Saturday, February 22

Tribute Duchy Cup

semi-final

Launceston Seconds 11

Camborne Crusaders 22

LAUNCESTON Seconds were defeated 22-11 by their Camborne counterparts in the semi-final of the Duchy League Cup at Polson Bridge on Saturday.

The hosts, who played down the slope and had the wind behind them, dominated large parts of the first-half, especially at scrum time, but found Camborne’s experienced forwards hard to break down.

After turning down several opportunities to kick for goal in favour of going for the corner from penalties, Launceston eventually chose to do so on the half-hour mark with inside-centre Ben Hawke slotting the three points.

They went further in front with a couple of minutes of the half remaining, as lock David Parish went over in the corner. There was still time for Hawke to land a second penalty and send Launceston into half-time 11-0 in front.

Camborne had clearly had some stern words at the break and roared back into the contest with fly-half Dean Pascoe and the powerful inside-centre Bradley Bawden to the fore.

Bawden pulled one back after finishing off a fine move before Camborne went ahead on 55 minutes when Pascoe’s cute kick through was pounced upon by winger Liam Stoddern. Scrum-half Luke Martin kicked the extras.

A third Camborne try was forthcoming as several phases ended with replacement Jamie Sherwood burrowing over. Winger Jake Rees took over kicking duties and slotted the conversion.

Launceston’s discipline was starting to wane and prop Rhys Carpenter, who was earlier yellow-carded, was sent-off by referee Henning Kaaber for kicking Pascoe.

Pascoe’s kicking continued to pin Launceston back and Camborne increased their lead before the end with a Rees penalty, following a late tackle.

Launceston coach Mike Haines said: “We started off really well against a very experienced side and dominated the first-half, but we made a couple of wrong decisions and should have kicked at goal a bit earlier. We were on top in the scrum, but they defended well and were good at the breakdown and then dominated the second-half.

“We tried to take them on up front but should have gone wider a bit more as they were very forward heavy and happy to go up through the middle. Overall they did a job on us and went through!”

Launceston travel to Penryn on Saturday to face Camborne School of Mines in Group One of the Kernow League (2.30pm), with the Blacks currently bottom of the table.

Launceston Seconds —

Sandercock, Jasper, Theobald, Hawke, Bastion, Coles, Vanstone; Bartlett, Hawken, Carpenter, Parish, Dudden, Knight, Crabb, Duke.

Replacements: Ware, Mansfield, Hocking, Walters, Tharme, Grigg.

Tries: Parish.

Convs: N/A.

Pens: Hawke.