For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the sun shone on a match day. A strong looking Saints side took the field under bright blue skies against the picturesque backdrop of Dartmoor. The visitors got off to the worst possible start, conceding a converted try straight from the kick-off after an attempted exit kick was charged down.

The Saints responded well to the set back to start moving the ball with speed and confidence forcing the home side to stray offside. Matt Shepherd slotted the penalty to chalk up the first of what would become a personal tally of thirty points (7-3). The Saints were now in their stride playing at a tempo Ivy were struggling to contain. Over complication of a lineout routine resulted in a forward pass that rightly disallowed the try. The Saints were not to be denied and despite playing in the unaccustomed role of outside centre, Matt Shepherd was enjoying the freedom and the space the position offered. He was the beneficiary of some sublime passing from partner in crime Sam Parsons and twice the Saints talisman was able to rip through the Ivy defence and kick the conversions to put the visitors in front (7-17). The centre pairing combined again to break the gain line and lightening quick hands by Dan Tyrrell produced the perfect pass for number eight Adam Powell to touch down.

The Saints now had a commanding 7-22 lead at the 20-minute mark to leave the home side stunned. The Ivy supporters were fearing the worst when another promising Saints attack almost saw winger Peter Tuckley score in the corner. The Saints decided to crack open a Curate’s egg with Ivybridge finding gaping holes on the halfway line to score two carbon copy tries in two minutes to pull the score back to 21-22 with half time just five minutes. A brilliant individual run by Matt Shepherd to complete his hattrick restored some order for the Saints (21-29). Fly-half Chris Ashwin looked to have scored right on half-time, but the try was disallowed for crossing in the build-up.

The Saints made a fast start to the second half, a quick lineout and even quicker hands across the backline allowed full-back Archie Bees to tear through the Ivy defence (21-36). Flanker Rory Jago had already fallen victim to a dead leg in the first half and he was now joined in the sickbay by skipper Mark Vian, who was finding the artificial playing surface too unforgiving for an injured ankle, and prop Ben Woodmansey with a shoulder strain. With three props now on the field it meant a reshuffle of the pack with centre Sam Parsons drafted in to fill the vacancy at blindside flanker and Ben Plummer taking his place in the centre. Initially it had no impact on the Saints who proceeded to pull Ivybridge from one edge to the other before winger Dan Tyrrell scampered over for the visitors’ sixth try (21-43). A rare visit to the Saints 22 saw Ivybridge grab a bonus point when the ball squirted out of the side of a wheeling scrum giving the home blindside the easiest try he will ever score (28-43).

The opportunities kept coming and Peter Tuckley became the third Saint to have a try chalked off when Archie Bees was adjudged to put a foot in touch as he supplied the pass inside. Pete Harris was bundled over but held up although the hooker was sure he grounded the ball. Ivybridge set pulses racing again when a well worked move saw them close the gap again with five-minute remaining (35-43). Any thoughts of an unlikely comeback were soon dismissed when Archie Bees breezed through for his second try of the afternoon. Matt Shepherd’s conversion brought the curtain down on an entertaining game to make the final score 35-50.

Next week is the eagerly anticipated Cornish derby with Launceston travelling to Tregorrick for what promises to be a compelling contest on Saturday 8th March 2025, kick off at 2:30pm.