Saturday, October 26

South West Premier

Weston-super-Mare 32

Cornish All Blacks 13

LAUNCESTON’S two-match winning run came to an end on Saturday as they were comfortably beaten 32-13 at new leaders Weston-super-Mare.

The All Blacks arrived at The Recreation Ground full of confidence after defeating Newbury Blues and neighbours Okehampton, but failed to make it a hat-trick against their hosts, who went top of the table following Barnstaple’s loss at home to Ivybridge.

Joint head coaches Ian Goldsmith and Ryan Westren initially named an unchanged starting 15 from their 22-17 win over Okehampton, but were forced into late changes as Martin Kneebone’s wife went in to labour, meaning fly-half Glenn Coles was brought in with Reuben Edwards shifting to the wing.

Flanker Harry Lightfoot also withdrew with an injury sustained at training on Friday night, meaning Joe Stansfield was handed his first league start and Shaun Crawford came on to the bench.

Weston hadn’t lost at home all season and comfortably won at Ivybridge last time out.

They took the lead inside nine minutes as a flowing backs move ended with winger Alex Howman scoring in the corner. Fly-half Dan Lomax added the extras for a 7-0 lead.

That lead was cut to four points shortly after as winger Dan Pearce slotted over a penalty.

But within two minutes Weston grabbed their second try as scrum-half Ross Bennett provided excellent support to take a pass from powerful number eight Brad Talbot following a scrum.

On 20 minutes Pearce added a second penalty to make it 12-6 to keep the Cornishmen interested.

Launceston were repelled by some superb home defending and went into the break nine points down as Lomax slotted another penalty with three minutes of the first-half remaining.

Weston knew that an early try would make things even tougher for Launceston and it came as flanker Ben Tothill made a superb tackle on Launceston nine, Dom Mulberry which allowed lock Ash Russell to gallop over. Lomax converted.

Talbot grabbed a well deserved try shortly after to make it 27-6.

The visitors continued to battle away and prop Greg Thomas notched his first try of the season as he broke off a driving maul to crash his way over, despite the attention of several home defenders. Pearce added the extras to bring them to within two converted tries.

However, the game was effectively over with ten minutes remaining as inside-centre Cameron Maslen profited from another Talbot run to score.

No further points were added as Launceston made the trip back down the M5 just a point above the bottom two ahead of Barnstaple’s visit to Polson Bridge next weekend (2.30pm).

Westren admitted that his side were beaten by the better team.

“Conditions hindered both sides’ ability to play rugby, so it was always going to be scrappy. It was about how we handled that. They had more possession than us and in the first-half against the wind we struggled to exit.

“But the boys coped with it well, the boys defended well and we held on to the ball as we couldn’t really kick it. We felt we were still in it.

“We might have got closer if the wind had stayed as it was but fair play to them. They have a brilliant scrum. Not many side’s scrum match up to ours but they controlled that well and disrupted us.

“They put us under pressure at the right times and kept the ball very well in the second-half which took the game away from us.

“On the odd occasion we did get into their half, we looked relatively dangerous, but those opportunities were few and far between.

“It was a good, honest 80-minute performance from the boys. Everyone stuck at it in what were tough conditions, but sometimes you’ve got to appreciate when you’re beaten by a better side.

“They were just slightly bigger and more streetwise than us, so I have no qualms with that.”

The league now takes a week’s break, with the All Blacks third bottom, but Westren believes his young squad are starting to get to grips with the step up following promotion.

Westren said: “It’s too early too look at the table as not everyone has played everyone yet. We’re more worried about our performance, which is getting much closer now to where we need to be.

“The improvements have been visible and we should have three wins from seven games. The Maidenhead defeat (43-42) was disappointing as our performance was worthy of the win.

“We have Barnstaple next week which is going to be tough, but after that we have a couple of games we have to target.

“If we keep improving the way we are, continue to keep working hard and adapt to the situations put in front of us then I’m very positive we’ll get the outcome we want come the end of the season.”

Westren and Goldsmith will use the 14-day break to rest some tired bodies ahead of Barnstaple’s visit.

He said: “Some of the boys could do with a week off and will have a bit of down time to rest up.

“We’ll have a bit of a mini review over the last seven weeks and look at stuff that’s improved, stuff we need to work on and the stuff where we feel we need to be.

“We’ve got an honest bunch in terms of self-appraisal. We’ll see whether we need to move our goals and targets and individual work-ons, so that come next Saturday we’re ready to take on Barnstaple.”

Cornish All Blacks —

Lang, Pearce, Sandercock, Westren, Edwards, Coles, Mulberry; Bentham, Bulut, Thomas, Goldsmith, Clarke, Stansfield, L Duke (captain), Rowley.

Replacements: Cinnamond, Carpenter, Crawford.

Tries: Thomas.

Convs: Pearce.

Pens: Pearce 2.

Not sure where to watch the Rugby World Cup final this Saturday?

Launceston Rugby Club will be open from 8am serving bacon and sausage baps, with the England v South Africa game being screened in the clubhouse.

Everyone is welcome to go along and support!