Saints beat Camels to the Post!

The Saints were the better side in the first half and probably felt a little short changed at the 13-5 return at the interval. A cagey third quarter then saw the visitors build up a head of steam in the final 15 minutes as they put the hosts under increasing pressure. The Saints defence held firm until the 69th minute when a Camels try brought the scores to 16-15 to set up a nerve-racking finale. A large and vociferous crowd held their collective breath with just three minutes remaining when the Camels were awarded a penalty about 30m out after the Saints strayed offside. You could hear a pin drop as Camels’ fly-half Dan Thomas lined up the kick, he stroked the ball beautifully and it seemed to hang in the air for an entity before an almighty thud echoed around Tregorrick as the kick smacked against the post. The roars from the home supporters were deafening and only equalled to the cheers that greeted the final whistle as the Saints inflicted a first defeat of the season on the Camels to reach their sixth County Cup Final in ten years.

The Saints got off to a confident start testing and probing the Camels defence. It was the home side’s first competitive Cornish derby in two years and the opening exchanges underlined what we all have been missing. The game was being played at a high tempo and great intensity with both defences putting in big shots to cut down the ball carriers. A large passionate crowd, including a healthy caravan of travelling Camels, roared their delight as the collisions went in and cheering any advantage gained by their favourites as if a try had been scored. The coolest man in amongst the frenetic cauldron was Chris Ashwin. The mercurial Saints’ fly-half received the ball from a ruck before stepping one way, jinking back to then glide through the hole he had opened in the Camels defence. A sublime moment of skill and guile in amongst the physicality to put the Saints 7-0 in front. The Saints then immediately shot themselves in the foot conceding a penalty on the restart to allow Camels to set up a line-out deep in the home 22. A well-executed catch and drive saw the Camels’ pack rumble forward with lock Jacob Johns taking the honours (7-5). The Saints continued to apply most of the pressure with the Camels proving determined in defence. On 20 minutes Al Welland almost caught out a moment’s indecision as the Camels tried to shepherd out an overhit kick ahead. The Saints wingman sprinted hard and dived dramatically through the air to ground the ball, but referee Ian Morgan spotted Camels full back Ben Johnson just got there first and awarded a 5m scrum even though many in the stands and on the field thought it was a try. The Saints pressure was eventually rewarded when Matt Shepherd, playing at outside centre, added three points (10-5). The Saints were enjoying dominance in the scrum and playing advantage for an infringement from a set piece, the ball was run wide with Fraser Nottle finishing brilliantly in the corner. Home joy was cut short with the realisation that the Assistant Referee’s flag was fluttering in the breeze to signify a foot in touch. The mark was returned to the scrum penalty and Matt Shepherd added the three points to give the home side at 13-5 lead at the break.

The Saints got off to a great start in the second period with a maul from a lineout that drove the Camels’ pack 15m backwards within sight of their try line. Before the final assault to secure five points could be completed the maul collapsed but to home consternation it was deemed there was no infringement. The Saints continued to turn the screw and with an overlap beckoning, Camels’ replacement Jack Scott prevented the ball from being passed. The yellow card was duly issued, and the Saints kept the scoreboard ticking with three more points, but it felt like scant reward for the pressure applied (16-5). Dan Thomas used a Saints offside to close the gap (16-8) as the game entered a scrappy phase with both sides knowing the next score would be crucial. An excellent 50:22 kick gave Camels a momentum turning lineout platform, but the Saints defence held firm against a well drilled lineout back peel. The Camels almost broke through with a clever cross-field kick that required a try saving tackle from Fraser Nottle to keep the visitors at bay. The pressure continued to build with the Saints seemingly unable to lift the siege, so it was no surprise when winger Rhys Bright finally broke the home blockade. Dan Thomas’s conversion took the Camels to within one point with ten minutes remaining (16-15). With the clock ticking down the Camels continue to pound away at the Saints defence and just as it looked like the home side would hold out with just three minutes to go they gave away a penalty, losing lock Joe Maunder to the sinbin into the bargain. That set-up the dramatic finale with Dan Thomas’ penalty hitting the post with the Saints then able to clear their lines and see out the remaining minutes in relative comfort. The final whistle brought contrasting emotions with jubilation for the Saints and the home support, a disappointment for the Camels.

A brilliant game played in a wonderful atmosphere, the players and supporters of both Clubs can be proud of providing a fantastic advert for Cornish rugby. The Camels are the runaway champions of Western Counties West, unbeaten in the league with 23 straight wins, and it is easy to see why with their high tempo playing style. The Saints will be grateful that their rotation of the squad ahead of Saturday’s crucial top of the table clash with Chew Valley did not derail their Cup ambitions.

Saints Star Man: Right hand post! – Some new combinations in the pack with young hooker Peter Harris doing well on his Senior debut. A fine display from another youngster Joe Maunder at lock and the half backs Dan Tyrrell and Chris Ashwin gave the Camels a torrid first half. The Saints nearly paid the price for not taking the opportunities their early dominance merited but epic defence in the final 15 minutes saw them through by the smallest of margins. The Tregorrick faithful will be forever grateful for that final coat of paint on the uprights!

1 Dan Job; 2 Peter Harris; 3 Charlie Nicholson; 4 Joe Maunder; 5 Tony Knight; 6 Mark Vian; 7 Zach Morley; 8 Kyle Marriott; 9 Dan Tyrrell; 10 Chris Ashwin (Capt.); 11 Alex Welland; 12 Ben Plummer 13 Matt Shepherd; 14 Fraser Nottle; 15 Cavan Boyer
Reps (All used):
Miles Davey; Archie Bees; Brandon Haque; Dan Job; Andy Inch; CJ Boyce

Travelling Reserves:
Tom Daniel; Max Bullen

St Austell:
Tries – Chris Aswin (7)
Cons – Matt Shepherd (7)
Pens – Matt Shepherd (22; 35: 47)
Drop Goal –

Wadebridge Camels:
Tries – Jacob Johns (11); Rhys Bright (69)
Cons – Dan Thomas (11; 69)
Pens – Dan Thomas (25; 50)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Joe Maunder (77)
Wadebridge Camels: Jack Scott (47)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Wadebridge Camels: None