LAUNCESTON Ladies agonisingly lost out by a score for the second week in a row as Cheltenham Tigers Seconds rallied after a slow start to win 24-19.

Launceston made one change to the starting XV from their defeat to Guildford Gazelles as Katie Gilmour came in at lock for Rhian Thomas who dropped to the bench.

The Cornish side started the better and a powerful break from inside-centre Abbie Smith saw her surge 50 metres up the pitch before being brought down. After a couple of phases, she rejoined her backline and hit another piercing line to finish what she started. Caitlyn Hancock added the extras.

With Cheltenham doubling up their tacklers on Launceston’s forward pods, it was the speedy backs that found the running space.

Winger Ellen Armstrong made a break from her own 22 to Cheltenham’s to put the pressure back on the Tigresses before the in-form Meg Tucker seemingly weaved her way around the entire Cheltenham squad for the second try (0-12).

Launceston’s dominant scrum wasn’t getting the rewards it deserved from the referee, and mixed with Cheltenham’s stonewall defence in the middle of the park, the Cabettes had to try to get the ball to the wings for any go forward.

But a mistake in their own 22 trying to go wide led to a Cheltenham score just before half-time against the run of play to reduce the lead to 12-5.

Cheltenham, clearly uplifted by that score, doubled up early on in the second half with a converted try.

Suddenly after being so dominant, Launceston were shell-shocked to find themselves level.

The hosts smelt blood and began to assert some dominance of their own as Launceston found no purchase through the middle of their aggressive double tackles, and with their scrums still going unrewarded, all momentum was heading Cheltenham's way.

Two more converted scores for Cheltenham seemingly took the game away from Launceston, but with five minutes left, the Cabettes found their speed once more as a break down the right wing made it into Cheltenham’s 22.

The ball was quickly shifted to the opposite side to debutant Grace Tucker.

Showing that speed and finishing ability runs in the family, Meg Tucker’s sister rounded off an impressive first match at senior level with a deserved score.

Hancock’s conversion meant with five minutes left there was only a score in it.

A serious knee injury to a Cheltenham player in the build-up led to a lengthy delay to the restart, and a knock-on deep into the half put an end to the Cabettes’ late charge as they suffered their first ever back-to-back defeats.

Launceston are next in action on Sunday, November 2 when they welcome Havant to Polson Bridge.

LAUNCESTON LADIES: Bartlett, Vine, M Tucker, Smith, Armstrong, Hicks, Warman; Cole, J Arnold, Upcott (capt); M Arnold, Gilmour; Rowland, Hancock, Eddy. Replacements: Risdon, Harrison, Ninnis, Hutchings, G Tucker, Duke, Thomas.

Tries: Smith, M Tucker, G Tucker; Convs: Hancock (2); Pens: N/A.

Forward-of-the-match: Jenna Arnold; Back-of-the-match: Grace Tucker.