ST AUSTELL kept a tight grip on the second promotion spot in the Cornwall & Devon League with a bonus point victory over a resilient Honiton at a windswept Tregorrick Park.

Despite Saints playing with the elements in their favour it was the visitors who started the stronger and kept the ball among their powerful forwards, but despite having most of the territory and possession the St Austell defence held on and slowly started to turn the tide.

Although counter-attacking from deep the Saints' backs always looked dangerous and finally with half an hour played it paid dividends. From a line-out on halfway, Saints' second row Sean Haley took a quick ball which enabled centre James Earp to receive the ball in space. He broke the gain line before off-loading to co-centre Craig Taylor who raced in under the posts to leave scrum Matt Shepherd an easy conversion for a 7-0 lead.

The Saints moved up a gear for the rest of the first half and instead of waiting for things to happen took the game to Honiton. On the stroke of half-time Saints doubled their lead with the try of the match. First the forwards drove from a line-out and with the visitors on the back foot the ball was spun out to the backs and full back Ian Venner came into the line at pace to make ground. He then threw a sublime long pass which winger Alex Welland took without breaking stride and turned the last defender one way then the other to score over in the corner. This time scrum half, Shepherd was left with a difficult kick wide out, but it made no difference as it sailed through the posts for a 14-0 lead.

The second half began the same as the first with St Austell soaking up the visitors' attacks and, although on top in terms of territory, Honiton rarely threatened the Saints line. If Honiton had a slight edge in the scrums, St Austell were in charge of the lineouts with hooker Harvey Morcom finding his jumpers and this was the basis for many of the Saints' attacks.

Once again after soaking up pressure St Austell broke out of their own half and when the visitors were penalised close to their own line, Saints' No 8 Paul Winterbottom took a quick tap to himself and rolled out of the tacklers to score and put Saints 19-0 up with 15 minutes left. Saints had the luxury of bringing last year's skipper Adam Kellow off the bench in search of the bonus point and with one more try needed, they lay siege to the Honiton line.

Finally, with time running out Rob Jeffs took a line-out five yards out and passed to Shepherd, who scampered down the blind side and squeezed over in the corner for the bonus point try.

Although not at their best Saints were made to work hard by a spirited Honiton team and to stop the visitors scoring is a tribute to the defensive work Saints have put in over the season.