It was Ladies Day at Tregorrick but for all the style and glamour off the field, it was an error strewn opening on the pitch for the home side. The opening exchanges were littered with unforced errors creating a stop-start affair that suited Chew Valley. The visitors were able to launch their big players in short bursts to put the Saints under pressure and took the lead with a short-range tap penalty on 15 minutes with number eight Dan Brooker crashing over. The home crowd were given the unusual sight of an extremely large tighthead prop Dean Brooker successfully thumping the conversion over (0-7). Things went from bad to worse for the Saints with a succession of clangers, that included a yellow card for George Tregilgas, resulting in a second converted try for Chew (0-14).

The home side finally found their rhythm and went through the phases with prop Matt Boothby finishing under the posts (7-14). With half time approaching a neat exchange of passes with number eight Adam Powell, allowed scrum half Dan Tyrrell to scythe through (12-14). Just as the Saints thought they had put themselves in touching distance a mix-up at the restart allowed Chew to nick a third try before the turnaround (12-19).

There were some stern words from coaches Neil Bayliss and Sam Parsons during the interval and with their voices still ringing in their ears, it was a different looking Saints that took the field for the second period. The home side upped the pace from the start, a desperate Chew defence lost number eight Brooker to the sinbin for a deliberate knock-on, but nothing was going to stop the home side. An explosive driving maul from a lineout routine was finished off by flanker Cam Taylor to set up the revival (17-19).

Not even a long-range penalty from the very large boot of the Chew kicker could dampen the Saints comeback (17-22). The Saints pack were now providing good quality from the set-pieces and in the loose to create wave after wave of attacks. An arcing run from full-back Archie Bees created the space for winger Jamie Stanlake to finish in the Sports Hall corner to tie things up at 22-22 on the hour mark. A move launched from a lineout allowed centre Ben Plummer to crash through under the posts, giving the Saints the lead for the first time in the match (29-22).

The home side’s dominance continued, and a lineout catch and drive that started 35m out trundled forward to just inside the 22 before the backs were unleashed with winger George Tregilgas diving over in the far corner. A touchline conversion from Chris Ashwin made it 36-22 with just eight minutes to go. Chew frustrations boiled over, and an ugly looking discourse resulted in a yellow card for Tom Daniel, and a second yellow for Chew’s Brooker. Thankfully the game will be remembered for the final Saints try, a brilliant solo effort from Cam Taylor. The flanker superbly jackalled the ball on halfway, and then powered through three Chew tacklers for a brilliant score in the corner. The home side were perhaps guilty of switching off too soon allowing the visitors to snatch a bonus point try with the last move of the game (41-27). However nothing should detract from a brilliant second half performance that puts the Saints up to fifth in Regional One SW.

Saints Star Player Cam Taylor – There were a number of candidates this week, scrum half Dan Tyrrell worked tirelessy during the difficult first period while forwards Matt Boothby, Tom Daniel, Adam Powell and Rory Jago wrestled the momentum firmly towards the Saints in the seond period. The standout display was from openside flanker Cam Taylor, hard tackling in defence and a powerful support in attack. An all action display rewarded with two tries with the second an early candidate for try of the season.