South West Premier
THE Cornish All Blacks have made two enforced changes from last weekend’s victory over Old Centralians for tomorrow’s trip to fourth-placed Old Redcliffians (2.30pm).
The All Blacks withstood a thrilling comeback from the Gloucester club to prevail 32-25, and with it secure a second win of the season to move five points clear of third bottom Okehampton.
Old Reds have won five of their seven outings, their two defeats coming against the top two – Exeter University and Hornets. The Bristol-based outfit were in National League Two (South) in the 2019/20 campaign and will be expected to be in the promotion picture come April.
On home turf at Scotland Lane, they have been pushed hard by Ivybridge (43-41) and Exmouth (19-16) while they also enjoyed a comfortable 38-12 victory over Drybrook.
Launceston have lost all four on their travels but have been close in three of them, going down by two, seven and nine points respectively at Hornets, Weston-super-Mare and neighbours Okehampton.
Tomorrow they will have to do without influential prop Andy Knight with his place at loosehead going to Mitch Hawken who steps up from the bench, whilst Alex Bartlett bolsters the front row on the bench.
The other change sees inside-centre Cameron Fogden make way for Shaun Crawford with Tom Sandercock replacing Crawford amongst the replacements.
Launceston at Old Reds –
Tom Sandercock, Reuben Edwards, Ryan Westren, Shaun Crawford, Dan Pearce, James Tucker, Adam Collings; Mitch Hawken, Levent Bulut, James McFarlane, Dan Goldsmith, Tom Bottoms, Dean Abrams, Lloyd Duke (capt), Brandon Rowley.
Replacements: Alex Bartlett, Adam Powell, Tom Sandercock.
Other South West Premier fixtures: Bournemouth v Ivybridge, Brixham v Hornets, Camborne v Exmouth, Drybrook v Exeter University, Royal Wootton Bassett v Okehampton, Weston-super-Mare v Old Centralians.
Cornwall/Devon
BUDE will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season last weekend at much-fancied Pirates Amateurs when they welcome Plymstock Albion Oaks to Bencoolen Meadow.
The North Cornwall side had won six from six before their trip to Penzance, but were well beaten 43-17.
Player/coach Angus Hodges as often is the case, has to contend with some absentees.
Influential lock Joel Troke is missing as is number eight Joe Wilson. In the backs, fly-half and former Cornwall winger Kyle Speare is also missing.
Flying winger Zerran Hammond is back after last Saturday with Will Pharo moving inside to 13 where he’ll partner the returning Ed Hilliam-Cooke in the centres.
Troke’s place is taken by Luke Dunkin.
Bude – Olly Denford, Rory Hodges, Will Pharo, Ed Hilliam-Cooke, Zerran Hammond, Charlie Watton, Olly Mounce; Simon Jeffery, Jason Bolt, Chris Allin, Luke Dunkin, Will Kingdon, Angus Hodges, Finley Fry, Freddie Saxton.
Replacements: Martin George, Chris Hill, Dan Statton.
Saltash picked up their first win last weekend, a comprehensive 43-17 defeat of high-flying Torquay Athletic.
However, they are missing several players for their trip to the outskirts of Camborne to take on mid-table Veor.
In total there are seven changes with the likes of Ryan Cruickshanks, Ryan Rayner and Lewis Wells all missing.
Saltash at Veor – Danny Snook, James Smith-Jones, Andrew Walsh, Phil Eatwell, Devan Marshall, Kieran Down, Jack Pritchard; Simon Nance, Dale Thompson, Ryan Simmons, Liall Honey, Joe Ronayne, Lewis Woolaway, Fin Jones, Steve Hillman.
Replacements: Max Dennison, Colm Rich, Reece Sargent.
Liskeard-Looe continue to just be on the wrong side of narrow defeats, but will fancy their chances this weekend when they welcome Newquay Hornets to Lux Park.
The Lions lost 5-3 to Withycombe last Saturday, but are again on home soil against a side that have yet to win on their travels since promotion.
Player/coach Lewis Elliott makes three changes from the Withycombe game.
Aaron Rowe comes back into the side at blindside-flanker while there are starts in the backs for Seb Hocking and Ollie Aggiss.
Liskeard-Looe v Newquay Hornets –
Kieran Underhill, Jay Mason, Ollie Aggiss, Seb Hocking, Ieuan Evans, James Noel-Johnson, Callum Beaver; Mike Mander, Archie Doidge, Ben Palmer, Will Stuart, Fred Cozens, Aaron Rowe, Nathan Wills (capt), Lewis Elliott.
Replacements: Jack Badnall, Billy Wildgoose, Michael Prowse.
Other Cornwall/Devon fixtures: Cullompton v Pirates Amateurs, Hayle v North Tawton, Torquay Athletic v Tavistock, Withycombe v Topsham.
Cornwall leagues
In Cornwall One, Bodmin have the chance to all but seal promotion when they welcome third-placed Helston to Clifden Park.
The visitors won the reverse fixture back in September but Bodmin have been in fine form since, and have won six of their seven outings to lead Camborne School of Mines by ten points, although the students do have a game in-hand.
That said, with Bodmin having played both the students and Helston come Saturday evening, a victory would put them as firm favourites for promotion.
Bodmin v Helston –
Max Cowling, Paul Carter, Andrew Coad, Harry Harland, Char Parker, Mark Trevarthen, Matt Hawken; Jack Rutty, Macauley Reed, Josh Durant, Dom Cullip, Kieron Madden, Lachlan Blacklaw, Sam Lebbern, Ollie Brooks (capt).
Replacements: Lee Taylor, Oliver Thomas, Alec Lane.
Elsewhere in Cornwall One, in-form Lankelly-Fowey visit Roseland, while St Agnes host Illogan Park.
In Cornwall Two, Camelford make the trip down to Redruth Albany, while promotion favourites St Ives make the short trip down to St Just.