Saints kept up with the leaders of the Devon & Cornwall league after a team showing seven changes from the previous week's game still proved too strong for plucky Old Plymouthians.

St Austell had a dream start after attacking from the kick off and when Opm's were penalised at a scrum 20 yards out, Saints skipper and no8 Adam Kellow took a quick penalty and forced his way over near the posts for a 5-0 lead. A few minutes later centre Luke Jones making his initial start for the first team this term after injury, kicked a penalty to put the visitors 8-0 up in as many minutes. At this stage in the game Opm's must have been fearing the worst but St Austell took their foot off the pedal and allowed the home team back into the game.
On twenty minutes Opm's scored their first try when a kick ahead was fumbled by the normally safe Ian Venner at full back that allowed centre John Charlick the simple job of falling on the ball for a try which was converted, leaving Opm's only a point behind. Once again Saints responded with Venner's forceful running more than making up for his earlier lapse, and twice from attacks started deep in their own half Saints were awarded penalties which Jones converted for a 14-7 half time lead.

The second half started with Saints looking for a score to put them out of sight and with their scrum gaining the upper hand, possession and territory was not a problem but getting over the whitewash certainly was. With so many players playing both out of position and together for the first time chances went begging through lack of communication.
It took until halfway through the 2nd half for St Austell to finally score when replacement prop Richard Mace on for his first scrum helped win the ball against the head allowing no 8 Kellow the pick up, and having seen the efforts the rest of the team made trying to score decided to go alone and bounced off three would be defenders to score in the corner.

Once again Saints decided to relax and let the opposition back in the game and it took a fine try saving tackle from winger Meshak Esien to stop Opm's scoring with five minutes to go, but no one could stop Nick Cummin when he dived over in injury time to leave the score at 12-19. Opm's who needed a converted try to draw a game they should never have been in asked the ref how much longer and he replied 3 minutes.
St Austell did exactly the same as the last time they were under pressure, they upped their game and after runs by flanker Darren Thompson and centre Jones the ball was passed to fly half Charles French who released Kellow through a gap to touch down for his hat trick and when Jones slotted the conversion the scoreline reflected the game.

Next week Saints are home to Old Public Oaks, another Plymouth side, with a 3pm kick off.

Team
I Venner
M Esien
L Jones
T Richardson
C Taylor
C French
M Shepherd
J Gibbons
T Stunell
S Smith
R Jeffs
S McNally
D Thompson
J Grigg
A Kellow (Captain)
Replacements ; R Pollard, A Pearce, R Mace