Saints were expecting a much sterner test from the Lions who are currently riding high at the top of the Cornwall and Devon League and are keen to emulate the visitors who were promoted last season. Indeed the games between the two sides last season were tight affairs with Saints just coming out on top. With that in mind Saints started at a blistering pace that had the home side rocking for the first 20 minutes of the game. Taking full advantage of the wind the visitors immediately penned Hayle deep into their own 22. Saints probed left and right searching for the gap before centre Curtis Newberry straightened the line to feed prop Hugh Noott who gratefully touched down allowing scrum half Matthew Shepherd a routine conversion. Straight from the restart Hayle were under the cosh again and it took a real valiant defensive action to keep the Saints out. Three scoring opportunities went begging before a marvellous move by the young guns of the Saints back line allowed winger Sam Tank to spectacularly dive over in the corner. Shepherd’s superb touchline conversion made the score 14-0 with less than 10 minutes on the clock. Hayle responded well to the early setbacks and started to enjoy some possession however a turnover ball just inside the visitors’ half allowed the Saints to launch a blistering counter attack. Newberry drew his counterpart before passing outside to winger Ben Chenoweth who tore through Hayle territory looking certain to score. A despairing tap tackle brought him down short and Hayle hands prevented the ball from being recycled. Skipper Andy Ashwin kicked the penalty to touch and from the resulting line out a Saints catch and drive allowed flanker Paul Winterbottom to score his first try of the afternoon. Shepherd was unable to repeat his conversion heroics from the left touchdown. Saints seem to ease off slightly and Hayle were now able to string some phases together inside the visitors’ 22m. The Lions nearly emulated the Saints’ line-out routine but Winterbottom held up the catch and drive to prevent a score. However it was a short lived reprieve as the continued pressure eventually told when Hayle Captain and lock Richard Humphries crashed over. Fly Half Josh Rule was unable to add the conversion. The score sparked Saints back into life as they dramatically upped the pace of the game. Hayle were now conceding a succession of penalties to stop the attacks allowing Saints to add a brace of penalties from Ashwin and Shepherd to reach half time 25 – 5 in front.

Any fears that the large Saints travelling support had that their favourites might repeat last week’s second half performance against Bideford were soon allayed. From the restart Saints were immediately on the attack and pulled the beleaguered Hayle defence left and right before flanker Sean Haren burst through to touchdown under the posts to score his first try for the Saints. Shepherd added the conversion. This was the signal for the first replacement and a welcome return to action for Sam Rhodes out since the first game of the season coming on for the excellent Newberry. Saints were now bossing nearly every facet of the game and it was the dominant scrum that delivered the next try after a prolonged pressure on the Hayle line. Lions were pushed off their own ball and smart thinking by Shepherd allowed him to dart over the line. Not long after Saints elected to kick another penalty to touch and from the resulting catch and drive Winterbottom again dived over for his second try. With 60 minutes gone and the score at 42-5 Prop Ryan Knott came on for his Saints debut replacing Mark Martin who again proved to be a rock in the tight. With the outcome no longer in doubt both sides seemed to drop a gear however the best was to come on 73 minutes with the try of the match. Quick ball off a Saints line out on the halfway line allowed a platform to be created in centre field. Chenoweth scorching in from his wing on an arching run received the ball on the Hayle 10m line and in a display of blistering pace outstripped the entire defence to touchdown in the corner. The move was a credit to the players and coaches; a testimony to all their hard work in training and a near perfect execution in match conditions. The final score came after the Saints pack put huge pressure on a Hayle scrum allowing Shepherd to snaffle the ball and feed Winterbottom who raced to the line to complete his hat trick. The conversion was met with an early final whistle from Referee Andrew Reynolds who had marshalled the game well throughout.

This was an excellent day for the Saints and the 54-5 score line underlined the improvement the side has made since last season. There were many candidates for man of the match with Winterbottom a front runner for his all action display and 3 try tally but the award went to prop Hugh Noott. The pack leader was a colossus in the tight and loose today ensuring the forwards provided the foundation for a great team display. Thoughts of cup glory will be set aside until the New Year and all eyes are now firmly fixed on next week’s return to league action at Bude.

Match Stats:

St Austell: Noott, Grigg (Hughes 65), Martin (Knott 60), Pearce, Haley, Haren (Evans 65), Winterbottom, Jeffs, Shepherd, Ashwin (Captain), Chenoweth, Welland, Newberry (Rhodes 50), Tank, Evison

St Austell: Tries – Noott (3); Tank (9); Winterbottom (22, 59, 76); Haren (44); Shepherd (52); Chenoweth (73)
Cons – Shepherd (4)
Pens – Shepherd Ashwin

Hayle: Tries – Humphries (31)
Cons –
Pens –

Yellow Cards: St Austell: Shepherd (28) Hayle: Hoskins (39)

Red Cards St Austell: None Hayle: None

Referee: Andrew Reynolds (CRRS)

Saints Man of the Match: Hugh Noott