A LATE penalty from home fly-half Ben Saunders ensured St Austell a narrow Cornish derby victory over Launceston at Tregorrick Park.

Despite windy conditions and constant drizzle, both teams made handling errors, resulting in a close game.

Launceston, who made four changes from the side beaten by Royal Wootton Bassett a week earlier as skipper Tom Sandercock, George Bone, Charlie Tummon and Mitch Acres all came in, started well and scored after just four minutes.

The CABs won a line-out and the driving maul was finished off by hooker Rory Mead.

For the kick, the wind knocked the ball off the tee and James Tucker did not have time to put it back on so attempted a drop kick and missed. (0-5)

St Austell dominated the scrums from the outset, and on eight minutes were back in it via a Saunders penalty after Launceston were done for not rolling away in the tackle.

The visitors didn’t help themselves on 16 minutes as they were done for talking back to the referee and Saunders made no mistake.

Within three minutes Launceston were back in front as Tucker knocked over a penalty of his own, and shortly after extended their lead further as winger Billy Martin intercepted on halfway and gassed his way to the line.

Tucker’s kick was just short.

The Saints were on top up to half-time but the CABs defence held firm, conceding just one try through left-winger Max Bullen.

After kicking off from half-time, the Saints wasted no time in getting back into the Launceston half and putting the visitors under pressure which ended with flanker Hector Bright going over. However, Saunders’ kick was missed.

Bright was soon sin-binned after a high tackle allowing Tucker to kick for points following the penalty, but the kick was missed. Launceston then looked to make advantage of Bright’s absence, but the hosts weathered the storm.

The Saints brought on player/coach Matt Shepherd following injury on 46 minutes, although there was no further scoring until the final 10 minutes.

On 70 minutes, Launceston gave away another penalty which Saunders slotted this time for a 19-13 lead.

Shepherd started to make an impact once he got back in the groove and he started kicking the ball through the Blacks defence for his team to chase which kept the pressure on.

Just as it looked like it would be one of those days for the All Blacks, they thought they had won it four minutes from time.

The Saints gave away a penalty which allowed Brandon Rowley to tap and run before offloading to prop Mitch Hawken to dive over.

Tucker added the extras against his old side.

All Launceston had to do was keep it clean and count down the clock, but a knock-on penalty gave the Saints the penalty they were after right in front of the posts.

Saunders made no mistake as Launceston slipped to a fourth defeat in six outings.

LAUNCESTON: Ollie Bebbington, Mitch Acres, Ben Bryant, Morgan Woods, Billy Martin, James Tucker, Tom Sandercock (capt); Ollie Martin, Rory Mead, Mitch Hawken; George Bone, Finn Stiles; Charlie Tummon, George Harris, Ben Hancock. Replacements: Alex Bartlett, Levent Bulut, Brandon Rowley.

Tries: Mead, Martin, Hawken; Convs: Tucker; Pens: N/A.

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