Saints won the toss allowing Services to kick off but ceded the initiative when a knock on marked the start of a torrid first 10 minutes for the visitors. Services launched a series of scrums and lineout drives battering away at the Saints line. Whenever the Saints cleared their lines, veteran Services fly half Matt Anstis coolly pushed them back into their 22 to continue the siege. Saints defended superbly with teenage centre Billy Jones proving to be a tenacious tackler on his first team debut and playing his full part in a well organised Cornish defence that denied Services any clear cut chances.

With Saints defensive lineout beginning to come into its own and Adam Kellow, Andy Inch and Mark Vian competing well on opposition ball, the Saints began to see more of the ball. On 17 minutes the visitors hit the home side against the run of play with a set move that put winger Sam Rhodes galloping through the centre of the pitch on the halfway line. Centre James Martin ran a good support line and showed great appetite by dragging a defender over the line to open the scoring close to the posts and allowing Andy Ashwin a straightforward conversion (0-7).

In the 27th minute and with Saints enjoying more of the possession and territory, it appeared that the Services storm had been ridden out, but that notion was soon dispelled. A turnover of a Saints ball in the Services 22 led to a magnificent break down their right wing. The ball was kept alive well through several pairs of hands and it was flying winger, Lewis Chick, who finished off the move in the left hand corner. Anstis slotted the touchline conversion magnificently to tie the scores (7-7).

An unwise comment to the referee in the aftermath of the try led to a penalty awarded to Services from the restart and the prolific Anstis just failed to put it over from the half way line. The Saints fullback Callum Wilson, excelling in an unfamiliar role due to the Saints burgeoning injury list, returned the ball some 50 yards with a thumping touch kick. In the 37th minute of the half a tremendous driving run by Jack Grigg was stopped on the Services 22, a ruck developed and a side entry was penalised. Ashwin again kicked the points to leave Saints ahead 10 – 7 at the break.

The second half saw Hugh Noot replace Kyle Gallacher for his first game of the season. Kyle has been one the youngsters who has impressed at training and in the Sinners. As a prop the experience he is gaining week on week will hold him on good stead as he begins his Saints career. Within 3 minutes of the start winger Sam Rhodes dotted down after an 8-9-centre combination had put him clear. Many supporters will know Sam loves contact but here he showed great footwork spinning away from two defenders in ghost-like fashion. With the conversion missed Saints now found themselves 15 – 7 ahead
Services are worthy league leaders and responded with a period of intense pressure. Saints defensive effort really stepped up now with Andrew Inch, Will Gilder and Jack Grigg to the forefront making hit after hit and turning ball over. It was a towering 50m clearance kick from Kellow that brought about the next score. Mark Vian soared high to win opposition ball from the resulting lineout just outside the opposition 22 and, after a series of drives, Ashwin knocked over the drop goal to ensure that Saints visit to the opposition 22 had not been in vain (7-18).

Services rallied again but their efforts were once more floundering on Cornish granite. A fantastic kick and chase downfield from his own 22 by inspirational skipper Miles Davey saw Services scrambling in the shadow of their posts. Saints regained possession and while a more composed effort may have brought a try they retained possession well until a Services player again strayed offside at a ruck giving Ashwin the chance to score the last points of the game (7-21). The game was played out with Services desperate to cross the Saints line, spurning kickable penalties as they looked to impose their catch and drive but to no avail. In this frantic finale Sam Rhodes saw yellow for persistent off-side but still the Saints line held firm. The dying moments saw the defining image off the match. With the game lost Services mounted a final attack in search of a consolation try and looked to have created a certain try for winger Chick. That was until the Saints’ openside Jack Grigg flew into the tackle and then turnover the ball to bring the curtain down on a first away win of the season.

This was another upward step on a steep learning curve for the Saints. While the younger players acquitted themselves well it was the experienced heads of Kellow, Ashwin, Grigg and Davey that provided the examples to follow. Saints will be pleased with the win and now know that to win a game at this level it is as important what you do when you do not have the ball as when you attack with it. The Saints have a bye in the first round of the County Cup next week so do not have a game. A welcome respite for the walking wounded and a chance for the physios to work their magic on a long injury list ahead of the Cornish derby against Truro on 10 October 2015.

Match Stats:

St Austell:
1 Peter Rowe; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Kyle Gallacher; 4 Andrew Inch; 5 Mark Vian; 6 Jack Grigg; 7 Will Gilder; 8 Adam Kellow; 9 Callum Hayne; 10 Andy Ashwin; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Billy Jones; 13 James Martin; 14 Sam Rhodes; 15 Callum Wilson

Reps:
Hugh Noott; Josh Phillips; Treve Murley

St Austell:
Tries – James Martin (17); Sam Rhodes (45)
Cons – Andy Ashwin (17)
Pens – Andy Ashwin (37, 51)
Drop Goal – Andy Ashwin (66)

Devonport Services:
Tries – Lewis Chick (27),
Cons – Matt Anstis (27)
Pens – None
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Sam Rhodes (72)
Devonport Services: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Devonport Services: None

Saints’ Man of the Match: Andrew Inch – Playing as a lock he imposed himself in the loose and made a massive contribution in the set piece.