Cup holders St Austell started their defence of the trophy with a dominant display lit up by four tries from number eight George Knowles. Truro competed with the usual derby day fervour but they were outgunned up front and outpaced out wide. The Saints always looked like they had another gear to go through whenever the hosts threatened and by the second half the visitors had hit cruise control. The balmy and warm weather conditions were a marked contrast to the howling wind and rain the two sides experienced when they met seven days ago in the league. The visitors ran out 25-6 winners that day with most observers feeling that if it was not for the weather, the Saints would have won by more. The theory was put to the test and it was a case of “QED” with the Saints running in nine tries.
The Saints were determined to take nothing for granted and putting the league result behind them, they put the home side under pressure from the kick off. In what was to prove a lethal weapon, the Saints took an early lead when George Knowles finished off a flawless catch and drive routine (0-5). Truro responded with great tenacity to equalise with a line out drive of their own through prop Darren Jacques (5-5). The breathless opening continued and Cavan Boyer looked to have scored a well worked try only to be pulled back for a forward pass. The respite was short lived, with the Saints camped in the 5m they scored another catch and drive through flanker Hector Bright (10-5). Truro continued to cling to the Saints’ coat tails with a long-distance penalty from Craig Williams (10-8). A superb take under the high ball by Cavan Boyer allowed scrum half Andy Ashwin to peg Truro back deep into their 22 with a rolling kick to touch. Tony Knight stole the line out ball and the Saints drove the maul a full 10m for George Knowles to grab his second (8-20). Young centre George Tregilgas had been singled out for some special treatment after his superb display the week before and Truro paid a heavy price for taking him out off the ball. The penalty and resulting catch and drive allowed George Knowles to grab his hat trick (20-8). The home side rallied as half time loomed but the Saints were in no mood to give even an inch. Fittingly, it was Andy Inch who forced a turnover under the shadow of the posts allowing the Saints to spread the ball wide to Cavan Boyer. The winger jinked and outpaced a line of beleaguered Truro defenders to sprint 80m. George Tregilgas brilliantly linked the play to pass inside to the supporting Hector Bright who rounded off a fantastic team try (8-27). Right on half time the hosts clawed back three points with a conciliatory penalty (11-27).

Truro started the second half with fire in their bellies determined to derail the Saints’ victory parade. Indiscipline was again their undoing and they paid a heavy price for more off the ball shenanigans with play being pulled back to the half way line after the intervention of the Assistant Referee. The penalty was kicked deep into the 22 and with everyone expecting another catch and drive routine, the Saints took quick ball to let winger Ben Chenoweth skin the defence (11-34). Truro responded well and exerted some good pressure in the Saints 22 before Luke Tidball found a gap (18-34). The Saints returned in kind with George Knowles roaring over from a 5m scrum to grab his fourth try of the afternoon (18-41). Tidball scored a second try as Truro tried to maintain a degree of respectability in the score line (23-41). Two Saints replacements combined to ease the visitors away again, good work by CJ Boyce allowed Max Duggan to burst through on a tub thumping run to the line (23-46). In time Liam Freeman added the final gloss to bring the fifty up and the curtain down on an excellent Saints display (23-51).

The next round of the Cup is on Saturday 23 December and the Saints will be hoping for a home draw for Christmas. The spotlight returns to the league next week with the visit of Somerset side Burnham on Sea. In an exciting innovation the 3pm kick off will be broadcast live from Tregorrick Park by our media partners The Cornwall Channel.

1 Mark Martin; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Peter Rowe; 4 Adam Kellow; 5 Tony Knight; 6 Andy Inch 7 Hector Bright; 8 George Knowles; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Cavan Boyer; 12 George Tregilgas 13 Shane Johns; 14 Ben Chenoweth; 15 Liam Freeman

Reps (All used):
Hugh Noott; CJ Boyce; Dan Jane; Max Duggan

Saints Star Man: George Knowles

St Austell:
Tries – George Knowles (3, 20, 29, 58) Hector Bright (12, 38); Ben Chenoweth (47); Max Duggan (69); Liam Freeman (80)
Cons – Liam Freeman (38, 47, 58)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Truro:
Tries – Darren Jacques (7); Luke Tidball (55, 63)
Cons – Craig Williams (55)
Pens – Craig Williams (14, 39)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Truro: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Truro: None

Referee: Mr K William (Cornwall RRS)