LAUNCESTON’S three-match winning run came to an end on Saturday as fellow high-flyers Exmouth left Polson Bridge with victory.

The home team made just one change from their success at Newent as full-back Tom Anderton made his first start of the season in place of the injured Dan Pearce as Ollie Bebbington moved to the left wing.

Both teams made plenty of handling errors in tricky conditions at Polson Bridge, and took a 14th minute lead. From a line-out deep in the home 22, they used a maul to push themselves closer to the tryline, but it was collapsed as they played advantage. The referee awarded a penalty try and sent flanker Charlie Tummon to the sin-bin.

Launceston didn’t concede any points in the 10 minutes he was off the pitch, although they did threaten at times, including seeing an effort held up over the line to the delight of the home crowd.

However, they weren’t to be denied for long as after the Devonians used their strong forward pack to push themselves over the line from a scrum, No.8 Cellan Bale Michael dotted down with scrum-half Tom Lomax adding the extras.

The third try came soon after. Exmouth used a dominant maul to quickly force their way into the home side’s 22, before a chip over the top allowed full-back Fin Marks to dive on to the ball. Lomax once again kept his cool from the tee.

Launceston finally made some inroads as plenty of possession saw them knock away at the visiting defence. Phase after phase from the forwards saw them earn two penalties in quick succession on the five-metre line, however when they did look certain to score, an Exmouth defender was able to hold the ball up over the line as they went into half-time three tries to the good.

With the wind and the rain now behind the Blacks and in Exmouth’s faces, it helped the CABs as they scored two tries to get back into the contest, all while the Cockles’ attack seemed to slow down.

The visitors gave away a penalty for a high tackle and Launceston took it quickly and after a couple of phases, No.8 Geroge Harris powered over the line to score as James Tucker kicked the extra points.

The All Blacks were soon back to within a converted score as skipper Mitch Hawken powered over from close-range despite the best efforts of the Exmouth defence. Tucker made it 13 from 13 off the tee so far this term.

The Blacks dug deep again as they sought to level the contest, going through plenty of phases. However, with the conditions tricky, they eventually knocked on.

Late on, Exmouth sealed victory, and with it the try bonus-point as a five-metre scrum on the home line saw the hosts penalised as they were awarded a second penalty try.

Launceston couldn’t finish within seven to earn a losing bonus point as they get ready for Saturday’s trip to promoted Weston-super-Mare (2.30pm).

LAUNCESTON: Tom Anderton; Sheldon Higgins, Billy Martin, Jack Easton, Ollie Bebbington; James Tucker, George Hillson; Mitch Hawken (capt), Archie Doidge, Charlie Short; Devon Bennett-Murray, Dan Goldsmith; Charlie Tummon, Jed Griffin, George Harris. Replacements: Olly Martin, Lloyd Duke, Brandon Rowley, Tom Sandercock, George Alvis.

Tries: Harris, Hawken; Convs: Tucker (2); Pens: N/A.

Cornish All Blacks man-of-the-match: Charlie Tummon.