LAUNCESTON slipped defeat as Chew Valley ground out a 21-15 success in Somerset.

The visitors made three changes from the side that saw off Brixham a fortnight earlier as Finn Stiles, Charlie Atwood and Morgan Woods came into the starting XV for George Bone, Tom Anderton and James Tucker, the latter who failed a fitness test on Friday night.

Launceston won on on their last visit to Somerset and only a minute went in front. Chew knocked on deep in their half and the Blacks won the scrum. Each phase pushed the home side back until full-back Ollie Bebbington scored a try which Woods converted. (0-7)

But within three minutes, home winger Joe Brickell found a gap in the Cornish defence and ran through to score a try. Full-back Tom Bryan kicked the conversion to level the scores at 7-7.

Not long after, Chew gave away a penalty deep in their half for being offside and the All Blacks chose to kick for points as Woods put the Blacks back in front (7-10).

Both sides had their moments with Launceston struggling to find a way through, but 26 minutes in the hosts went in front. They gained a line-out in the Blacks 22 and the rolling maul allowed the home side to force their way over the line with loosehead-prop Iwan Hughes the scorer. Bryan’s kick made it 14-10.

Launceston’s backs made several strong runs, but couldn’t find a way through before the hosts had a spell which also saw the Cornish defence stand firm.

It stayed with the hosts having a four-point lead going into half-time, but within a minute of the restart it was Bryan, back at the club having been at Old Redcliffians, who broke through before slotting the conversion.

Launceston’s replacement hooker, Levent Bulut, found himself playing like a back. He found himself in space a few times and made some excellent runs, as well as kicking the ball over the home defence to give the backs something to run on to.

Chew Valley powered over the line on 52 minutes, but the visitors managed to hold it up before kicking clear.

Launceston soon found themselves under pressure from a threatening home side who were loitering with intent deep in the visitors’ half.

It looked as if the Greens would score just before the hour, but having got close to the line, they knocked on, allowing the Cornishmen to regroup.

Launceston’s forward trio of Ben Hancock, George Harris and Charlie Tummon, as well as the others put in a hard shift, making some strong tackles and gained many meters throughout the game.

They did at least gain some reward with a minute of normal time as full-back Bebbington found a gap to bring them to within seven points and secure a losing bonus-point.

Woods drop-kicked the ball but missed the conversion, as Launceston stay seventh, four points clear of second bottom Marlborough.

High-flying Lydney visit Polson Bridge next Saturday (November 22, 3pm).

LAUNCESTON: Ollie Bebbington, Billy Martin, Ben Bryant, Brandon Rowley, Morgan Woods, Tom Sandercock (capt), Charlie Atwood; Alex Bartlett, Rory Mead, Mitch Hawken; Charlie Tummon, Cian Baker; Finn Stiles, George Harris, Ben Hancock. Replacements: Charlie Short, Levent Bulut, Ed Dudden.

Tries: Bebbington (2); Convs: Woods; Pens: Woods.

Launceston man-of-the-match: Charlie Tummon.