The debuts of Robert Potter and Dan Payas plus the return of 14 week casualty Ben Hudson were welcome sights to Liskeard eyes more accustomed to seeing players leaving the pitch injured. Unfortunately they havn't had tim e yet to get into tune with Liskeard playing methods . Also, Barnstaple are a very good outfit. Fit and fast with quick witted support they gave Liskeard a torrid time in defence especially when constantly on the thin line of offside. A stricter referee would doubtless have penalised them rather more thus giving Liskeard that bit more of precious time. Still, it is playing in conditions such as these which Liskeard have to overcome and until they start reacting much more quickly they will struggle.

The forwards in the set pieces were once again magnificent even with two changes. Unfortunately their loose play was eclipsed by the very alert Barnstaple back row. A reluctance to break binding and cover the pitch appeared to be the main problem.

An evenly contested first half was dominated by two resolute defenders broken only by a very well worked back move from Barnstaple which left the flat footed Liskeard defence for dead. Stuart Taylor strangly subdued, replied with a penalty.

The second half saw Liskeard driving the Barnstaple pack back at a rate of knots but inexperience saw them unable to take advantage. The constant supply of ball provided in the line out was also badly used. With Adrian Blair missing, the focus for the destructive catch and drives was gone and nobody else seemed too keen to take on the responsibility. A strange lethargy seemed to afflict the whole team, especially in defence. Two first up tackles were missed and with the supporting players too slow to arrive, breaches in the Liskeard defence saw Barnstaple pour through in numbers to score two tries in quck time both from beyond the halfway line. With plenty of pace Liskeard could ill afford to give the visitors any space let alone miss tackles.

The pack tried their hardest and took play back to the Barnstaple 22 but simple errors just like last week, usually meant Barnstaple kicking themselves to safety.

Once again a disappointing result but comfort can be drawn from the inclusion of two new members to the very thin Liskeard resources and with long term injuries quickly healing, Liskeard will again be a team to fear. This Sunday away to Ivybridge, leave from Lux Park by 9.30am.

Roger Gailer