By Gareth Davies - Sports Journalist.
Photo - Credit Dave Phillips - No.10 Archie Bees.

Regional Tribute 2 South West

St Austell (21) 28
North Petherton (6) 13

St Austell are the early Regional Tribute 2 South West pacesetters after an error-strewn win over North Petherton at Tregorrick Park.
With wet conditions and a swirling wind hampering both sides’ attacking ambitions, the maximum five-point triumph for Saints was thoroughly deserved, even if Kyle Marriott’s men were far from fluent on this, the opening day of 22-23.

The home triumph was due in no small part to a strong first half showing in which three converted tries were recorded with Pethy managing just six points from the boot of fly-half Mitch Needham.

Josh Frost’s intercept score 13 minutes into the second stanza hauled the visitors right back into contention and it wasn’t until Marriott scooted over from close range to secure the bonus point late on that Saints could breath easy.

With Marriott and his troops looking to erase the painful memories of a poor end to last term, in which the side missed out on promotion to level five and finished fourth in the old South West (One) West, the Tregorrick Chief has been able to keep almost all his squad intact. Both Adam Kellow and Hugh Noott have decided to hang up their collective boots but this news has been tempered with the return to first team action of both Hector Bright and Rob Jeffs.

Such is Saints’ strength across their senior division, Club Captain Tony Knight, along with first team regulars Fraser Nottle and Alex Welland both played for the second sinners team at St Ives.

On long-serving hooker Miles Davey’s 200th game for St Austell, the hosts made a lightning start in front of a healthy crowd. With fly-half Arche Bees kicking to Pethy, playing towards the Tregorrick end in the first half, the Somerset outfit were soon penalised for holding on.
Matt Shepherd kicked the ball into the corner and from the resulting line-out drive, Flanker Rob Jeffs dotted down. Shepherd kicked the extras and Saints were already on the march.

Despite North Petherton looking strong at scrum time, Saints doubled their advantage just shy of the 20 minute mark in what the away side felt was fortunate circumstances. Winger Danny Tyrell sniped away down the short side and did just enough to stay in play. North Petherton’s merry flag waver said Tyrell had a foot in touch and with the visitors appealing but the referee saying play on, Shepherd powered his way down the middle to score under the sticks.

Pethy finally got themselves on the board shortly after when Saints were penalised for not rolling away, and after being marched a further 10 metres back for something that was said to the referee, Needham kicked over a penalty over from bang in front.

Saints demonstrated a glimpse of what they are capable of 10 minutes before the break but sadly a forward pass chalked off what would have been an early contender for Try of the Season. Ben Plummer broke from inside his own 22 and found Shepherd supporting just over half way. An ankle tap denied the former Redruth and Plymouth Albion man and Tyrell was on hand to pick up but sadly, the final pass to Bees, which he did wonderfully well to gather and then finish, was ruled forward by the merry whistle blower.

Bees was heavily involved in Saints’ third try which finally came four minutes before the turnaround. The young fly-half broke free after Marriott seized on a loose ball and after drawing the cover defence, Max Bullen was on hand to race in. Shepherd’s third conversion from as many attempts had Saints well in control.

Ill-discipline cost the side another three points in the dying embers of the first half as Needhan duly obliged for the second time.

After half-time, the game descended into a real scrappy affair and home nerves started to jangle when Griffin read the ball perfectly to intercept and score what turned out to be North Petherton’s only try which Needhan converted.

Try as the visitors might, they could not score again to make a real game of things and with Konnor Ewudzi introduced from the replacements bench to give Saints an added dimension in attack and defence, victory was wrapped up by Marriott two minutes from time.

The win sees Saints looking down on the rest at the summit and intriguingly, next up is a long trip to face Sherborne with the North Dorset outfit the only other club to register a five-point win on the opening day.

Saints: Boyer, Bullen, Shepherd, Plummer, Tyrell, Bees, Boyce; Job, Davey, Haque, Vian, Inch, Jeffs, C Taylor, Marriott. Replacements: Boothby, Bright, Ewudzi (all used).

Tries: Jeffs (1), Shepherd (19), Bullen (36), Marriott (78). Conversions: Shepherd 4/4

Sinbin: Vian (80) deliberate knock-on.

North Petherton: Rees, Griffin, Frost, Cowley, Stevens, Needham, Conybeare; Morgan, Williams, Filipe, Walbank, Perkins, Ellis, M Taylor, J Taylor. Replacements: Prescott, Villis, Tripconey (all used).

Try: Frost (53). Conversion: Needhan 1/1 Penalties: Needhan 2/2

Scoring sequence: 7-0, 14-0, 14-3, 21-3, 21-6; 21-13, 28-13.

Attendance: 500 (est)

St Austell RFC does not give permission for this article to be re-produced unless credit is given to the Author, Sports Journalist Gareth Davies.

IN OTHER NEWS:
1. Still some lunch seats left although a number have sold out. Please click HERE for more info on how to book.
2. Those of you that attended the game this Saturday will have learned that Frosties Ruck 'n' Maul is now a proper outside food and drink outlet. No more trekking up and down the steps balancing pints with 3 bags of port scratchings gripped in your teeth! Instead you can walk a few yards to the Ruch 'n' Maul and get alcoholic or soft drinks plus burgers, dogs, cheesy chips etc.
3. Finally - The club raised £400 on Saturday during the game (collection and the club's share of the 50:50 for this years chosen charity, Cornwall Hospice. Huge thanks to all that gave, and look out for other events in support of this.
4. Who wants to come to Sherborne next Saturday? If reason enough is that myself and Rob Daniel are travelling on it, then how about Sherborne's game last Saturday producing 84 points, in a what must have been nail-biter of a game, so this is going to be worth jumping on the bus to watch. It's £10 for the trip as a passenger, and the bus leaves the club cap park at 1015 sharp, returning probably mid-evening.