REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST

Launceston 19 Sidmouth 41

LAUNCESTON slipped to a fourth successive defeat as mid-table Sidmouth ran out 41-19 winners at Polson Bridge.

With the crowd swelled by Farmers’ Day, it was the Devonians that feasted on the home side’s inaccuracies as they ran in six tries, half of which were scored by former Exeter Chiefs hooker Shaun Malton.

Launceston made two changes from the side beaten at Marlborough a week earlier.

Skipper Tom Sandercock came in at fly-half while winger Ollie Bebbington was also fit as Zerran Hammond and Billy Martin dropped out.

The hosts started brightly and were rewarded inside two minutes.

Although a driving maul was stopped, a couple of phases later ended with scrum-half George Hillson diving over from close range. He added the extras himself for 7-0.

On 17 minutes the visitors responded. After the All Blacks were caught offside deep in the Sidmouth 22, they cleared their lines and from the resulting lineout on halfway broke through before Malton dotted down in the corner. Fly-half James Docherty added the extras for 7-7.

On the half hour Dan Goldsmith was sin-binned for collapsing a maul on his own five-yard line and Sidmouth were awarded a penalty try.

Three minutes later, Hillson was yellow-carded for knocking the ball out of scrum-half Cameron Grainger’s hands to add to the home woes. This enabled Sidmouth to set up another powerful catch and drive with Malton the beneficiary for his second try (7-19).

Right on half-time the Devonians extended their lead to 14 points as they used their two-man advantage for winger Tom Price to score in the corner.

Launceston needed an immediate response and were given a huge helping hand five minutes after the restart as visiting lock Liam Hilliar was sent-off for making contact with Seb Cox’s head at a ruck.

And within two minutes they reduced the lead as flanker Dom Ellery took a short pass from full-back Jose Luis Juarez and ran in from the Sidmouth 22.

But Launceston’s inability to keep the ball was costing them and five minutes later another Sidmouth driving maul ended with Malton doing the rest (12-29).

Shortly after the hour home number eight Charlie Short was shown a yellow card for shoulder barging Malton off the ball and straight away they were punished as the Chiefs went over under the posts following a series of phases. Docherty made no mistake for 36-12.

Ten minutes later Sidmouth added a sixth try in the corner, before a seventh was close but they were held up.

Visiting prop Harvey Hannay was shown a yellow card in the latter stages and Launceston did at least grab a consolation try with the last play as replacement centre Billy Martin followed off a decent team move which was added to by Hillson.

For Launceston, having been in the promotion picture just a month ago, they now sit 20 adrift of leaders Brixham before they go to in-form Royal Wootton Bassett on Saturday, March 1.

LAUNCESTON: Jose Luis Juarez, Ben Bryant, James Tucker, Brandon Rowley, Ollie Bebbington, Ollie Bebbington, Tom Sandercock, George Hillson; Oli Martin, Levent Bulut, Alex Bartlett, Dan Goldsmith, Leion Cole, Seb Cox, Dom Ellery, Charlie Short. Replacements: Tyler Westlake, Billy Martin, Jamie Chapman.

Tries: Hillson, Ellery, B Martin; Convs: Hillson (2); Pens: N/A.

Launceston man of the match: Dan Goldsmith.