By Dan Pearce

WOMEN’S NC 1 SOUTH WEST (WEST)

Bath United Ladies 33 Launceston Ladies 19

LAUNCESTON Ladies’ title charge stalled on Sunday as Bath United did their part to keep the race alive.

Not even scoring more points than the hosts had conceded all season at home was enough for Launceston to get the victory they needed to be champions, going down 33-19 at Lambridge Training Ground.

Bath, seemingly fuelled by the loss to Launceston a fortnight earlier, were quickly two scores up, one of which was converted.

A late hit on Amy ‘Podge’ Warman that knocked the wind out of her evidently blew straight into Launceston’s sails as they soared up the pitch from the restart.

Finding their rhythm, The Cornish outfit began to look dangerous through Rhian Thomas, Vicki Doidge and Jenna Arnold punching holes. The hard work was rewarded by Holly Williams finding her way over the try line.

With the Cabettes in the ascendancy, the Bath defence was being stressed, giving away penalties. Warman, wanting to keep the tempo high, took a quick tap penalty and shipped the ball wide to Abbie Smith. With the defence disorganised, Smith sidestepped her way through and under the sticks. Williams converted for a level game at 12-12.

With half-time approaching, Launceston were hunting for a way to take the lead but the home side's big hitters made sure there were no easy yards to be had.

One such hit dislodged the ball from Launceston’s possession and a kind bounce found one of Bath’s speedy wingers to canter in from distance and with an impressive kick from out wide, the half-time score saw Bath lead 19-12.

The hosts then doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half after a quick tap penalty from the nine. With Launceston players not being 10 metres, she burst through and ran it in from 40 metres. The conversion was good.

The term ‘play to the whistle’ was stretched to the limit after a seemingly obvious knock-on from Bath was seen by everyone but the man in the middle. The Launceston players, expecting the whistle to go, all but stopped as the Bath winger continued to make her way to the try line for another converted score.

Launceston now had a mountain to climb but rang the changes and threw everything they had left in search of the scores needed.

The Bath defence though proved immense as every time Launceston came within scoring distance, the Somerset side found a way to clear their lines. It took the centre partnership of Meg Tucker and Abbie Smith combining like a well-rehearsed ballroom dance, offloading back and forth before Tucker broke free to score out wide. Williams slotted a superb conversion to keep their hopes alive.

The Cabettes now have the chance to win the silverware on home soil as their next match sees them welcome Yeovil to Polson on Sunday, March 23.

LAUNCESTON LADIES: Chloe Samways, Rachel Hicks, Meg Tucker, Abbie Smith, Madi Vine, Holly Williams, Amy Warman; Mel Ruby (capt), Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Meg Arnold, Vicki Doidge, Rhian Thomas, Caitlin Hancock, Briony Eddy. Replacements: Libbie Cole, Ann-Marie Risdon, Jess Harrison, Joey Bartlett, Lauren Carlyon, Abigail Matthews, Josie Ninnis.

Tries: Williams, Smith, Tucker; Convs: Williams (2); Pens: N/A.

Cabettes’ players’ of the match: Forward – Jenna Arnold; Back – Amy Warman.