AN EXCELLENT first half performance from the Castles secured just a second league win of the season as they saw off St Just in West Cornwall.

Launceston made the long trip to their fellow strugglers with one of their strongest squads of the season – helped by the inclusion of regular first-teamers Alex Bartlett and Morgan Woods.

They lined up in the second-row and at inside-centre respectively and both had a big impact.

Launceston led 19-0 at the break with driving maul tries being finished off by Ben Greene, who was a late replacement for Ed Dudden who hurt himself in the warm-up, and flanker Tyler Westlake.

Player/coach Dan Pearce got the second as after a brilliant break from inside his own half from winger Freddie Ward, he took the offload on the 22 and made his way to the line.

St Just were much-improved after the break and scored a converted try inside 10 minutes following a plenty of forward pressure.

A Woods penalty from 35 metres made it 22-7 with a quarter of the game remaining, but St Just responded again with a second converted try within five minutes to reduce the gap to eight at 22-14.

But despite plenty of home pressure, the visitors, who saw tighthead-prop Tom Stevens impress and win the man-of-the-match award, sealed the game, and with it a try bonus-point when a fine run down the left from replacement Mike Reddan was finished off by Ward. Woods added the kick for good measure as the scoreline remained at 29-14.

The Castles host high-flying Newquay Hornets on Saturday (2.30pm).

LAUNCESTON CASTLES: Knight, Ward, Hughes, Woods, Knight, Pearce, Tomkies; O Martin, Howe, Stevens; Greene, Bartlett; Westlake, Stiles, Hall. Replacements: Smith, Dennis, Reddan.

Tries: Greene, Pearce, Westlake, Ward; Convs: Woods (3); Pens: Woods.

Castles’ man-of-the-match: Tom Stevens.