Saints Pass Camels Test

Report by Ian Grantham
Photo by kind permission of Dave Phillips – Cam Taylor stopping Darren Livett from making progress.

Saints welcomed Wadebridge Camels to Tregorrick Park on a cold, dry and often sunny January day. With St Austell Rugby Clubs’ facilities tested to the limit fielding three home teams and one of the biggest Cornish Derby days in the 22/23 rugby calendar, the club was buzzing with activity after one of its toughest periods in recent history, with most all the membership and wider community joining 1000+ mourners to lay ex-Club Captain and friend Rob ‘Guppy’ Pollard to rest the day before at Truro Cathedral.

The Saints started brightly by taking the lead in 4 minutes, but Camels had not turned up to play a minor part in this unfolding story, grabbing a try back soon after. A further try apiece had the Saints forming a half-time huddle in unfamiliar territory, that being down by a point 12-13. The second half was a brighter affair for the Saints, as they shook themselves down and scored a further 4 unanswered tries to take the bonus point win 36-13.

The rain that seems to have battered mid-Cornwall for so long stopped just in time for the Tregorrick pitch to dry out enough to allow a wider running game. It took just 4 minutes for the faster game theory to be proven correct. A Camel’s chip over the top and chase that went too long was gathered by Full-Back Matt Shepherd who returned it with interest to just outside the Camels twenty-two. The recycled ball was moved slickly towards Konnor Ewudzi on the wing who nonchalantly beat two defenders to run close to the posts to score. Shepherd added the conversion.

4’ 7-0 (Try - Ewudzi, Conversion - Shepherd).

Camels, spurred on by the shock of being breached so early, worked their way down field towards the gym end. The resolute Saints defence, apparent all season, needed something a little special to crack it. Camels Fly-Half Daniel Thomas delivered just that, with a deft chip from the outside of his boot over the Saints back line. It was weighted perfectly for Full Back Oliver Aggiss to gather and score. Thomas was unable to add the conversion.

9’ 7-5 (Try – Aggiss, Missed Conversion – Thomas).

Play moved to the central third as two evenly matched sides tested each other. Camels enjoyed more of the possession, as the Saints discipline was questioned numerous times by Somerset Referee Nick Heath, who kept rod-like control over proceedings throughout. It took until the 22nd minute for the scoreboard to move again and it was in Saints favour. A solid Saints scrum, that would translate into ‘dominant’ as the match progressed, allowed Fly Half Chris Ashwin good ball. Sam Parsons linked up running a blistering line, which took him into and over Camels Scrum Half Owen Wilson before being felled. The recycled ball found Shepherd who drew in the last man before popping to Winger Cavan Boyer who scored in the Ruck’n’Maul corner. Shepherd just strays right with the conversion.

22’ 12-5 (Try – Boyer, Conversion missed by Shepherd).

Camels from the re-start looked to claw their way back down the field. Within 3 minutes of the Saints putting a little light between the two sides, Camels decide that another infringement should be punished with 3 points, which they do.

25’ 12-8 (Penalty – Thomas).

The next score could have gone either way, and it went to Camels with a well worked try. Live-wire Scrum Half Owen Wilson produced a long looping pass that missed out four Camels in the back line, finding Full Back Aggiss. Aggiss drew in danger man Shepherd before popping to Hooker Matt Ballard who produced a blinder of a pass to Wing Dominic Hawkey. The Winger had just enough momentum to get the ball down by the flag. Thomas missed a difficult conversion.

36’ 12-13 (Try – Hawkey, missed conversion – Thomas).

One final scoring opportunity, that would have had the Saints going into half time with a marginal lead, was an infringement by Camels within kicking distance. Shepherd stepped up but by the closest of margins missed. Half time was called and the Saints huddled, a point down, and with plenty to talk about and address.

Half Time – 12-13.

The mid-point team talk had to include the theme of sorting the discipline out. Whatever was said worked! 8 minutes into the second half and in the shadow of the Camels posts, Saints choose a scrum after an infringement. The first scrum sends the Camels backwards but unsafely against the left post, so referee Heath rightly resets to the left. This time the Camels pack holds, so No.8 Kyle Marriott picks and goes, draws in Thomas and pops to Shepherd to run under the posts. Shepherd adds the conversion and the lead is restored.

48’ 19-13 (Try and Conversion – Shepherd).

Substitutions start as returnee Ben Plummer, who had great returns from numerous surging runs and whose tackling was unforgiving, was spelled by Dan Tyrrell. Play settled for a period but Saints were clearly starting to turn the screw without the sun in their eyes and using the very gentle slope of Tregorrick. Captain Mark Vian, who was imperious throughout at the line out, rose once more some 10 metres from the Camels line. The ensuing maul went laterally at first until gently meeting the post straightened it up and Charlie Nicholson went to ground to score. Shepherd adds two more points via the conversion. This also earned St Austell the all-important winning bonus point.

61’ 26-13 (Try - Nicholson, Conversion – Shepherd).

Chances to widen the score difference came thick and fast, with Tyrrell presented with a one on one that was well handled by his opposite number, and Sam Parsons on yet another crash ball that got him over the line but adjudged held up. Another try did come after a Camels infringement close to their line. Marriott tapped quickly to be brought back by Referee Heath. Camels still seemed to be getting organised as Marriott tapped again, this time popping quickly to Boyer on his right who laid off the ball rapidly to the waiting Tyrrell to dive over by the gym end flag. Shepherd missed the tricky 2 on offer.

76’ 31-13 (Try- Tyrrell, Missed Conversion – Shepherd)

The final try came from a deft pass from Tyrrell to substitute Flanker Rory Jago who surged through the Camels defence. Once brought down the recycled ball found Shepherd cutting a line with only Aggiss to dummy to score. Shepherd missed the conversion and soon after Nick Heath brought a hotly contested Cornish Derby to a close with a final score of 36-13.

80’ 36-13 (Try Shepherd, missed Conversion – Shepherd).
Full Time – 36-13.

A sterner test was arguably what the Saints required as they move into the crucial part of the season with six league games to play, including visiting our friends at Crediton. With other fixtures in the Regional 2 Tribute Southwest lost to frozen or waterlogged ground, Saints were able to build up a 17-point lead over Crediton, but they do have two games in hand. It’s still all to play for and the Saints will take nothing for granted.

Spartans also played at home against Falmouth 2nd XV in a friendly fixture. Whilst the 48-0 score line suggests otherwise, reports from pitch side would have the two teams reasonably matched but with Spartans taking their chances more effectively. The try-scorers were Hugh Noott, Matt Trahair, Adam Whitehead, Luke Ripley, Tom Spry, Zak Chenoweth, Tom Honks and Henry Hutchinson. Tom Spry added four conversions.

Next Saturday the Saints hit the road as they travel to Bridgwater & Albion. There is a coach with seats for a limited number of supporters available. Please contact Al Cummins on social media or text/call/WhatsApp on 07902 216417 to grab some.

Yours in Rugby

Ian Grantham