LAUNCESTON have made two changes from the side beaten at Okehampton last Saturday for tomorrow’s Regional One South West clash with Exmouth at Polson Bridge (3pm).
The All Blacks dominated the majority of the contest at The Showground, and despite letting slip a 23-10 half-time lead, had a one-point cushion heading into the final three minutes.
However, Luke Simmons’ superb penalty gave Oke a 30-29 success to give themselves a big chance of survival come the end of the season and, in the process, secure a league double over their Cornish rivals from down the A30.
Launceston are nicely in mid-table in fifth, but with Exmouth just behind, could be just a point ahead of the East Devon outfit come 5pm.
Exmouth started slowly, but before Saturday’s defeat at promotion-hopefuls Barnstaple, had won their last four games and possess a potent pack and powerful backline.
Launceston joint head coaches Ian Goldsmith and Ryan Westren are without flanker Tom Bottoms and Glenn Coles who are both unavailable, with their places going to George Bone and Adam Collings, who starts for just the second time this season.
Collings’ introduction at scrum-half means skipper Tom Sandercock replaces Coles at fly-half, while centres Cam Fogden and Todd Crofts have swapped positions with Fogden now at inside-centre.
The bench sees three changes with Cian Baker, Pete Bebbington and Jamie Chapman all coming in.
There has been one departure from the club in recent days with lock Leion Cole leaving to re-join Tavistock.
Although this weekend is a bye weekend for some clubs, there are three other rearranged matches with implications at both ends of the table.
New leaders Chew Valley head up to Gloucester to tackle relegation-threatened Matson who will hope that in-form Brixham will do them a big favour at Okehampton.
Devonport Services are also in Gloucestershire as they visit mid-table Lydney who are always tough to beat on their own patch.
Such is the competitive nature of the division, just six points separate St Austell in eighth and Matson in 11th with two teams going down, one of which looks set to be Weston-super-Mare who are 17 points from safety and only have seven games remaining, while at the other end it’s also all to play for.
Chew Valley, who visit Devonport next weekend in a potential title decider, are a point ahead of the Services.
Barnstaple are two behind Devonport, and will keep a close eye on what happens in Gloucestershire.
Brixham are nine off top spot, but a win at Okehampton coupled with a defeat for Chew Valley would likely bring them to within a victory.
LAUNCESTON v Exmouth: James Tucker, Ollie Bebbington, Todd Crofts, Cam Fogden, Ben Bryant, Tom Sandercock (capt), Adam Collings; Ethan Pearce-Cowley, Levent Bulut, Alex Bartlett, Dan Goldsmith, Albert Horne, George Bone, Lloyd Duke, Brandon Rowley. Replacements: Cian Baker, Pete Bebbington, Jamie Chapman.