The teenager’s scoring feats have been a key feature of the Saints recent good run of form with five wins on the trot and just two defeats in 14 matches stretching back to February 2017. The wind and rain made for very difficult conditions at St Clements Hill making handling difficult and lineouts a bit of a lottery. The Saints adapted far better than their hosts and executed the basics well and with the scrum dominant, the visitors ensured they had a solid platform throughout the eighty minutes.

Truro started the game with the strong wind at their backs but it was the Saints who exerted the early running. Twice in the opening ten minutes Saints attacks were thwarted on the line and young flanker Hector Bright looked to have scored in the corner only to have the try chalked off for a foot in touch. In the end the visitors had to settle for a Cavan Boyer penalty, a meagre return given the early dominance (0-3). Truro struck back almost immediately and with the Saints feeling the pressure they gave away two penalties in quick succession. The first struck the post but fly half Craig Williams made no mistake with the second (3-3). An injury to Mark Vian forced an early change in the second row with Tony Knight entering the fray. A scrum taken against the head inside the Saints’ half set Cavan Boyer loose out wide enabling the winger to carve through the home defence. A perfectly timed pass to the supporting Hector Bright saw the flanker power over (3-8). The final ten minutes of the half saw the visitors under the cosh but the defence looked firm and resolute limiting Truro to a single penalty (6-8).

Truro started the second half with real intent and carrying the ball well but in the face of an unforgiving visitors’ defence they made limited inroads into the Saints’ half. Perhaps a sign of the increasing home frustration was the decision to kick a penalty from 40m into the teeth of a gale instead of trying to make progress into the 22. Having weathered the Truro storm if not the meteorological one, the Saints executed a near perfect Catch and Drive with a rolling maul that moved 15m to reach the try line. Flanker Ian Venner looked to have scored only for the final movement to have been adjudged as a “truck and trailer” offence. The disappointment was short lived, minutes later centre George Tregilgas finished an excellent backs move for a converted try (6-15). The visitors were now on top but Truro to their credit worked hard in defence to limit the opportunities. On 72 minutes the Saints were finally able to unleash Cavan Boyer in space and as the winger scythed a path to the try line he was stopped in his tracks by a shrill blast on the referee’s whistle. A derby day dust-up had developed on the opposite wing and following a long lecture to both sets of players the Saints were awarded a penalty (6-18). Cavan Boyer was not to be denied however, in a rare moment of invention on a rain soaked day he fashioned and converted an excellent kick and chase try to put the result beyond any lingering doubt. The Saints went in search of the bonus point try but in deteriorating conditions, fading light and a resolute defence they had to make do with a derby day win.

Next week the two sides get to do it all over again when they face each other in the first round of the County Cup. Based on today’s performance and result, the Saints will go into the game as slight favourites but they will be wary of a Truro side determined to regain local pride by knocking the Cup holders out of the competition at the first hurdle. Another intriguing game in prospect (KO 2:30pm).

1 Mark Martin; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Peter Rowe; 4 Adam Kellow; 5 Mark Vian; 6 Hector Bright; 7 Ian Venner; 8 Andy Inch; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Cavan Boyer; 12 George Tregilgas 13 Shane Johns; 14 Ben Chenoweth; 15 Liam Freeman

Reps (All used):
George Knowles; CJ Boyce; Tony Knight

Saints Star Man: Miles Davey

St Austell:
Tries – Hector Bright (21); George Tregilgas (52); Cavan Boyer (75)
Cons – Cavan Boyer (52, 75)
Pens – Cavan Boyer (10, 72)
Drop Goal –

Truro:
Tries –
Cons –
Pens – Craig Williams (19, 31)
Drop Goal –

Referee: Mr L Maher (Plymouth RRS)