On the hour mark the momentum had swung the Saints’ way but the Students’ ability to counter attack from deep and at pace was to prove the difference between the sides.

The visitors got off to a strong start to put the home side under intense pressure in the opening ten minutes. With the Saints’ on top a score seemed inevitable but remarkably it was the Uni that nabbed it! From a turnover deep in their own 22, the Students quickly switched play with a long pass out wide to Callum Roberts who showed blistering pace to sprint 80m to touchdown (7-0). Unfazed by the setback, the visitors kept the squeeze on the home side in the set-piece and loose exchanges and got their reward through their own speed merchants. Winger Cavan Boyer combined well with Toby Robinson and the full back crossed the try line in the corner. Liam Freeman’s touchline conversion made it 7-7. The Students restored their lead after some patient build-up play allowed Max Himbury to crash over on the half hour mark (14-7). The Saints almost regained equity right on halftime when a promising break by fly half Chris Ashwin seemed to have split the home defence but unfortunately the pass failed to go to hand.

The Students started the second half strongly and the Saints were forced into a rear-guard action to keep them at bay. The defence was holding firm and featured two stunning tackles from 17 year old Colt Jake Carr. The pressure told in the end when the Uni finally found a gap in the corner following a well worked move off a scrum (19-7). The game ebbed back the Saints way with the forwards building up the momentum to rock the Students back on their heels. A series of drives near the line enabled prop Peter Rowe to plough a furrow in the Devon earth (19-14). The game was now delicately poised and likely to be decided by the next score so with the visitors now in the ascendency there was increasing concern in the Uni ranks. The Saints’ forwards continued to turn the pressure valves at scrum time starving the free-flowing Uni backs of quick ball. Number 8 George Knowles almost found a route to the try line but he was just unable touch his kick ahead down. As in the first half, the Students proved that they do not need a second invitation to run the ball and when the Saints spilled possession it triggered another lightening counter attack. Kieran Kelly’s converted try against the run of play effectively sealed the victory (26-19). Two late tries added an unflattering shade of gloss to the scoreboard in a game that had kept the result in doubt until nigh on the 70th minute.

The Saints have played the top 3 sides in consecutive weeks, and although they only won one of the encounters they pushed their high-flying rivals hard in each game. The raw pace and handling skills of the Champions-elect make them a difficult team to contain in any part of the field with three of their tries coming from turnover ball in their own half.

Next week, it is the eagerly anticipated County Cup semi-final when the Saints take on another set of table toppers in the shape of Falmouth. The runaway Cornwall and Devon League leaders will be bursting with confidence and keen to set a benchmark in a game that will be a league match next season. An intriguing contest in prospect and a match not to be missed at Tregorrick (KO 2:30pm)

Man of the Match – Peter Rowe A dogged display from the pit bull prop, anchored the scrum and was terrier like in the loose. The hard work and boundless energy was rewarded with a try that almost turned the game the Saints’ way.

1 Hugh Noott; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Peter Rowe; 4 Tony Knight; 5 Adam Kellow; 6 Max Duggan; 7 Hector Bright; 8 George Knowles; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Cavan Boyer; 12 Liam Freeman 13 Shane Johns; 14 Jake Carr 15 Toby Robinson

Reps:
Rob Jeffs; Ian Venner; Andy Ashwin

St Austell:
Tries – Toby Robinson (22); Peter Rowe (51)
Cons – Liam Freeman (22, 51)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Exeter University:
Tries – Callum Roberts (11); Max Himbury (30); Hugh Campbell (48); Kieran Kelly (67) Pierre Thompson (75); Luke Pierre (80+1)
Cons – Kieran Kelly (11, 30, 67, 75)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Yellow Cards:
St Austell: None
Exeter University: None

Red Cards:
St Austell: None
Exeter University: None

Referee: Mr S Clark (Devon RRS)