The converted try scored soon after the kick-off ultimately proved the difference between two evenly matched sides in an entertaining encounter played in atrocious conditions. Huge credit must go to the Club’s ground staff whose careful management of the Tregorrick pitch ensured it was able to withstand everything Storm Frank threw at it over the Christmas period to become one of the few sporting venues in the South West to host a fixture. The large hardy crowd who braved the elements were richly rewarded with a keenly fought contest that could have gone either way. Kingsbridge deservedly edged the fixture by taking the few opportunities that came their way and maintaining an air tight defence in a tense final quarter.

The Saints endured a traumatic opening to the game when Kingsbridge harnessed the howling wind and driving rain to force a knock on at the restart to regain the ball. The visiting forwards progressed into the home 22 through a series of purposeful drives sucking in defenders along the way. The ball was then spun wide with a flowing handling move that belied the conditions that was finished in the corner by winger George Banfield. The touchline conversion from fly half Ben Newman left the stunned hosts 7-0 down with barely two minutes on the clock. Matters went from bad to worse at the restart when talismanic number 8 Adam Kellow was forced from the field after an accidental clash of knees. The Saints recovered from the early setbacks to frustrate their opponents by retaining the ball for long periods. Kingsbridge frequently used the wind to kick for territory only for the Saints to grind their way back up field. The pattern continued for much of the half and the home side were looking comfortably until the Devonians ruthlessly exploited a fortuitous penalty award on 34 minutes. A stray boot from a late Kingsbridge arrival at a ruck kicked the ball through onto the St Austell side. The home side were penalised for supposed hands in the ruck, a rare mistake from the Official who otherwise played a key part in an entertaining game. A thundering kick to touch took Kingsbridge from halfway to just 10m from the try line. The catch and drive stuttered forward at first put soon the maul become unstoppable in the mud with 12 blue shirts driving it onwards. Number 8 Jack Cope gained the plaudits under the pile of bodies to make the half time score 12-0.

It was Kingsbridge’s turn to frustrate their hosts as the Saints looked to chase down the lead. The home side enjoyed plenty of possession but the visitors forced them to play their rugby in the wrong areas of the field. It took until the hour mark before the Saints exerted prolonged pressure in the visitors’ 22 and it was their dominant scrum that gained the breakthrough. A powerful surge by the home pack was stopped illegally and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try (7-12). The Saints mounted wave after wave of attacks but Kingsbridge stubbornly refused to yield under the pressure. With time ticking away the Saints were camped on the Kingsbridge 5m but a loss of patience led to a penalty and a chance for the visitors to clear. Kingsbridge retained the ball at the subsequent lineout and sensibly ran down the clock to secure a hard fought and just about deserved victory.
Although disappointed, the home side can reflect on another spirited performance against one of the top sides in the league. The scrum platform continues to provide good ball and it was a wonderful boost to see centre Curtis Newberry return to the fray after recovering from a serious injury sustained in November 2014. Next week the Saints face a tough assignment in Devon when they take on a rejuvenated Cullompton (KO 2:15pm).

Saints’ Man of the Match: Miles Davey – An inspirational display from the Saints’ skipper who led from the front throughout. A huge tackle count and together with his front row colleagues delivered a dominant scrum platform against a bigger pack to prove technique and heart beats size any day.

Match Stats:

St Austell:
1 Peter Rowe; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Mark Martin; 4 Will Gilder; 5 Josh Phillips; 6 Peter Wheeler; 7 Jack Grigg; 8 Adam Kellow; 9 Dan Jane; 10 Andy Ashwin; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Shane Johns; 13 Sam Rhodes; 14 James Martin; 15 Callum Wilson

Reps:
Andrew Inch; Curtis Newberry; George Knowles

St Austell:
Tries – Penalty Try (62)
Cons – Andy Ashwin (62)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Kingsbridge:
Tries – George Banfield (2); Jack Cope (34)
Cons – Ben Newman (2)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: Josh Philips (64)
Kingsbridge: Mike Powell (64)

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Kingsbridge: None

Referee: Mr James Milliner (Cornwall RRS)