A large and noisy crowd, fortified by an excellent pre-match supporters lunch, enjoyed an enthralling contest in the Sharps Brewery sponsored Western Counties West tussle which saw Saints eventually come out on top against a very competitive Burnham-on-Sea RFC.

Before the kick-off players and spectators stood with heads bowed in the late summer sunshine throughout an impeccable minutes silence to pay tribute and remember several members of our extended Saints family who had recently and sadly passed away. It was a poignant moment reminding us all that while rugby is important, it is after all is said and done, just a game.

Saints Director of Rugby Andy Ashwin kicked off from the Sports Hall end to get the 2016/17 home season underway. This was a special game for the Ashwin family as younger brother Chris made his Saints debut in the centre. Andy is one of the club's finest ever players and it was a lovely moment for him and Chris to play in the same team for the first time in 10 years.

Most of the early action was in the Burnham half with Saints retaining possession and moving the ball wide when they could. A combination of Burnham defence and Saints over eagerness saw several opportunities missed. After 12 minutes a well-executed Burnham move saw a long lineout ball moved to the visiting 12, Russ Pike, who burst through several weak tackles to score. The conversion was missed to make the score Saints 0 Burnham 5.

Saints once again put Burnham under pressure, enjoying the lion’s share of both possession and position but another turnover saw the ball moved the width of the field before a fine 50 yard finish by winger Matt Love saw him out run the Saints defence, with the conversion missed Burnham led Saints after 26 minutes by 10 point to 0.
Even at this early stage of the game, the next score looked vital and it was Saints who came up with it. Drives by Rhodes and Kellow took them deep in opposition territory and from a scrum a simple but perfectly executed 8, 9, winger overlap saw rumbustious winger James Martin dive over in the corner. The extra points weren’t taken and after 30 minutes the score was Saints 5 Burnham 10.

With the crowd urging them on and encouraged by their recent success Saints drove back at Burnham from the restart. Props Peter Rowe and “Choppy” Martin were now in rampaging form supported by veterans Kellow and Pearce who added their considerable power and guile to the play. Saints went through the phases with backs and forwards probing and retaining the ball well, until young number 8, Max Duggan found himself in space wide on the left wing and dived over. The kick was again unsuccessful but after 35 minutes Saints had broken even at 10 apiece.

If Saints thought that they had quelled the Burnham efforts then a fumble at the kick off made them think again. Burnham re-gathered and scrumhalf Sam Lewis set off on a brilliant jinking run to dot down under the posts. He then followed up by converting his own try to make the half time score Saints 10 Burnham 17.

The second half began with Saints once again in the ascendancy, Andy Ashwin picked a pass to put Liam Freeman through a gaping hole and his excellent off load to supporting captain Miles Davey allowed him to romp to the line. Chris Ashwin opened his Saints scoring account by converting and the scores were level after 44 minutes at 17 all.

This time the Saints did not let up. Inch and Chenoweth made good ground whilst popular hooker Adam Barbery was always close to the action snaffling much of the ball that went loose. With Saints rampant it was Rhodes who appeared at the bottom of a forward drive after 55 minutes with the try that sent Saints ahead for the first time Saints 22 Burnham 17.

Saints now pressed home their advantage as Burnham appeared to tire a little and following a period of good possession and excellent handling the ball flowed across the pitch for winger Martin to score his second try of the game. With Chris Ashwin making the conversion Saints led 29 – 17 after 75 minutes.

Whist it appeared to many in the ground that Burnham were possibly down and out, they then showed Great Spirit by re-grouping and coming back at Saints for the last 5 minutes of the game. Pinned in their own 22, the Saints defence was severely tested but held up. Even so it looked as if a certain try was coming on the Burnham left wing until diminutive Saints scrum half Dan Jane appeared from nowhere to snuff out what looked like a certain score.

Burnham continued to test the Saints defence and, in his desperation, Duggan was yellow carded for persistent infringement. With the last move of the game Burnham scored their fourth try via Rob Leigh at the bottom of a drive. The kick was taken by Lewis and Burnham had secured both try scoring and losing bonus points as the match ended Saints 29 Burnham 24.

It had been a terrific game played on a fabulous Tregorrick Park pitch looking at its very best in the late summer sunshine and was just perfect for running rugby.
While it may not have been the best day for defences it is no cliché to say that with such great entertainment rugby was the winner. The crowd had been royally entertained and gave both sets of players a wonderful reception as they left the field.

Saints play 8 Cornish derbies this season. One such encounter is next Saturday 17th September where we visit Truro with a 3 o’clock kick-off at St Clements Hill (TR1 1NY), for what is always a fabulous and hard-fought encounter. It would be great to see as many supporters there as possible from St Austell, cheering the lads on, in what is always a great game with great craic.

Match Facts
Tries Scorers: James Martin (2), Max Duggan, Miles Davey, Sam Rhodes
Conversions: Chris Ashwin (2)
Yellow Card: Max Duggan