Launceston V Bournemouth

Team Selection: A couple or so changes to the backs that played Okehampton a fortnight ago. Josh Wickens returns after an 8-game absence due to glandular fever and takes over from Alex Sutherland at full-back. Alex, in turn, moved to outside centre to take over from the injured Jordan Wayman. On the left-wing, Ryan Morrell came off the bench to replace Robbie Johnson. In the forwards Tom Napier started at LH prop in the place of Balazs Magda, away playing for Hungary against Luxembourg. In the second row, Joe Desmond moved to No8 in place of the unavailable Joe Rees. Joe’s place at lock taken by George Randall who joined Jacob Guildford.

Overcast but with a strong Easterly breeze, an unwelcome chilly visitor from the Urals. I know I said exactly the same last week but that was how it was. It then started to rain early in the first half making playing conditions thoroughly miserable, Siberian even one might say. Looking at the Launceston flag, the wind seemed to blow straight across the pitch from right to left as seen from a Bournemouth perspective. I say ‘seemed’ because it would appear that it was not the case on the pitch.

Bournemouth kicked off from left to right as viewed from the stand and to their left.

The kick-off went ‘straight out’ for a scrum back and Launceston capitalized on this with a strong scrum and winning a penalty. As a result, Bournemouth found themselves defending a Launceston line-out just outside their 22m. Launceston drove off the line-out into the 22m but determined Bournemouth resistance turned the ball over and released it to Pope, enabling the scrum to clear left for another Launceston line-out but beyond the 22m.

Launceston knocked on in the line-out for a Bournemouth scrum. The visitors struggled to contain the Launceston shove, but the ship was steadied, and Pope was able to kick. However, his kick was charged down setting up a strong-running Launceston attack down the left flank. Bournemouth managed to intercept the pass but Launceston promptly regained possession and went right. They drove for the line but were held up for a Bournemouth try-line drop-out. Sutherland kicked left and Launceston countered to their left. The ball ‘disappeared’ but the upshot was Launceston were penalized and Sunderland found touch to his left on the Launceston 10m. The Bournemouth drove off the line-out but Launceston countered and turned the ball over for a Launceston scrum. Bournemouth were penalized at the scrum, quickly taken by Launceston into contact before releasing left. The ball was kicked and fielded by full-back Josh Wickens. Quick feet enabled him to evade would-be tacklers going left before kicking. Launceston countered going left and back right as they looked for a way through the Bournemouth defence which was rewarded when Launceston were penalized for ‘holding on’. Sunderland found touch to his right outside the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth secured the throw-in and drive before releasing left. Inside centre Grant Hancox chose to kick further left and found touch outside the Launceston 10m. Bournemouth ‘nicked’ the throw-in and the forwards took play into the Launceston 22m if a little untidily, but something worked, and Launceston were penalized. Sunderland found touch to his left some ten metres out. The forwards worked the ball right and were almost in under the posts, but the Launceston counter was penalized when they encroached offside. Hancox kicked the goal for Bournemouth to take the lead, marking the end of a difficult start to the match.

16m: Bournemouth 3-0 Launceston

Launceston then kicked off right with the same result as Bournemouth’s earlier effort and yes it was a scrum back but this time a Bournemouth put-in. Pope slipped as he went right from the scrum but manage to recover and kick left, and Launceston were awarded a scrum on their own 10m. The scrum wheeled left, and Launceston released left where their winger had a strong run but was eventually tackled. The ball came back right but was dropped but referee Groves had been playing advantage and brought play back for a Launceston penalty outside the Bournemouth 10m. Launceston found touch to their left just ten metres out from the Bournemouth line. The Launceston forwards drove off the line-out ‘crabbing’ right to under the posts but lost the ball and Bournemouth were able to kick clear. The ball was well chased down, but Bournemouth were penalized on the half-way line in their efforts to recover the ball. With the weather worsening, Launceston found touch to their right on the Bournemouth 22m. As they attacked left they lost the ball forwardfor a Bournemouth scrum on the Bournemouth 22m.Pope kicked left from the scrum but Launceston returned the compliment to their rightand Bournemouth found themselves throwing into a line-out just ten metres out from their own line. Bournemouth secured the throw-in but the Launceston forced the turn over and they drove over the line but couldn’t get the ball down for a Launceston 5m scrum. The scrum wheeled and Bournemouth were penalized as a result. Launceston chose to re-scrummage. Bournemouth manage to disrupt the drive but Launceston broke off the back first going right then back left, then repeating the process only to eventually lose the ball forward and Bournemouth managed to break out. They kicked left but the Launceston kick right went straight out for a Bournemouth line-out on their own 10m. Little good it did them because first Launceston secured the ball and then Bournemouth’s efforts to recover the ball were penalized. Launceston found a very good touch to their right on the Bournemouth 5m. The throw-in was very untidy but the Launceston forwards managed to get the ball back to regroup. They drove for the line and despite losing the ball were awarded a scrum. Going left Launceston found a Bournemouth defence quickly up on them and they were forced back right by a good Bournemouth defence. As the Launceston forwards drove for the line Bournemouth turned the ball over and kicked. Launceston ran it back but managed to get themselves penalized. Sunderland found to his left inside the Launceston 10m. Bournemouth attacked right off the line-out but when they came back left the ball was lost and Launceston kicked right and had a line-out outside the Bournemouth 22m Coming left of the line-out, Launceston made a dangerous half break midfield, but Bournemouth were penalized in trying to defend it. With what proved to be the last kick of the half, the Launceston left-winger Daniel Pearce, from in front of the posts, levelled up at the scores at 3-all.

