These two sides seem to bring the best out of each other whenever they have met over the last two seasons. This encounter was no exception as they served up an enthralling and entertaining game in front of a large and appreciative crowd at Astely Park. Both Clubs play high tempo attacking rugby which saw the momentum swing one way and then the other leaving the result in doubt right up to the final minute. It is fitting that the try of the day proved to be the difference, but it was hard on the Saints who had shown great heart and no little skill to match promotion chasing Brixham.

The game kicked off in difficult conditions with the Saints playing up the slope into a strong gusting wind. The visitors almost had a dream start with three scoring opportunities in as many minutes but were thwarted each time by some stalwart home defending. Flyhalf Mitch Pinkus settled home nerves by slotting a penalty to put Brixham in front after the Saints had strayed offside (3-0). Having weathered the early storm, the hosts began to stamp their authority on the game to score two tries in quick succession. The first came after The Fishermen built up a head of steam to patiently stretch the Saints defence enabling flanker Jason Capaldi to score out wide (8-0). The home side’s next score was a tad fortuitous but underlined the importance of a determined kick chase even if it initially looks like a lost cause. A wind assisted clearance kick went from one 22 to the other, causing a slight hesitation in the home defence. This was compounded by a miscued kick providing easy pickings for winger Matt Crosscombe who had sprinted 60m to make sure he was on hand for any mistake.

The Saints were now 15-0 down in as many minutes and the home support were eagerly anticipating their favourites would go on to build a big score. It was crucial the Cornishmen scored next to retain a foothold in the game and they started to put the home side under huge pressure. One passage of play contained 21 phases and with the Brixham defence becoming increasingly desperate, the penalties started to rack up. Flanker Rory Jago was almost through only to be taken out with a high tackle resulting in a second final warning for the home side. The Saints elected for the scrum and a well drilled blindside move was finished by winger George Tregilgas. Shepherd’s touchline conversion made it 15-7 with 31 minutes gone. Pinkus and Shepherd exchanged penalties to make the half time score 18-10.

The Saints started to exert themselves in the third quarter and a Shepherd penalty on 50 minutes closed the gap (18-13). Hooker Pete Harris peeled off from a catch and drive to deliver a deserved try for the visitors to tie things up at 18-18. Unfortunately, the Saints fluffed their lines at the restart when a misplaced pass turned a routine clearance to a moment of panic. Brixham’s chasers where again quickly on the scene to charge down the kick and score under the posts (25-18). The Saints pack were now beginning to hold sway in the scrum and the maul, and another powerful drive had the Brixham forwards backpedalling at a rate of knots. Matt Shepherd received the ball in space and cut back against the defensive grain to score in the corner. The fly-half’s superb touchline conversion made it all square with 15 minutes remaining (25-25). The Saints went in search of the winning score and pounded away but just could not carve out a clear-cut opportunity. With two minutes remaining the visitors were left stunned when Brixham launched a superb flowing counterattack off quick ball from a 40m lineout (32-25).

The winning try was a fitting finale to a brilliant game and both sides deserve great credit for overcoming the elements to make it an entertaining contest. The Saints were very close to pulling off a famous victory and will feel a solitary consolatory bonus point was scant reward for all their efforts. To compound matters the team were denied a night out on the Plymouth Barbican when the coach broke down or route. A party was held in a lay-by in South Devon awaiting the arrival of a fleet of taxis to get everyone home for Christmas. This could the inspiration for a follow-up Yuletide single for Chris Rea!

The Saints next game is at Tregorrick when Matson travel down from Gloucester on Saturday 4th January 2025.

Saints Player of the Match: Matt Shepherd. The Saints flyhalf steadied his charges when Brixham went ahead in the first quarter. A titan in defence and threatening in attack, Shep chalked up a well taken try alongside some excellent place kicking in difficult conditions. With two attempted decapitations, he was on the receiving end of some targeted attention from the Brixham defence.