AFTER seeing their four-match winning run come to a narrow end last Saturday, Launceston will hope to kickstart another when they visit Ivybridge tomorrow for their first away game of 2023.

The All Blacks have played four times this year, all at Polson Bridge, and after seeing off Weston-super-Mare, Devonport Services and Exmouth, lost 18-17 to Brixham.

However their recent form has seen them move up to seventh in the table, seven points adrift of Ivybridge and with two games in-hand on the Devon outfit.

Ivybridge have won eight of their 18 fixtures with no draws, while the All Blacks have seven victories and nine losses to their name.

When the two sides met back in North Cornwall in November it was Launceston who came out on top by 44 points to 27.

The All Blacks make two changes from the side beaten by Brixham but there several alterations in terms of positions.

The front five are the same but with a lack of midfield options, regular number eight Brandon Rowley will line up at inside-centre. Jake Crabb comes in to play at flanker with skipper Lloyd Duke switching to Rowley’s spot at the back of the scrum.

Adam Collings is out with a head injury suffered last weekend which means the ever-versatile Tom Sandercock will line up at scrum-half next to Glenn Coles.James Tucker is back from his skiing holiday and lines up at full-back.

Plymouth Albion loanee Conrad Burne switches to the wing with Ollie Tomkies dropping out of the squad.

Late pullouts from last weekend, Levent Bulut and Archie Dinnis, are both on the bench alongside Alex Bartlett.

LAUNCESTON at Ivybridge: James Tucker, Conrad Burne, Martin Kneebone, Brandon Rowley, Dan Pearce, Glenn Coles, Tom Sandercock; Ethan Pearce-Cowley, Mitch Hawken, Andy Knight, Tom Bottoms, Leion Cole, Jake Crabb, George Bone, Lloyd Duke (capt). Replacements: Alex Bartlett, Levent Bulut, Archie Dinnis.

Counties One Western West

BUDE had a day to forget last Saturday as a side missing up to a dozen of their first choice squad due to injury and unavailability were hammered 101-5 at leaders Cullompton.

However a large proportion of those are back in the squad for tomorrow’s big home clash with Pirates Amateurs at Bencoolen Meadow.

In the front row, key men Jason Bolt and Rory Mead return as do lock Chris Hill and Dec Smale who will line up at number eight with skipper Freddie Saxton switching to blindside-flanker.

In the backs, Will Pharo is back at fly-half alongside the experienced Olly Mounce, while Ben Hancock is also available and lines up at centre which allows Olly Denford to move back to his favoured full-back position.

There are good options on the bench as well with Matt Williams, Shaun Andrew and Charlie Watton all set to enter the fray later in the game.

Bude will take inspiration from their narrow defeat to second-placed Topsham recently, and if they can produce a performance similar then there’s no reason why they can’t pull off a famous victory against their Penzance-based opponents who still have an outside chance of finishing in the top two.

Bude Seconds are also in action tomorrow when they visit bottom side Redruth Albany in Counties Cornwall Three.

Albany have yet to win all season and have conceded over a 1,000 points, so a comfortable away win should be within reach.

Launceston Castles are without a game before they visit Bude next Saturday.

BUDE v Pirates Amateurs: Olly Denford, Rory Hodges, Ben Tharme, Ben Hancock, Jack Horwell, Will Pharo, Olly Mounce; Jason Bolt, Rory Mead, Fraser Martyn, Chris Hill, Will Kingdon, Freddie Saxton (capt), Finley Fry, Dec Smale. Replacements: Matt Williams, Shaun Andrew, Charlie Watton.

Women’s NC 2 South West (West)

BOTH Bude and Launceston are in action on Sunday.

Launceston visit bottom side Withycombe (2.30pm) looking to keep the pressure on unbeaten leaders Exeter Athletic Dakota.

They make two changes following their bruising encounter at Dings Crusaders last Sunday in the last 16 of the Women’s Junior Cup, but they should still have too much for the hosts in East Devon.

Those missing from the starting 15 are Rhiannon Thomas and Megan Tucker, with Ann-Mare Risdon and Alicia England coming in.

LAUNCESTON LADIES at Withycombe: Holly Williams, Mia Wray, Charlotte Crocker, Abby Matthews, Alicia England, Joey Sandercock, Amy Warman; Mel Ruby (capt), Caitlin Hancock, Ann-Marie Risdon, Gemma Old, Megan Arnold, Briony Eddy, Pyper Karkeek, Vicki Doidge. Replacements: Emily Kneale, Lynn Pridham, Rhiannon Thomas, Lauren Carlyon, Poppy Speare, Jess Collings.

Bude’s last outing 13 days ago saw their clash at Bideford abandoned early in the second half due to a serious injury to a home player.

Totnes are also in mid-table so a close contest is to be expected.