Sat 20 Dec 2025, 14:00
Although it was a fine day on The Common, with plenty of sunshine, it was a less-than-perfect result for the 1st XV as they let slip what was a very winnable match for the home side...
In sum, it was a difficult and, at times, controversial afternoon for us. We started playing down the slope and so knew that we would need to get points on the board and keep something in reserve for the second half. Awarded an early penalty, right in front of the posts, we elected to kick for goal. To gasps of amazement from everyone, the ball bounced back off the cross-bar and our 3 points went begging! If fly-half and kicker, George Shakespeare, had been in a stadium kicking competition, he would have won a tidy sum of cash... as it was, he turned away despondent. And this probably set the tone for the rest of the afternoon...
So, it is probably fair to say that we started off on the wrong foot, not making the most of the opportunities that we had and not having the kind of incisive focus that a game like this would need. We then allowed Launceston to score after just five minutes with some extremely weak defending and a lack of on-pitch communication between the players. The try was converted, and we were looking at 0-7 on the Clubhouse scoreboard - not an ideal way to get things going...
This early try didn't seem to inject too much urgency into Marlborough either, and the boys did not react in the way the coaches would have hoped and expected. On fifteen minutes Launceston scored again, coming from a 15-metre driving maul that started on the half-way line, the Launceston backs then making the most of several Marlborough missed tackles to score. Although not converted, this try was the second to be scored going up the hill, which is very bad for morale for the home side! 0-12 and we need to pull our socks up...
But now Marlborough did start to fight back. Our scrum was dominant - the most powerful we've seen it all season. But we did not exploit the advantage this gave us, nor did we benefit from the anticipated penalties... But we pressed on and, from a massive scrum about five metres out, we drove Launceston back, their studs leaving tracks in the slippery mud! Our big Number 8, Uraia Uluvesi, kept the ball at his feet and then dotted down to mark a very good, well-worked, and well-deserved try - great collective effort by the pack! Although the try was not converted, we were still looking at a more favourable 5-12 scoreline...
The next score was a Launceston penalty, and then - on about 35 minutes - another try up the hill for Launceston. This was gifted to them by a poor goal-line drop-out kick by us, which went straight to the Launceston full-back who ran the ball back and set up an attack for Launceston to run in a try in the corner... again helped by some woeful Marlborough defending. Unconverted; now we are 5-20
Marlborough struck back just before half-time with a try from replacement prop, Simon Pilkington, who had come off the bench and injected some much-needed urgency into our team. This try was converted neatly and the referee blew up, sending both teams into the warmth of the Clubhouse for the break...
Half-time score: Marlborough Rugby 12-20 Launceston RFC
The half-time chat from the coaches seemed to have done the trick, and we came out for the second half with renewed vigour and intent. This was our game to win!
It started well, with a second try from Pilkington, starting from a line out maul that the Marlborough boys pushed all the way. Although not converted, it was clear that Pilkington was having a very positive influence on the game and we looked forward to more of the same. Marlborough 17-20 Launceston and we are very much in contention...
And then, the horror blow. Young Marlborough hooker, Jacob Te Rangi, was taken out by what all those watching could see was a horrendous tackle - late / off the ball and very high. He's a big strong lad, but Te Rangi went down and didn't get up. He suffered serious damage to his neck and shoulder and a concussion; he spent a considerable time getting checked out at the hospital, but was home in time for a hot bath and bed before 22:00.
Although the front row needed reorganising and prop, Lemeki Moala, had to come back on, we were still on the front foot. We continued to push Launceston back and on the touchline it really felt like we would reel them in. At a line-out deep into Launceston territory, there was some poor behaviour on the pitch, with Launceston players killing the ball and scrapping with our players on the ground. The result - some red mist on our part led to a red card for Uluvesi and we were a man down...
The rest of the match can be summed up as: Marlborough converting one penalty kick (by replacement fly-half, Roko Waicolayawa), but Launceston converting three penalties... Not the 'step into Christmas' result that any of us wanted (or expected) on The Common.
Final score: Marlborough Rugby 20-29 Launceston RFC
This was a very winnable match for Marlborough. Sadly, the result was another one that 'got away' from us, exacerbated by injury and foul play.
There were a number of contenders for a player of the match on our side:
- prop, Nichaiah Boynton, showed exemplary scrummaging and ball-carrying; Nic is very young, but shows great potential and can play loose or tight-head; he is proving to be a great asset to Marlborough
- until his red card, our Number 8, Uluvesi, was a tower of strength and proved a real handful for the opposition
- prop (and then hooker), Pilkington, made a massive impact when he came onto the pitch - ultimately, he was the PotM voted for by Launceston in the Clubhouse after the game...
We wish young Jacob a speedy recovery.
We break for Christmas and the New Year now, but we're back with a vengeance on Saturday 10 January 2026, when we have a double-header on The Common - the 1st XV plays Matson RFC and the Nomads play Swindon RFC. Two teams at home; two winnable games; two very good reasons to be pitch-side in the New Year! See you on The Common.
