LAUNCESTON got their season up and running in fine fashion in Gloucester on Saturday with a dominant 39-26 success at Matson.

The All Blacks were looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat to promoted Topsham, and by the 20-minute mark led 21-0.

That became 31-7 at the break and although the hosts were much-improved after the break, it was the Cornishmen who headed back to Cornwall with five points to their name.

Launceston were without the injured Cam Fogden and George Harris, while Callum Smith could only play at home, Charlie Short was working and James Tucker was on holiday.

It meant a reshuffle in terms of position and personnel.

Cian Baker came into the second row with Ben Hancock moving to openside-flanker.

In the backs, Charlie Attwood made his debut at scrum-half with skipper Tom Sandercock switching to fly-half, while in the backs, Corey Jenkinson (wing) and Morgan Woods (centre) came in with Ben Bryant and Ollie Bebbington moving to inside-centre and full-back respectively.

Oli Martin and Ollie Tomkies came on to the bench alongside Alex Bartlett who was making his 100th appearance.

After a relatively even start despite the visitors having much of the possession, it took until the 10th minute for the first points of the afternoon.

From a loose ball on halfway, Hancock kicked the ball through to the try line and won the race, dotting down under the posts to allow Morgan Woods, who was kicking in Tucker’s absence, the easiest of starts off the tee (0-7).

Five minutes later the All Blacks, who were playing in all white, doubled their advantage.

Bebbington’s chip and chase bounced in an unfortunate way for the home defender, allowing the flyer to get to the ball and cross. Woods added a second simple two points.

Launceston were now on top and extended their lead further.

Flanker Charlie Tummon, who along with Hancock and man-of-the-match George Bone, got through a mountain of work all afternoon, broke through on the 10-metre line before going around the full-back to score.

Woods added a third conversion and then a first penalty for the club from 30 metres as the scoreline remarkably led 24-0.

Things got even better four minutes from half-time when Bone broke through before drawing the full-back to play in Attwood to run in. Woods’ kick made it 31-0.

Launceston were reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes when skipper Tom Sandercock was sent to the bin, and the home side responded with a converted try of their own before the break.

Matson are a proud outfit and within 10 minutes of the restart had reduced the advantage to just 10 via a converted score and a penalty try, the latter which saw Oli Martin sin-binned.

With 15 minutes to go the home side still had a chance, however Billy Martin ran in from 30 metres to make it 36-21.

A second Woods penalty with eight minutes to go ensured there’d be no home comeback, and although Matson grabbed a late bonus point try, it was Launceston’s day.

LAUNCESTON: Bryant, B Martin, Bryant, Woods, Jenkinson, Sandercock (capt), Attwood; Bulut, Mead, Hawken, Bone, Baker, Tummon, Hancock, Rowley. Replacements: O Martin, Bartlett, Tomkies.

Tries: Hancock, Bebbington, Tummon, Attwood, B Martin; Convs: Woods (4); Pens: Woods (2).

Launceston man-of-the-match: George Bone.