Launceston 40

Tabard 15

National League Three SouthOn a beautifully sunny day in Cornwall Tabard were, despite a degree of forward domination, unable to match the sunshine rugby of Launceston The Cornish All-Blacks.

With the pitch in good condition, both teams contributed to an exciting game of running rugby.

Tabard started well and exerted pressure on Launceston, who were forced to concede a couple of penalties to stop Tabard's advance.

Skinner converted the second of these from around 40 metres, to give Tabard the lead after just four minutes.

Tabard continued in this vein, but a penalty against them saw them kicked back to their own 22.

From the lineout Launceston launched a strong attack, and Tabard conceded an easy penalty to level the scores.

Launceston then set up a series of good plays and were rewarded with a second penalty which saw them take the lead, after 22 minutes.

From the kick off Tabard kicked long into the Launceston 22, where strong chasing set up a Tabard penalty.

This was taken quickly and snapped along the line to Bromham, who powered over, taking the Launceston tacklers with him.

The score was now Tabard 8, Launceston 6.

Launceston mounted their best period of play, with their Samoan fullback coming into the line at speed, to score under the posts and bring Launceston's score to 13.

Launceston continued to play well but were held by Tabard, who were unlucky to concede a further try when the referee missed a knock-on in the tackle, which resulted in a further score under the posts.

Play see-sawed back and forth until Johal made an excellent run through the middle and was only stopped on the Launceston 22.

Unfortunately, Tabard were adjudged to have infringed at the breakdown, and Launceston responded with a penalty kick to within 20 yards of Tabard's line.

From the lineout quick hands saw the Launceston centre make a break that should have got him in for a try.

A crashing tackle by Dudley stopped him in his tracks but the support was too strong and Launceston scored again to end the half with another try, bringing the score to Tabard 8, Launceston 25.

After the restart Launceston continued where they had left off, and almost scored a try within the first minute of the second half.

Tabard responded positively and forced their way into the Launceston 22, before being penalised at the lineout.

With a further ten yards for chat, Launceston were able to kick into the Tabard 22, and won a further penalty at the ensuing lineout.

This was converted to make the score Tabard 8, Launceston 28, after 48 minutes.

Tabard responded minutes later when a splendid kick saw the Tabard chasers tackle the Launceston player into touch just ten yards from the Launceston line.

From the lineout the Tabard forwards drove on and Johal ploughed over for a well deserved try, converted by Skinner, to give Tabard some hope at Tabard 15, Launceston 28.

This proved short lived, as the Launceston threequarters scored two further tries without response.

Tabard: Dudley, Telling, Coetze (Lloyd, 70 minutes), Williams (P Webb, 62 minutes), Higgins, Woodard, Skinner, Bromham, T Webb, Lockwood, Sussum, Finnie, Johal, Adams, Ions.

October 24, 2001 11:06