Sat 10 Jan 2026
Sidmouth Secure Cornish Double with Gritty Win at Launceston
After the festive hiatus, Sidmouth marked their return to South West Region 1 action in spectacular fashion, securing a hard-fought 21-18 victory over Launceston. Having previously beaten the "Cornish ABs" with a last-minute thriller back in October, the Blackmore men traveled across the border determined to complete the league double—a feat they achieved with a performance defined by grit and determination.
First Half: Sidmouth Take Charge.
The hosts opened the scoring within ten minutes, with Launceston’s full back James Tucker slotting a penalty following a breakdown infringement on the Sidmouth 22. However, the 3-0 lead was short-lived as Sidmouth seized control.
Pressure mounted in the Launceston red zone, eventually resulting in a yellow card for home lock Charlie Tummon. Sidmouth capitalised immediately; from the base of a dominant five-metre scrum, Number 8 Rabbie Hansford powered over. Fly-half Lewis Tose added the extras to make it 3-7.
The momentum stayed with the visitors. After a relentless period, camped on the Launceston line, lock Dan Armstrong found the gap from a pick-and-go to score Sidmouth’s second. Tose remained clinical with the conversion, pushing the lead to 3-14. Tucker pulled three points back for the hosts just before the whistle, leaving the score 6-14 at the interval.
Second Half: The Heroic Hold-Out.
Sidmouth started the second period exactly where they left off. After another sustained series of phases, Dan Armstrong crashed over under the posts for his second try of the afternoon. Tose’s third successful conversion made it 6-21 after 46 minutes, and Sidmouth looked out of sight.
However, the momentum shifted when Sidmouth’s hooker Nathan Tomkins saw yellow for an off the feet infringement. Launceston sensed an opening. Flanker George Harris crossed in the left corner to narrow the gap to 13-21, and just minutes later, winger Billy Martin pounced in the right-hand corner. Though the conversion was missed, the scoreline sat at a nervous 18-21 with nearly 20 minutes remaining.
What followed was a defensive masterclass. Sidmouth produced a heroic final stand, showing immense work rate to shut down the Launceston fightback and close out the game.
Post-Match Reflections:
It was a landmark day for the club in more ways than one. Cam Grainger celebrated his milestone 200th cap for the 1st XV, while the back-row trio of Shaun Malton, Harry Emmett, and Rabbie Hansford earned special praise for their tireless 80-minute shifts.
The result sees Sidmouth climb to 9th in the table, providing the perfect momentum for a lively bus trip back across the border.
Final Score: Launceston 18 - 21 Sidmouth
Next Up: Sidmouth return to the Blackmore next Saturday to host Marlborough. Kick-off is at 14:30.
