St Austell came desperately close to pulling off a shock against the Wadebridge Camels in the Tribute Cornwall County Final on Easter Saturday. The Saints arrived at the Memorial Ground in Penryn for their first final since 1978 very much the underdog. Playing higher league opponents whose form since Christmas had seen them shoot up to 6th in South West One, Camels could also boast several appearances in the Final in recent years. With all that big game experience, coupled with the Saints’ own indifferent recent form, Camels ran out onto the pitch firm favourites. Indeed, many neutrals were predicting a very one sided game with at least a 30 point margin. But they had not reckoned on the steely determination coursing through the veins of every single Saint – this underdog was in the mood to bite back!

A fired up Saints took the game to the Camels immediately from the kick-off with a series of high tempo surges. A break by number 8 Ryan Evans from the back of the scrum was held up just short of the line before being worked wide to Alex Welland. The wing man cut inside and although tackled, he presented the ball cleanly before hands in the ruck prevented any further movement of the ball. Up stepped fly half Matt Shepherd to coolly slot over the penalty to put the Saints 3-0 up with just 4 minutes gone. Clearly rattled, the Camels were on the back foot and the Saints were looking to exploit their advantage. However, when a promising move in midfield broke down the Saints were soon to realise just how good the Camels could be. Live wire flanker Sam Stone was the first to react, seizing the ball to regain possession for the Camels who then steadied their ship through a series of forward drives. Led by Captain Gary Gynn, the Camels big forwards pounded away at the Saints defensive line sucking in more defenders each time. Scrum half Shaun Hawkey timed his release to the backs to perfection and centre Dan Prout exploited the overlap to touch down for an unconverted try. Camels were now in the ascendency and continued to the use their battering rams to breech the Saints’ defensive wall. A series of forward drives from number 8 Gynn, lock Nick Yelland and prop Gareth Bilkey had Saints reeling and Hawkey was again able to feed his back line enabling full back Cameron Lees to dive over on the blindside. Camels were now 10-3 up at the end of the first quarter, but the unedifying chanting of a few of their supporters behind the Saints’ bench was soon to be silenced. Saints’ prop Hugh Noott regained possession from the restart allowing Shepherd to tear through the Camels midfield. A swift pass to supporting hooker Jack Grigg created panic in the now disorganised defence, allowing lock Sean Haley to burst through to gallop 15m and touch down under the posts. Shepherd dispatched the conversion to put the Saints back on level terms, Camels were now under no illusions – they had a real game on their hands. The score reignited the Saints’ belief and the Camels were again under pressure. A penalty to Saints was moved forward 10m following backchat from the offender, the kick from Shepherd just drifted wide. A surging attack from Saints saw centre Ian Venner crash over the line but he was adjudged not to have grounded the ball. Camels used all their experience to stifle the more fluid movements of their opponents, grinding the ball up the field before a penalty allowed them to push them into the Saints’ 22. Lock Dan Lumb, who performed well in the line out throughout, created the platform for a well-executed drive that allowed Bilkey to barge over in the corner to restore the Camels’ lead. With half time looming Saints attacked again, when flanker Paul Winterbottom was harshly yellow carded as he retaliated to an off the ball incident. The whistle blew with Saints 15-10 down but still very much in the game.

Any hopes the Camels had of making their numerical advantage count were soon dispelled when fly-half Adam Collings was sent to the bin for an unnecessary off the ball trip on Saints’ scrum half Marcus McCoan. Camels were again using their forwards to control the game and Saints had to defend bravely to repel the constant battering. Venner typified the determination within the Saints with a crashing tackle on Yelland that helped to relieve the pressure. The respite was all too brief and when Gynn punched a hole through the gain line, Hawkey moved the ball out wide for winger Dan Briskham to touch down putting Camels 20-10 in front. Saints roared back, dispelling any notion that the game was over, with a brilliant catch and drive try of their own. Haley’s catch was driven forward before Winterbottom peeled off to crash over the line despite the efforts of three defenders. Shepherd’s conversion was met with a deafening roar from the Saints’ Massive in the main stand. The game entered a cagey phase for the first time but it was becoming increasingly noticeable the Camels’ big forward were not hitting the rucks with the same ferocity and the faster, and seemingly fitter, Saints were now starting to dominate possession. Shepherd was running the game with his sniping runs and quick hands and as the game entered the last ten minutes it was the Saints who looked like the most likely to score next. As try as they might, Saints just could not find a way around or through the Camels defensive curtain. In the final minutes, Camels gave away a penalty and rather than tie the scores, Saints went for the win by kicking to touch. The line out was secured and Saints pushed forward for glory only to be penalised themselves. Camels kicked straight out for the final whistle and win the Cup, leaving the Saints shattered.

In the end Camels were worthy winners, their “street-wise” experience in both 22s and their patient ability to suck in defenders in the midfield to create overlaps out wide proved the difference. Saints may have received the post-match plaudits but they remain desperately disappointed not to have secured the victory. Inspired by the tales from the men of 1978, this was a magnificent performance by a young side that displayed its full potential and is starting to come of age. All 21 players on the day were heroes and with a successful Colts side about to add to the competition for places there is real optimism around Tregorrick that St Austell RFC is on the verge of something special. The Saints proved today they can compete with an established South West One side while playing attractive running rugby. On this evidence it will not be another 34 years before the Saints are back in final again!

Match Stats:

St Austell: Noott; Grigg (Hughes (Joe) 67); Knott; Pearce; Haley; Jeffs; Winterbottom; Evans (Hughes (Jack) 71); McCoan; Shepherd; Chenoweth; Earp (Captain); Venner; Welland; Evison (Rhodes 51).
Unused Replacement Swiggs; Taylor; Williams

St Austell: Tries – Haley; Winterbottom
Cons – Shepherd (2)
Pens – Shepherd
Drop Goal –

Camels: Tries – Prout, Lees, Bilkey, Briskham
Cons –
Pens –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Winterbottom (40), Venner (62)
Camels: Collings (42); Lumb (51)

Red Cards St Austell: None Camels: None

Saints Man of the Match: Matt Shepherd