Rugby Union Preview for Saturday, September 9
REGIONAL ONE SOUTH WEST
AFTER their opening day victory at Ivybridge last Saturday, Launceston are on the road once more later when they head up the M5 to Weston-super-Mare (3pm).
The All Blacks prevailed 24-10 despite Leion Cole’s first half red card and head up to a Weston side that were comfortably beaten 57-14 by relegated Barnstaple.
However any away game at Step Five is a hard one and the Recreation Ground is never an easy place to go, as shown by Weston edging home by two points in the corresponding fixture last October.
But Launceston travel with confidence despite missing Cole (banned), winger Archie Dinnis (holiday) and flanker Tom Bottoms (unavailable), and will at the very least, expect to come away with a bonus point as they make four changes.
With Cole and Bottoms out, Pete Bebbington and former skipper Lloyd Duke take their places in the respective flanker positions, while the other change in the pack sees the available again Mitch Hawken come in at prop for Ethan Pearce-Cowley who drops to the bench where he is joined by the returning Greg Thomas.
The back seven is the same as last week with the exception of new signing Fraser Felton who comes on to the right wing in place of Dinnis.
Charlie Tummon and Ollie Bebbington remain away.
Weston make two changes from the Barnstaple fixture with New Zealander Bradley McPate making his debut on the wing having arrived in the country on Tuesday, while prop Ollie Streeter comes in for Rhys Matthews with Gary Carpenter switching to hooker.
LAUNCESTON at Weston-super-Mare: Ben Bryant, Fraser Felton, Jamie Chapman, Cam Fogden, Dan Pearce, Glenn Coles, Tom Sandercock (capt), Charlie Short, Levent Bulut, Mitch Hawken, Dan Goldsmith, Alex Bartlett, Pete Bebbington, Lloyd Duke, Brandon Rowley. Replacements: Ethan Pearce-Cowley, Greg Thomas, Adam Collings.
Other fixtures: Barnstaple v Brixham, Lydney v Ivybridge, Matson v Exmouth, Okehampton v Devonport Services, St Austell v Chew Valley.
COUNTIES ONE WESTERN WEST
LUKE Wilson’s late try gave Bude a useful opening day bonus point at Bideford in their opener, and the Seasiders will hope to build on that when they welcome Pirates Amateurs to Bencoolen Meadow (3pm).
The Pirates, who finished third last term, were beaten 12-5 by new boys St Ives in a West Cornwall derby, giving both sides extra motivation to get the first win on the board.
From last week, Bude are forced into three changes.
Props Fraser Martyn and Chris Allin are both out and replaced by Martin George and Jack Lipscombe respectively, while the absence of fly-half Harry Dymond sees the ever-versatile ten shirt taken by Luke Wilson.
He is replaced by Will Hockridge who slots into the second row with Ed Hilliam-Cooke moving to blindside-flanker.
Veteran prop Barry Sobey comes on to the bench, as does Jack Horwell.
BUDE v Pirates Amateurs: Will Pharo, Patrick Marks, Olly Denford, Ben Tharme, Zerran Hammond, Luke Wilson, Charlie Watton; Martin George, Rory Mead, Jack Lipscombe, Nick Waterson, Will Hockridge, Ed Hilliam-Cooke, Ben Hancock, Freddie Saxton (capt). Replacements: Barry Sobey, Jack Horwell, Rory Hodges.
Other fixtures: Bideford v Penryn, Plymstock Albion Oaks v St Ives, Tavistock v Kingsbridge, Tiverton v Falmouth, Wiveliscombe v Paignton.
COUNTIES THREE CORNWALL
LAUNCESTON Castles started the season with an eight-try victory over St Agnes last Saturday and will hope for more comforts when Camborne Crusaders head up the A30.
Despite it being both clubs’ second teams, the fixture is always keenly-contested and both will hope to be in the promotion mix come March.
While Launceston were winning 52-31, Camborne’s clash with Redruth Albany was postponed, meaning the Castles will hope to take advantage of any rust come 2.30pm.
Two sides who started with comfortable defeats meet at Moorlands Lane as Bude Seconds travel down to their Saltash counterparts.
Bude were beaten 34-5 by Roseland at Bencoolen Meadow, while Saltash, who only joined the league over the summer, were defeated 47-0 at Wadebridge Camels Seconds.
It is a game both teams will fancy their chances in.
LAUNCESTON SECONDS: Mike Reddan, Alex Redwood, Mark Knight, Harry Dawe, Ollie Tomkies, James Slater, Corey Sillifant; Walter Tucker, Nathan Ferrett, Simon Burden, Ben Greene, Ollie Martin (capt), James Norris, Ollie Redwood, Billy Martin. Replacements: Josh Elias, Jake Boundy, Matt Davey, Dale Johnson, Will Cameron, Aaron Curtin.
BUDE SECONDS at Saltash Seconds: Jake Weeks, Thomas Moys, Harvey Cholwill, Lewis Edwards, Dan Snell, Brad Thomas, Jordan Hill (capt), Andrew Sillifant, Steve Gliddon, Aaron Tharme, Aaron Ridgeman, Josh Shadrick, Graham Hill, Lewis Jones, Joe Wickett. Replacements: Steve Bromwich, Cohen Larson.