CABs continue fine form with victory at Newent in Regional One South West

LAUNCESTON made it a hat-trick of successive victories with an impressive seven-try victory in Gloucestershire on Saturday.

The All Blacks headed to a winless Newent side who had been transferred to the South West division over the summer, but had yet to play at home, and scored within two minutes as following a lineout and several phases, inside-centre Jack Easton shrugged off a tackler to score. Fly-half James Tucker, who along with winger Dan Pearce returned to the starting line-up, added the extras for a 7-0 lead.

However, from there the home side responded impressively as after the visitors cleared their lines from their own five-metre line, Newent were soon on the attack as inside-centre Will Hartland slipped through a gap in the Cornish defence to score. Fly-half Tom Webb made it 7-7.

The Green Army were soon in front as after Launceston gave away a penalty, they used a driving maul to force themselves over the line with lock Danny Bridge doing the damage. Webb kicked the extra points.

Former Newent centre George Alvis was brought on for his CABs debut at Step Five shortly after following Pearce suffering a recurrence of his long-term knee injury that ruled him out for several months, but they were soon level as in-form prop Charlie Short powered over the line to score. Tucker added the extras to make it all square.

Both teams caused plenty of problems going forward, but it was Newent who grabbed a third try as following several phases, they spun the ball wide to outside-centre Joe Warner who scored in the far-left corner. Webb kicked the conversion from the touchline.

However, Launceston then dominated the latter stages of the first half to go into the break with a 14-point cushion.

They soon found themselves back in the home 22 and Webb was sent to the sin-bin for a tap intercept. Short once again forced his way over the try line with the defence unable to hold him up. Tucker sent the ball sailing between the posts.

Now level, they continued the onslaught as a line-out in the home 22 saw an unstoppable maul that hooker Archie Doidge finished off, and moments before the break the visitors had a fifth try as No.8 George Harris crossed after good work by the forwards. Tucker, who converted all seven attempts, made it five from five off the tee.

Newent hadn’t lost at home in nearly two years and early in the second half reduced the arrears as Warner crossed twice in a short space of time.

After Short was yellow-carded following a team warning, Warner continued the home onslaught as they remarkably found themselves in front at 38-35, but back came Launceston.

They went ahead as former captain Lloyd Duke finished off a driving maul, and victory was sealed late on when skipper Mitch Hawken powered over from close-range.

Launceston’s second home outing of the season sees them host fellow in-form side Exmouth on Saturday (3pm).

LAUNCESTON: Ollie Bebbington; Sheldon Higgins, Billy Martin, Jack Easton, Dan Pearce; James Tucker, George Hillson; Mitch Hawken (capt), Archie Doidge, Charlie Short; Devon Bennett-Murray, Dan Goldsmith; Charlie Tummon, Jed Griffin, George Harris. Replacements: Alex Bartlett, Rory Mead, Lloyd Duke, Brandon Rowley, George Alvis.

Tries: Easton, Short (2), Doidge, Harris, Duke, Hawken; Convs: Tucker (7); Pens: N/A.

Cornish All Blacks man-of-the-match: Jed Griffin.