LAUNCESTON made it two wins on the spin as a fine second half performance saw off bottom side Matson at Polson Bridge.

After a confidence-boosting win over Exmouth, the CABs were once again missing skipper Tom Sandercock due to concussion, while Torin Clarke’s dislocated shoulder meant George Harris came in at flanker with George Bone joining Charlie Tummon in the second-row.

The Blacks pushed Matson back into their 22 from the outset, but struggled to create opportunities for themselves.

Launceston lock Charlie Tummon was sent to the sin-bin in the 24th minute for deliberately collapsing a maul just outside the Blacks’ 22.

The resulting penalty was kicked to the corner and a driving maul was finished off by flanker Tom Collier for a 5-0 lead.

After the restart the Blacks were back in Matson’s half and won a line-out on the 31st minute and forced their way over the try line, but a determined away defence held the ball up.

Within four minutes the Gloucester outfit gave away a penalty in their half, and the CABs chose to kick for points which James Tucker made no mistake from.

The hosts continued to enjoy possession but had to wait until the end of the half for the try as a driving maul was finished off by stand-in skipper and man-of-the-match Brandon Rowley. Tucker added the extras for 10-5.

A scuffle at the start of the second half saw a yellow for both sides, including Billy Martin for the Blacks, and home coach Ryan Westren soon emptied his bench, bringing on Levent Bulut, Charlie Short and the returning Jose Juarez.

Matson gave away a penalty 30 metres out for being offside in the 51st minute and Tucker went for goal which was successful (13-5).

Three minutes later Rowley added a brilliant individual try under the posts after getting on the outside, and soon after his hat-trick was secured from close-range after Cam Fogden’s quickly-taken penalty. Tucker slotted both kicks for a healthy 27-5 lead.

This seemed to give the Blacks confidence and momentum as they searched for the fourth try and bonus-point, and they started using the width to stretch the visitors.

That arrived in the 68th minute as winger Ollie Bebbington found a gap in the Matson defence. He offloaded to Tucker who spun the ball to Ben Bryant who was making his 50th appearance for the club, and he scored under the posts. Tucker once again added the extra points for 34-5.

There was still time for Launceston’s fifth try as Bebbington exploited a gap in Matson’s defence half way into the visitors’ half and dived under the posts to round off the scoring. Tucker kicked the conversion as the game ended with the players and supporters alike celebrating another five points as they look to get towards mid-table.

The Blacks travel up to second bottom Marlborough on Saturday, a side they beat at home back in September.

LAUNCESTON: James Tucker, Billy Martin, Ben Bryant, Cam Fogden, Ollie Bebbington; George Hillson, Charlie Atwood; Alex Bartlett, Rory Mead, Mitch Hawken; Charlie Tummon, George Bone; Ben Hancock, George Harris, Brandon Rowley (capt). Replacements: Levent Bulut, Charlie Short, Jose Juarez.

Tries: Rowley (3), Bryant, Bebbington; Convs: Tucker (5); Pens: Tucker (2).

Launceston man-of-the-match: Brandon Rowley.