Regional 1 South West.

Launceston 62 Weston super Mare 12

Report by Chris Heath

Things didn't start or end well for Regional 1 South West strugglers Weston-super-Mare but there were some exciting moments in between at Polson Bridge against fourth Launceston who were looking to complete a league double over their visitors.

Playing into a very stiff breeze in the first half the game got off to a disastrous start for the visitors when an attempted box kick went backwards in the wind and the Launceston wing Ollie Bebbington gleefully caught the ball on the bounce to cross for a try superbly.

Fellow wing Daniel Pearce added the conversion from the touchline. The hosts then had chances to increase their lead, but solid Weston defence kept them at bay until they increased the lead with a Pearce penalty.

Weston centre Archie Tilsley then made a good break followed by a kick through which was defended well. Launceston then looked to have illegally reclaimed the ball on the floor but were allowed to continue.

This move ended with Pearce crossing the whitewash and then adding the extras. They then had another chance, but Weston right wing Dominic Marshall saved the day.

Weston then came back into the game with a quite fantastic try started by fly half George Nuttycombe and Tilsley and taken on by once again by outstanding back row forward Jay Davis.

The Kiwi interlinked with Tilsley's centre partner Cameron Maslen and Marshall to race away to score in the corner. Weston should have capitalised on this wonderfully created try but instead let in two soft converted tries.

Second row Albert Horne claimed the cross the whitewash with the first midway through the half followed by Bebbington with his second of the game and Launceston’s bonus point try.

Pearce converted both but there was still time for Weston to reduce the arrears barrelling their way to the home line to give Davis his second try, converted by Nuttycombe, to leave the visitors trailing 31-12 at the break.

With the wind at their backs Weston could believe in a second half comeback as they had done it a couple of years earlier in similar circumstances but this time it was not to be and despite left wing Hayden Main going close Weston produced nowhere near enough in attack to worry the home supporters.

Launceston scored the same number of points as they had done in the first half to run out very comfortable winners with a second from Pearce, full back James Tucker, replacement scrum half Adam Collins, a third from Bebbington and one for skipper Tom Sandercock plus three Pearce conversions.

Despite another fine individual performance by Davis and some good work by both Marshall and Main on the wings Weston couldn't come to terms with conditions anywhere near as well as their Cornish hosts.

Weston remain rooted at the foot of the table now six points adrift of Matson, who have played two fewer games, ahead of Saturday’s game against fifth-placed Brixham who had a narrow 39-38 home win over Barnstaple.  Kick off 2.30pm.

Launceston scorers - tries: Ollie Bebbington (3), Daniel Pearce (2), Albert Horne, James Tucker, Adame Collings, Tom Sandercock; cons: Daniel Pearce (7); pen: Daniel Pearce.

Weston-super-Mare scorers - tries: Jay Davis (2); con: George Nuttycombe.

Photos HERE courtesy of Mark Matthews