St Austell came out on top in dramatic style to crown a thrilling cup-tie that will live long in the memory. Two goods sides with contrasting styles slugged it out in a contest that had a packed Tregorrick on tenterhooks throughout the eighty minutes. A game full of passion, commitment, physicality and skill ebbed and flowed until it all boiled down to one kick. With the Saints’ talisman Matt Shepherd in the sinbin, up stepped Archie Bees as an eery silence fell on Tregorrick for the first time since the kick-off. The Cornwall U20s fly-half proved to be the coolest man in Cornwall as his sweetly struck penalty sent the home crowd into raptures. The roar was only surpassed by the one that followed at the final whistle that sparked wild celebrations in the stands. The Saints had been given their biggest test of the season by a powerful and skilful side packed with talent from the South Sea Islands and Wiltshire’s finest. The home side had to dig deep at times, but Cornish grit and determination sprinkled with no little skill and Piskey dust saw them prevail.

The anticipation and excitement as kick-off approached was palpable so it was perhaps no surprise that both sides made nervy starts with several unforced errors. The Saints were the first to settle and put together several high tempo phases that started to suck in defenders to protect the fringes. Fly-half Matt Shepherd spotted that the Marlborough winger had come inside leaving space out wide and his superbly flighted kick was gathered by Fraser Nottle. The Saints flyer stepped inside the full-back and fended off the despairing tackle of the scrum-half to touchdown in the corner. Shep’s touchline conversion put the Saints 7-0 in front with just five minutes gone. Home prop Dan Job was shown a yellow for lifting an opponent at a ruck. A scrum meant Matt Boothby entered the fray with Konnor Ewudzi being sacrificed and the Wiltshire side were quick to take full advantage of the disparity in numbers out wide. The ball passed through hands like lightening until it reached winger Akariva Seruvatu who showed blistering pace to blaze a trail to the corner. James Clancy showed he was no slouch with the boot to kick a difficult conversion to tie things up at 7-7 with 13 minutes on the clock. The hits were coming hard and fast as both teams battled for supremacy in the midfield. A surging maul had the Marlborough defence retreating, Matt Shepherd chipped ahead and won the race to put the Saints back in front (22 minutes 12-7). The game was now on a knife edge with the Saints starting to gain the momentum as they put the visitors under pressure. A reckless tackle at a ruck on the prone Max Bullen left the Saints’ full back in a heap unable to move. After prolonged treatment Max was thankfully able to walk from the field with some assistance and spent the night at Treliske Hospital, we all hope it is not too serious and this does not bring his season to a premature end. Akariva Seruvatu was shown a yellow and he can perhaps consider himself lucky it was not a red. The Saints then laid siege on the Marlborough line, but the visitors defence held firm to frustrate the home side as they eventually cleared the danger. The pendulum swung again, and it was the Saints turn to churn out the tackles as the Fujian big hitters pounded away probing for a chink. Flankers Cam Taylor and Rory Jago epitomised the Cornish effort with a string of chop tackles that felled the Marlborough attacks before they could breach the home 22. A turnover by Sam Parsons was seized upon by Matt Shepherd who burst through a gap to speed away up field with the full back Weir Filikitonga in hot pursuit. A magnificent battle ensued between two determined talented protagonists, just as it seemed the Marlborough man had stopped his prey Shep some how managed to drop the ball to his foot and kick ahead towards the try line. Fraser Nottle had chased hard in support and was rewarded for his efforts with his second try (37 minutes 17-7). With the interval looming the home side shot themselves in the foot, a loss of concentration at a line-out allowed Marlborough’s livewire flanker Oliver Spanswick to steal the ball to launch an attack that was finished by James Clancy in Apples corner to make the half-time score 17-12.

Marlborough started the second half with purpose and a loss of discipline saw the Saints marched back 20m giving an easy shot into the 22. The home side were to pay a heavy price for their backchat indiscretions as Marlborough’s catch and drive created the platform for Viliami Hakalo to crash over. The conversion put the visitors 17-19 in front for the first time and when James Clancy stroked over a penalty on fifty minutes there were fears that the big men in black were starting to turn the red tide (17-22). However never underestimate the belief, determination and resilience that courses through the Saints as they chased and harried the bigger Marlborough side to claw their way back into the visitors 22. On the hour mark, the Gorran Lighthouse soared to pluck Miles Davey’s deadly arrow from the Tregorrick skies to launch a thunderous drive. Backs Sam Parsons, Ben Plummer and Konnor Ewudzi added their cultured shoulders to the forwards charge as prop Dan Job cashed over to tie things up at 22 apiece. The final quarter was a tense affair with both sides knowing the next score would probably be the winner. Having stayed in the fight, the lighter and fitter Saints were dominating territorially but every metre was being feverishly fought over by a determined Marlbough defence. With just 10 minutes to go centre Loketi Manu was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. Matt Shepherd soon followed for a similar offence with no let up in the physical exchanges that had characterised the contest throughout. The home side made one last drive for glory and when Marlborough strayed offside the tension became unbearable. With the Saints’ primary kicker now confined to the touchline, the tee was run on for Archie Bees. All eyes were on the Cornwall U20 as he steadied himself in front of the ball and with a swing of his cultured left boot he put the Saints back in front (25-22). The Saints saw out the remaining two minutes and the final whistle ignited euphoria around Tregorrick.

A truly epic cup tie with the Saints overcoming one of the best sides they have faced in many years. The size, power and pace within the Marlborough team is not something normally encountered in Level Six rugby and the Saints had to dig deep for victory. It is the first time the Wiltshire Club have visited Tregorrick, and they were given a rousing ovation for their contribution to a tremendous game. The Saints will now travel up next week to Chippenham for their final Pool game knowing that a win will put them in the Semi-Final (kick-off at 3:00pm).

Saints Star Man: CJ Boyce – The Saints scrum-half led the way in a brilliant team performance, worked wonders with a scrum under the pressure to keep the home side on the front foot. Never shirked under some intense physical pressure from Marlborough’s heavy hitters.

Saints
1 Dan Job; 2 Miles Davey; 3 Charlie Nicholson; 4 Mark Vian (Captain); 5 Joe Maunder; 6 Rory Jago; 7 Cam Taylor; 8 Kyle Marriott; 9 CJ Boyce; 10 Matt Shepherd; 11 Konnor Ewudzi; 12 Ben Plummer; 13 Sam Parsons; 14 Fraser Nottle; 15 Max Bullen
Reps (All used):
Hector Bright; Matt Boothby; Archie Bees

St Austell:
Tries – Fraser Nottle (4; 37); Matt Shepherd (22); Dan Job (60)
Cons – Matt Shepherd (5)
Pens – Archie Bees (78)
Drop Goal –

Marlborough:
Tries – Akariva Seruvatu (13); James Clancy (39); Viliami Hakalo (42)
Cons – James Clancy (14; 43)
Pens – James Clancy (50)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Dan Job (7); Matt Shepherd (76)
Marlborough: Akariva Seruvatu (32); Loketi Manu (69)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Marlborough: None

Referee: Rob Lowe (CRRS)