LAUNCESTON arrived at Kingsbridge with a few players away on holiday and injured, and moments before kick off fly half Sam Fox had to pull out with a foot injury, writes Martyn Sandercock. So the team had to be readjusted, which was not a great start.
Kingsbridge started with their big pack winning ball after ball and releasing it to their backs. Launceston for the first ten minutes were hanging on for dear life.
The Launceston pack slowly started to hold their own, with Daniel Pike outstanding in ripping the ball, he is having an excellent season and is as strong as an ox. The whole pack started to put their bodies on the line and win 50/50 ball and Kingsbridge not moving forward began to lose their way.
Forwards Ryan Karkeek and Tom Sandercock 2 were tackling and driving their opposite numbers back, it was from this pressure that captain George Bone ripped the ball and drove over for the first try.
Pressure then came back on Launceston, digging deep for five or six minutes, centre Lloyd Lovell made a break and lovely inter-passing from Max Kelly to Dan Down put Dan in the corner for a cracking try, this is what we practice for in training.
Kingsbridge came back for a try after good pressure, it was now game on. Kingsbridge backs began to put up the high ball hoping for something to happen, but they were cleared up by full back Tom Sandercock 1, who kicked them back into the corners with purpose.
Launceston's forwards put 4 or 5 phases together and with pressure on the line lock Seb Hockridge, who in his first season is learning all the time, ripped the ball off his opponent and went over the line for the final try.
Scrum half Ben Parham who was outstanding in everything he did was awarded man of the match.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ben on being selected for Cornwall in the national cross country championships. Run for your life Ben, good luck from the boys.