Match report by Steve Murley

Saturday 16th September 2023
Devonport Services 50 vs St Austell 24

Saints travelled to Rectory Field to take on Devonport Services in what promised to be another tough game. The fixture computer had made the Saints first three games against teams who had finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the previous season, an ideal opportunity to measure themselves against what should be the better sides this season.

Saints had a fantastic opportunity straight from the kick off as an obstruction gave them a penalty. Shunning the kick to goal, the ball was pumped to within 10m of the Services line. Saints were thwarted in their driving maul and a mis-placed kick to Dan Tyrell on the right wing sent off 3 minutes of “harum-scarum” rugby.

With both sides trying to move the ball wide and looking for space two things became clear that held true for the whole of the game. Firstly the ball was slippery and not easy to hang on to and second Services full back was Harrison Coonick would be real threat ball in hand as he made a burst from his own line through several Saints tackles being tackled just shy of Services 10m line.

Saints had the majority of play at this point, spending most of the 10 minutes or so in Services territory. It was from a high tackle on Matt Shepherd in the Services 22m area wide on the left hand touchline that a quick tap and go by the Saints Head Coach Shepherd, saw evergreen number 8 Kyle Marriott supporting on his shoulder to crash over the line
9 mins Services 0 – Saints 5 ( Kyle Marriott – Try )

Services response was immediate and clinical : looking slick in lineout, powerful in scrum and with Coonick making metres of ground every time he got the ball they turned the screw. Skipper Mark Vian found himself the wrong side of a ruck in front of the posts and saw yellow.
10 mins ( YC Mark Vian )

In a sensible piece of captaincy, Services, knowing Saints were one man, down went for the scrum and marched them back towards their line, only for the Saints to further infringe and concede a penalty try.
11 mins Services 7 – Saints 5 ( Services - Try )

Despite being a man down Saints persevered with their attacking brand of rugby. Sadly for them time and again kicks found, or were fed to Coonick who inevitably made ground. It was one of these breaks that the Saints were awarded a lineout in their own 22. Kyle Marriott secured possession well but a Services forward rampaged away with the ball before quick hands saw centre Thomas Davies burst through the middle and slide over the wet surface to score a try.
20 mins Services 14 – Saints 5 ( Thomas Davies Try – Kieran Down - Con )

Services began to throw their heavy runners more through the middle with Services number 8 Friend prominent especially off the back of the scrum. Despite this the Saints still looked well in the game and always threatened with ball in hand, although they never quite seemed to apply the clinical finish they were looking for. It was from a misplaced Saints lineout throw between their own 22m and 10m lines that the next points came. With Services gaining possession and attacking hard a high tackle was called and Down stepped up to slot 3 points.
The half ended with Services opting to kick several penalties to the corner where a robust Saints defence refused to yield and so prevented them taking advantage of several opportunities to increase their points tally.
27 mins Services 17 – Saints 5 ( Kieran Down - Penalty )
Half Time Services 17 – Saints 5

If the first half was entertaining I don’t think anyone expected the roller-coaster of points that the second half was to bring.

First flanker Akinrowo drove powerfully through the Saints midfield from good line out ball, the ball was recycled quickly to the left where Coonick with his colt-like rangy running went outside and through Saints defenders to score to the left of the posts with Down grabbing the extras
42 mins Services 24 – Saints 5 ( Harrison Coonick Try – Kieran Down - Con )

With Saints now under great pressure a missed kick to touch from within their 22 saw the ball swept to the right wing where Freddie Davies applied the finishing touches, with Down again converting
45 mins Services 31 – Saints 5 ( Freddie Davies Try – Kieran Down - Con )
46 mins ( Konor Ewudzi on – Dan Tyrell off )

After 6 minutes of the second half Saints had shipped 14 points and were rocking. It was a demonstration of the character and quality of this side that they cleared their heads and began to claw their way back. With Matt Boothby prominent and Marriott and Daniel hanging in the outside channels. A quick ball was moved wide to winger Max Bullen who was tackled high as he dived for the corner. The referee whistled and moved under the posts to award the penalty try to Saints before issuing a yellow card to Services scrum half Goldstone
48 mins Services 31 – Saints 12 ( Saints - Penalty Try )

Saints re-gathered the kick-off and immediately went wide. With Services defending well CJ Boyce launched a kick down field which skipped forward on the wet grass. Services flanker Taylor was covering , and as the ball tumbled over the try line was willing it to roll dead. No such thoughts from Saints flanker Cam Taylor who chased brilliantly to dive on the ball right under the defender’s nose, a great example of chasing down kicks, and a real lift to the Saints.
49 mins Services 31 – Saints 17 ( Cam Taylor - Try )

Saints now had their tails up , Shepherd was subjected to a high tackle from the kick off and his quickly taken tap and go saw him make good ground before slotting a fine kick down the left hand touchline. Saints competed hard on the Services 22 and the hooker, maybe under pressure, threw the ball in crooked. Saints took the scrum and Shepherd took a lovely loop pass from centre Parsons to feed winger Ewudzi who showed great feet and power to storm over the line. A wonderful comeback but not yet completed and the Saints were feeling as if they were in the ascendancy as the gap closed to 7 points
52 mins Services 31 – Saints 24 ( Konor Ewudzi – Try Matt Shepherd - Con )

With 5 tries scored in 13 minutes the crowd were certainly getting their money worth. From the restart Saints gathered well and tried a dink over the onrushing Services defence just outside their 22m. Unfortunately Saints backs had got in front of the kicker. Services kicked for the lineout and went for the drive but Saints defended well forcing Services to release the ball to their backs.
It was that man Coonick who took the pass from the Services 9, breaking the first line of defence he drew in the covering Saints before slipping a one handed pass to the left wing Matthew Richards
56 mins Services 36 – Saints 24 ( Matthew Richards – Try )

Saints had their work cut out once again and took off young prop Matt Boothby to be replaced by veteran Mark Martin
58 mins ( Mark Martin on – Matt Boothby – off )

While Saints huffed and puffed and Services also had their chances, the game seemed to enter a bit of a lull and centred around the midfield for the next 10 minutes or so. Saints knew that they needed 2 converted tries to draw level and undoubtedly went for these but didn’t really look likely to score, neither did Services as both defences cancelled out attacks
64 mins ( Jake Clifford on – Tony Knight – off )

With time running out Saints again tried to run the ball from their 22. Unfortunately the ball went to ground and Services centre Crawford hacked through to dive on the ball under the posts. In that same move Max Bullen took a heavy knock to the ankle that meant he had to leave the field to be replaced by Dan Tyrell
72 mins Services 43 – Saints 24 ( Shaun Crawford – Try Kieran Down – Con )
73 mins ( Dan Tyrell on – Max Bullen – off )

Saints once again responded well and launched several waves that crashed against a stern Services defence. From a Services scrum just inside the Saints half, number 8 Friend launched another hard drive. The ball was taken on by Millward driving into the heart of the Saints midfield before off-loading to supporting scrum half Dan Goldstone who forced his way over.
78 mins Services 50 – Saints 24 ( Daniel Goldstone – Try Kieran Down – Con )

The game ended with Saints once again attacking Services line but there were to be no more scores
Full Time Services 50 – Saints 24

Saints can have no complaints about the result against a well organised Services side. They have now played 3 of last season’s top 4 and have been left in no doubt as to the step up in performance, application and physicality this league demands. That said it is early days and the coaches will be delighted to have taken 3 try bonus points against such strong opponents.

Saints play current 3rd placed team Exmouth on Saturday 23rd at Tregorrick and will be looking to have a good weeks training before once again trying to record their first win of the season.