In a close and absorbing contest Saints will temper the disappointment of losing the game at the death by the way the squad stood up to the challenge and the impact of the new signings. With a number of notable absentees the coaching team will be pleased with the way those selected played and laid down their claims for the first league game of the season.

Saints started strongly with fast aggressive flowing rugby which had the visitors on the back foot from the outset. Sean Haren, a new signing from Welsh club Tondu, at openside flanker was rampaging in the loose ably supported by Sinners captain Scott McNally and Darren Thompson. Desperate defence by the All Blacks only held out until the 7th minute when Haren fed centre Ian Venner who surged through a gap before passing to another new boy, Ben Chenoweth from Roseland RFC, who touched down wide left, conversion missed. Saints continued to press but were unable to convert the territorial pressure into further points although Venner came close when he just failed to gather a clever kick ahead. The All Blacks had weathered the initial storm and their strong running back line started to make inroads in to the Saints’ half with one 30 meter break stopped by a superb tackle by Venner. Two moments of loose play led to the equalising score, first the ball shot out of a Saints scrum and was picked by the All Blacks scrum half who tore deep into home territory but was forced into touch by a fine covering tackle by full back Sam Rhodes. The All Blacks stole the Saints throw and quickly recycled the ball to score a try in the corner. The missed conversion meant the scores stayed at 5-5 after 30 minutes. The visitors finished the half the stronger and it was Saints, despite their early dominance, who were glad of the half time whistle.

Saints started the 2nd half in the same vein as the first and an excellent back line move off a scrum on the 22m line saw Chenoweth touch down in the corner, the conversion was missed. Ten minutes into the half saw the welcome return to the pitch of Joe “Haji” Hughes after 2 years out with a serious knee injury. He celebrated his return with a pivotal role in Saints next try. A catch and drive by second row Adam Pearce saw another new signing, old boy Hugh Noott returning from St Ives RFC, held up but he was not to be denied. From the resulting 5m scrum Haren went close with the ball recycled for Noott to crash over the line, the conversion was scored by skipper Andy Ashwin. Saints’ joy at being 17-5 up with 52 minutes on the clock was short lived when hesitation in gathering a long kick led to a needless penalty. All Blacks kicked to the corner and delivered a clinical catch and drive from the lineout, the ball spread wide and the touch down was under the post making the conversion a formality.

Saints then delivered the try of the match, with forwards and backs interchanging in a series of surging runs that again had the All Blacks rocking. Saints clocked up the phases with centres James Earp and Venner prominent in a number of punching runs with the ball quickly recycled. Venner broke through a gap feeding the supporting Haren whose deft pass to Chenoweth allowed the winger to complete his hat trick wide left. With the conversion missed it meant the score after 65 mins was now 22-12 and Saints made a number of replacements. The changes seemed to unsettle Saints and a number of missed tackles led to an unconverted try out of the blue. All Blacks sensed they had a real chance to win a game that should have been beyond them. Frantic defence by Saints suggested that they might hand on but another missed tackle allow the All Blacks in. A superb conversion kick gave the visitors the two points required to secure victory.

Saints will take great heart from today’s performance, the scrum dominated throughout and there were long phases of play where Saints were able to dictate the pace and flow of the game. The debutants Chenoweth, Martin, Noott and man of the match Haren can all be pleased with their contribution. The welcome return from injury of Hughes, the durability of Thompson, strong running centres Earp and Venner and a mature performance from young fly half Treve Murley have provided a real boost to the squad. There are areas to work on and the lapses of concentration in defence and line out will be addressed.

Saints make a welcome return to West Counties rugby after an absence of 10 years with their opening league match away at Ivybridge next week. The Sinners have a Cornish derby for their opening fixture when they face Bodmin 1st XV at Tregorrick Park, Saturday 3 September at 3pm.

Saints Scorers: Tries - Ben Chenoweth (3); Hugh Noott. Conversions: Andy Ashworth (1)