The visitors outscored their hosts four tries to two but it was the deadly boot of fly-half Martin Strick that kept Penryn in touch. The Saints dominated the second half and really should have been out of sight by the time the home side snatched the win with a breakaway try with just over ten minutes remaining. Once in front an inspired Penryn clung onto the narrowest of leads to grab four vital points for their survival campaign.

Penryn won the toss and decided to play up the slope with the strong gusting wind at their backs. The home side started with conviction forcing the Saints into a succession of penalties and handling errors. Strick kicked two and narrowly missed with a third to put the home side 6-0 up after ten minutes. The visitors scored a well worked try with their first meaningful attack, the centres showed quick hands to unleash full back Sam Kendall into the corner (6-5). Borough regained the initiative after Saints’ hesitation at the restart let a loose ball bounce into Penryn hands. After moving through several phases Strick threw an outrageous dummy to side step under the posts (13-5). The Saints’ cause was hampered further when influential lock Mark Vian was forced from the field with a reoccurrence of his shoulder injury. His replacement Andy Inch entered the fray and scored a try with his first touch after a brilliant break from Cavan Boyer. The winger evaded several tacklers before popping up a pass to the supporting Inch to crash over. Cavan Boyer’s touchline conversion brought the Saints within one point of the home side (13-12). The visitors were now on top and threatened to score on several occasions before Cavan Boyer finished off good work by the forwards to squeeze in at the corner (13-17).

The second half got off to an explosive start when flanker Sam Rhodes caught the kick off before rampaging through the Penryn defence. Quick ball and a glorious pass by number eight George Knowles set winger Ben Chenoweth on his way to the corner (13-22). The Saints were now in a dominant mood and it seemed it would be only a matter of time before they scored a fifth try. A mixture of determined Penryn defence, with the home back row doing a sterling job to stem the tide and a tendency by the Saints to over complicate things in attack meant that the try never materialised. Strick chipped in another three points after a rare foray into Saints’ territory coughed up a penalty after a high tackle by the visitors. The game was turned on its head in the 67th minute when a Penryn counter attack ended under the posts. It started in fortuitous circumstances when a promising Saints attack was stopped by a Penryn hand. The knock on was unseen by the referee and the home side broke out of their 22 with conviction. There was nothing lucky with the rest of the move as good handling and clinical rucking created the space for Will Paine to dive over. Strick’s conversion put the home side 23-22 in front with just over ten minutes to go but try as they might the visitors could not crack a determined rear-guard action.

It was a disappointing end to what was an encouraging performance by the visitors, a five-point win would have ended the Saints’ own relegation worries. Nonetheless the two valuable bonus points picked up in the midst of the defeat should be enough to see the Saints to safety. Next week sees the last home league game of the season when Exeter University are the visitors to Tregorrick Park (KO 3pm).

Man of the Match Sam Rhodes: An eighty-minute performance bursting with energy and abrasive running. When Sam channels his aggression and retains his focus he is a force to be reckoned with at blindside.

Match Stats:
St Austell:
1 Peter Rowe; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Mark Martin; 4 Mark Vian; 5 Adam Kellow; 6 Sam Rhodes; 7 Will Gilder; 8 George Knowles; 9 Dan Jane; 10 Callum Wilson; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Shane Johns; 13 James Martin; 14 Cavan Boyer 15 Sam Kendall

Reps:
Max Duggan; Liam Freeman; Andy Inch

St Austell:
Tries – Sam Kendall (13); Andy Inch (22); Cavan Boyer (34); Ben Chenoweth (41)
Cons – Cavan Boyer (22)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Penryn:
Tries – Martin Strick (15); Will Paine (67)
Cons – Martin Strick (15, 67)
Pens – Martin Strick (2, 11, 60)
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Penryn: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Penryn: None

Referee: Mr Al Denham (Cornwall RRS)