40+2m: Bournemouth 3-3 Launceston – Half-time

Jack Hennings replaced Joe Desmond at No8.

Launceston restarted left secured by Bournemouth who kicked and were given the put-in at a scrum on the half-way line. Pope broke right from the scrum and kicked. Despite a good chase Launceston held the ball up over the line for a try-line drop-out. In trying to secure the ball Bournemouth knocked it on for a Launceston scrum on their own 22m. Launceston kicked retrieved by Sutherland. Bournemouth kicked left and had a line-out inside the Launceston 22m. Launceston won the ball and kicked fielded by Wickens. The full-back did well to set up a Bournemouth attack first left then back right but Launceston turned the ball over and set up a strong-running counter going left taking play back to the half-way line. They kicked and Pope kicked the ball back. Launceston fumbled the ball and were penalized for their pains. Sutherland found touch to his right inside the Launceston 22m. Again, Launceston win the Bournemouth throw-in and kick to the half-way line. Pope retrieved the ball and kicked it back into the Launceston 22m for a Bournemouth line-out. Bournemouth attacked first left off the line-out and when they came back right, chipped the ball forward but had made little progress. Launceston cleared left for another Bournemouth line-out this time outside the Launceston 10m. Launceston were awarded a scrum at the line-out and broke off the back kicking right. Sunderland fielded the ball and kicked right for a Bournemouth line-out 10 metres out from the Launceston try-line. Launceston in countering the drive were penalized quickly taken by Bournemouth as they tried to keep up the momentum going left. Launceston were given a yellow card and Hancox from left of the posts put his side back in the lead at 6-3.

54m: Bournemouth 6-3 Launceston

Launceston restarted left but the ball went ‘straight out’ for a Bournemouth scrum back. Pope kicked off the back of the scrum, but Launceston recovered the ball and went left. With a strong run down that left flank, Pearce was too quick for the defence, and he was able to ‘spot’ the ball just left of the posts. He was perhaps too casual with his attempt at converting his own try and his drop kick missed to leave the score at 8-6 to the hosts.

57m: Bournemouth 6-8 Launceston

Hancox restarted right and Launceston’s attempt to clear was charged down. Recovering the ball attacked first left then right but the Launceston defence was up to the task and Bournemouth found no way through and were eventually penalized for being offside. Launceston found to touch to their left on the half-way line. Driving off the line-out Launceston conceded a scrum. Going right Hancox took the ball into contact but Bournemouth showed good ball retention in the face of a determined Launceston defence. Going right, they made a dent but when they came back left, they lost it for a Launceston scrum inside their own 22m.

60m: Bournemouth 6-8 Launceston

Tom Napier/1, replaced by Henry Turner from the bench, tactical.

65m: Bournemouth 6-8 Launceston

Grant Hancox/12 injured, replaced by Dan Boer from the bench.

Kicking left, Launceston found the touch for a Bournemouth line-out on the Launceston 10m. Launceston again managed to knock the ball back to deny Bournemouth, but the kick went ‘straight out’ for a Bournemouth line-out outside the Launceston 22m. Could Bournemouth do better with this throw-in? Well yes but Launceston turned the ball over and further Bournemouth got themselves penalized. Launceston kicked the ball into the Bournemouth half where Bournemouth were penalized for ‘holding on’. Bournemouth found themselves defending a line-out back on their own 22m. Driving off the line-out, Launceston ‘win’ another penalty. Kicking right, Launceston had the throw-in on the Bournemouth 5m. The Launceston drive for the line was held up and Bournemouth did well to ‘come up’ with the ball which was kicked right for another Launceston line-out but this time beyond the Bournemouth 22m. Again, Launceston drove off the line-out back into the Bournemouth 22m but got themselves penalized and a Sutherland kick relieved the pressure by finding touch to his right on the half-way line. This was rather spoilt by Launceston again stealing the throw-in and they again found themselves under pressure as the Launceston forwards drove, but a knock-on stopped that threat. From the scrum on the Bournemouth 22m Pope kicked and Launceston kicked the ball back. Bournemouth, promisingly, attacked left but a knock-on brought proceedings to halt for a Launceston scrum. They had a touch of the knock-ons as they went left for a Bournemouth scrum outside the Bournemouth 22m. Pope went right from the scrum, but his kick went ‘straight out’ and Launceston had a line-out on the Bournemouth 10m. Bournemouth went left off the line-out and kicked prompting an exchange of kicks. When Launceston ran the ball back, the ball carrier slipped but managed to recover to keep going as Launceston attacked left. The attack broke down and there was referee Groves blowing for no side.

80+1m: Bournemouth 6-8 Launceston – Full Time

Played in dreadful conditions it was frustrating to see so many promising moves come to naught because of handling errors but the players must have been frozen. Defensively, both sides worked hard to deny the opposition chances to score. Credit to both sides. Bournemouth now have 9 losing bonus the most in the division.; the nearest being 6 by Drybrook and Launceston. So, it’s been close but no cigar I’m afraid.

Bournemouth’s next match is in fortnight’s time (March 26) home to 10th-placed Old Centralians KO 3.00PM. We won 12-10 back in late November and this will be their third visit to Chapel Gate.

Doug Warren

Scribe, Bournemouth RFC.