Victory ensured the Saints made it a clean sweep in Cup competitions for St Austell RFC with the trophy now sitting proudly alongside the Cups won by the Sinners and Spartans back in April.

The CRFU’s decision to play the final at Truro instead of a neutral venue did not sit well with many Saints supporters but the sea of red in the stand and around the touchline ensured any home advantage was negligible. The home side got off to the best possible start with a try inside the first three minutes. The Saints were penalised for a high tackle in midfield, the penalty was kicked deep into the 22 with flanker Luke Trescothick finishing a well-executed catch and drive (7-0). The Saints bounced back with a series of high tempo phases to stretch and probe the home defence. The pressure was building with Truro giving away a succession of penalties to keep the Saints out. A third collapsed maul on the try line saw the referee’s patience run out as he ran to the posts to award a penalty try and issue a yellow card to home lock Tom Duncan (7-7). A penalty for not releasing allowed Matt Shepherd to nudge the Saints in front for the first time (7-10). The visitors were now threatening to score again but a turnover in the 22 saw the ball hacked down field leading to a dramatic foot race between the two fly halves. Matt Shepherd managed to get his hands on the ball and although he saved an almost certain try he was isolated and penalised for holding on. Remarkably the kick in front of the posts smacked the woodwork allowing the Saints to clear with no damage to the scoreboard. The Saints pack were now getting the edge in the tight and a scrum penalty created a lineout platform just 10m from the try line. The drive rumbled forward until scrum half CJ Boyce sensed a chink in the defence to snipe through the gap (7-15). Truro dusted themselves off to perhaps enjoy their best passage of play in the game but found the Saints defence up to the task. In the end they elected to settle for three points when the Saints strayed offside (10-15). With half time approaching the Gorran Lighthouse Mark Vian rose majestically to collect Pete Harris’ deadly throw and set the Saints’ pack driving forward. With Truro sucked in to defend the advancing maul, CJ Boyce flung out a superb mis-pass to find outside centre Konnor Ewudzi. Showing pace, power and guile, Konnor sliced through four Truro defenders before offloading to the supporting Max Bullen. The winger had tracked and timed his running line to perfection to blast over for a wonderful try. Matt Shepherd’s conversion should have given the Saints some clear water at the interval but a lapse in concentration at the restart allowed Truro to touchdown in the corner to make the half time score 15-22 and all to play for in the second period.

The Saints were now starting to have the lion share of territory and possession with the home side increasingly under pressure. Patience in attack finally paid off when Matt Shepherd took a quick penalty to jink his way over for a try (15-27). Four minutes later the Saints supporters were back on their feet to applaud a brilliant try from Archie Bees. The young full back gathered a long clearance just outside the 22 to launch an attack, stepping outside the first up defender on halfway he then had a sublime exchange of passes with Matt Shepherd before cruising around the remnants of the Truro defence to score (15-34). The Saints continued to dominate but it took until the 77th minute before they added their sixth try. Scrum half CJ Boyce again got his backline moving and the effervescent Sam Parsons found his inner Lionel Messi to send a perfectly weighted left foot pass behind the Truro defence. Konnor Ewudzi, now on the left wing, needed no invitation to scorch through and score (15-39). Deep into time added on the home side scored a converted try to make the final score Truro 22 St Austell 39 with the final whistle triggering celebrations for the Saints supporters and their heroes on the pitch.

Saints skipper Mark Vian received the trophy from new CRFU President Andy Reed to become only the second St Austell RFC captain to lift the Cornwall Cup.

Saints Star Man: There were many candidates in a solid team performance. The CRFU Man of the Match Award went to Matt Shepherd who had another excellent game at fly half. Rhys Daniel was outstanding at blindside while centre pairing Sam Parsons and Konnor Ewudzi caught the eye in defence and attack. However Cornwall U20 hooker Pete Harris was outstanding, filling the boots of a Saints legend like Miles Davey was always going to be a challenge but today the supporters got a glimpse of the future. Deadly accurate in the line out, combative in the scrum and rumbustious in the loose, young Pete had a great game.

Saints
1 Dan Job; 2 Pete Harris; 3 Charlie Nicholson; 4 Mark Vian (Captain); 5 Joe Maunder; 6 Rhys Daniel; 7 Cam Taylor; 8 Kyle Marriott; 9 CJ Boyce; 10 Matt Shepherd; 11 Dan Tyrrell; 12 Sam Parsons; 13 Konnor Ewudzi; 14 Max Bullen; 15 Archie Bees

Reps (All used):
Hector Bright; Matt Boothby; Jack Grigg; Fraser Nottle; Tom Daniel; Ben Plummer

Travelling Reserves: Alex Welland; George Hutchinson

St Austell:
Tries – Penalty Try (12); CJ Boyce (25); Max Bullen (38); Matt Shepherd (55) Archie Bees (59); Konnor Ewudzi (77)
Cons – Matt Shepherd (18, 39, 60)
Pens - Matt Shepherd (15)

Truro:
Tries – Luke Trescothick (3); Try (40 +1); Try (80 +1)
Cons – Ashley Hosking (3)
Pens – Ashley Hosking (32)