CORNWALL AND DEVON LEAGUE Liskeard-Looe 46 OPMs 10

LISKEARD made the ideal start to the New Year with an emphatic victory over OPMs at Lux Park on Saturday. The Lions opened in business-like fashion and immediately put the Plymouth side under pressure. Before they could settle, however, OPM second row T Rutherford sustained a serious knee injury, leading to the referee suspending play for 10 minutes. At the restart Liskeard-Looe remained in charge and soon took the lead with a try by John Underwood. OPM showed signs of some useful movements along the line, but Liskeard-Looe were solid in defence and efficient at regaining possession. Play moved deep into OPM territory forcing them to defend desperately. They were awarded a scrum eight yards from their own line and the excellent Liskeard-Looe pack pursued OPM off their own ball, kept the momentum going to allow No.8 Ali Hill to touch down for a pushover try. Liskeard-Looe were now very much in the ascendancy and rounded off the first half with a good try by Danny Goodman converted by Andy Shear. The score at half time was 17-0. At the restart OPM demonstrated their ability outside the scrum, then took the Liskeard-Looe half and cut loose with a fluid movement resulting in a good try for Neil Bellamy. Unfortunately for them this only served as a wake up call to Liskeard-Looe, who shook off the brief lapse and stormed back into the attack. Several times they were only stopped by resolute OPM tackling. Ali Hill resolved the matter when he bullocked over for his second try, which was converted by Andy Shear. Not to be outdone, OPM again took advantage of Liskeard-Looe lapses in concentration and after another neat move Neil Bellamy ran in his second try. Liskeard-Looe immediately tightened up their game and returned to sensible basic rugby. Time and again they took play into OPM's half and only desperate defending denied them. This sort of pressure however was not to be denied and first Adam Driver and then Rob Andrews ran in good tries to give Liskeard-Looe an unassailable lead. At times Liskeard-Looe began to over complicate their game and several good chances went begging. But it was no real surprise that full back Baz Hocking, making frequent appearances in the attacking line, was on hand to run in a good try, converted by Jamie Robins. The final blow of the afternoon was delivered by John Underwood who ran in his second try again converted by Jamie Robins., This was a good all round display by the whole of the Liskeard-Looe team. The pack had OPM on the back foot from the kick off. Danny Curgenven, Tristan Nicholls and Manders gave the opposition front row a torrid afternoon, and all three were much in evidence in the loose. Adam Driver and Chris Sobey provided the support at second row and both made important yards in loose play. At the line out Adam Driver and Ian Goldsmith were outstanding and the latter, with back row colleagues Dave Hannah and Ali Hill, never seemed to be more than a yard or two from the ball. Once again Danny Goodman had a good game at scrum half and linked well with fly half Jamie Robins, whose distribution and choice of options was excellent. Centres John Underwood and Lester Hannah continually set all sorts of problems for their opposite numbers, while wings Neil Spencer and Andy Shear were quick in attack and fierce in defence. As usual full back Baz Hocking was sound in defence and at times devastating in counter attack. When all those talented players work for each other as a cohesive unit, they produce the sort of rugby that is very difficult to defend against and a treat to watch. This is the way Liskeard-Looe have started to play and it is well worth a trip to see.