/A.
Launceston man of the match: Ollie Bebbington.