Awesome!


FX Backed Stoke put in an awesome performance to convincingly beat the league leaders with a brilliant all round display from all the players. After last week's disappointing result this showed huge character to get back to winning ways. The tone of the match was set from the start when the visitors had early possession only for the Stoke defence to dispell every attack with resolute tackling led initially by the big hitting St. Bernard. The rest of the team followed and it became evident that the visitors were running out of ideas to get through the Stoke defence. With Launceston put under pressure Stoke soon turned defence into attack. With 5 minutes gone Stoke won a line out 15 meters out drove forward before releasing the ball. Calder fed Buckland who made a half break to feed Lucas who touched down under the posts for Calder to convert and take a 7-0 lead. On 9 minutes Stoke won another line out 15 meters out recycled the ball and then Vincent fed Calder to crash over by the posts and then convert to extend a 14-0 advantage. Too often it has been Stoke who have had to play catch up this season but not to-day. Continued pressure from Stoke paid off when on 19 minutes Stoke had a scrum 10 meters out and Calder this time fed Lucas to score under the posts and the two points being added to take a 21-0 lead. For the first time this year the Stoke supporters had something to cheer about and were becoming more vocal in their support and suddenly the ringing cow bells of the away fans were quiet. Stoke's defence continued to be defiant in anything that Launceston threw at them and on 28 minutes Stoke worked a turn over inside their own half and took the ball up the bind side. The ball went through numerous pairs of hands before Vincent appeared in support to crash over out wide for another 5 point and a 26-0 lead on the half hour. The last 10 minutes of the first half saw the visitors apply their first sustained pressure but Stoke were not to give way and carried that lead into half time.

Half time 26-0

From the front row who gave a great platform in set plays, the second row who won quality line out ball and the tireless work of the back row the forwards were winning the battle up front, combine this with all their defensive duties and this was a tremendous effort. Not to be out done the backs were joining to keep the visitors at bay. The second half had the visitors with the strong wind at their backs and the turning point was the first 10 minutes when Stoke kept the visitors at bay. Launceston seemed to run out of ideas and it was a speculative kick through on 18 minutes that gave them an unconverted try. Although Launceston had much of the ball for the rest of the game Stoke were not to give way. With the last kick of the match another kick resulted in a try for the visitors to leave the final score 26-10 to Stoke.

Full time 26-10

After a delighted Calder added "That was a monumental effort and every member of the team can feel very proud. It is hard to award man of the match on days like to-day but the effort of Hampson epitomised the overall commitment of the players. This also showed that we are capable of competing at this level."

link to RFU site