LAUNCESTON got their 2026/27 season underway on Friday night with a friendly victory over Saltash at Polson Bridge.

The hosts named a mixed side of first and second teamers, plus several new signings and spent the majority of the first half sniffing around the Ashes line, eventually taking the lead when debutant hooker Archie Doidge and Mitch Acres found themselves in a two versus two situation, resulting in the latter beating the last defender and scoring in the left corner.

Saltash soon found themselves with a two-man overlap at the other end of the field, ending with Ryan Cruickshanks dotting down in plenty of space. The kick was added for a 7-5 lead and that was soon extended despite the conversion being missed as they slipped through a gap in the home defence.

The hosts started the second half well and new signing Finlay Cackett broke of the back of a scrum to power over the line to reduce the arrears to 12-10.

The Ashes replied with a slick move to send a man under the sticks, but again the hosts responded rapidly with rampaging prop Tom Stevens carrying up to the five-metre line before being illegally halted. From the resulting penalty, scrum-half Mitch Sibley tapped and spun a pass wide to Billy Martin to finish in the corner.

Launceston had a few try opportunities held up, while new man George Alvis went on a couple of darting runs, alongside the impressive Sibley. He showcased himself well, as did Albie Newton who found himself with the man-of-the-match award having only just graduated from the Colts.

He put in a fine performance with the boot, including knocking over a conversion after Doidge scored off the back of a scrum late on.

Launceston’s first team and Colts head to Okehampton on Friday night for the Borders Cup (7.30pm).