Three first half tries put the Saints into pole position but Kings clawed their way back into the game and by the hour mark were just one converted try from taking the lead. The home side held their nerve to impose themselves in the final quarter, grabbing the all-important fourth try to ensure a bonus point win.

The Saints got off to a roaring start and looked to have scored in the second minute but Cavan Boyer was adjudged to have knocked on as he picked up a difficult ball near his laces. The raucous home crowd did not have long to wait as minutes later fly-half Chris Ashwin gracefully glided through the visiting defence like a thoroughbred on the gallops (5-0). Kings responded strongly but the Saints went diligently about their defensive chores to frustrate the visitors. The home side were soon back in attack and a powerful catch and drive propelled the Saints pack a full 15m before number eight George Knowles touched down (12-0). The industrious Cavan Boyer was a little fortunate to avoid a yellow card when he collided with an airborne Kingsbridge player going for a high ball. The referee recognised there was no intent and decided a stern talking to was sufficient, but on another day a different official could easily be less benevolent. The home side were now playing some excellent running rugby to warm the cockles of the Massive on a chilly day. With backs and forwards interchanging, Kings were struggling to repel the waves of Saints attacks. Centre Shane Johns straightened his run to blast a hole in the thin blue line and skipper Miles Davey was on hand to crash home (17-0). Kingsbridge recognised they needed to score next to have any hope of getting anything from the game and preceded to lay siege on the Saints line for the remainder of the half. The home side held firm but were grateful to CJ Boyce deep in time added on when he drove the Kings winger into touch. The Saints’ luck with cards ran out as the full back was adjudged to have tackled high and was very harshly sent to the sin bin.

Kings started the second half determined to exploit the home side’s paucity in their back three and preceded to launch aerial bombs whenever the opportunity presented itself. The tactic paid dividends when the Saints spilled a ball that landed just outside the 22 with snow on it. The chasing Devonians caused panic in the home defence and a series of drives provided flanker Jon Merrin the platform to rumble over (17-7). With the Saints back to full strength, CJ Boyce took control of his 22 and coolly fielded a couple of high balls to finally nullify the Kings’ threat. A sniping run by scrum half Jack Evans set pulses running amongst the home support as the visitors were now back within a single score of the home side (17-12). George Banfield had been a constant thorn in the Saints’ side with his surging runs from deep and on the hour mark it took a try saving tackle from Ian Venner to prevent the full back from reaching the try line. The Saints dug deep to wrestle back control of the game and with just 10 minutes remaining finally made the points safe. Great work by Ian Venner and Adam Kellow turned the ball over on the halfway line to feed Chris Ashwin. The elegant fly half hit cruise control to break through the first up defence and then feed Cavan Boyer. The winger turned on the afterburners to leave a line of beleaguered Kings defenders behind him (24-12). Replacement flanker Hector Bright made a string of crucial tackles to deny the visitors the consolation of a losing bonus point before turning over the ball to bring the game to an end.

With St Ives beating Devonport Services, the result sees the Saints go up into second place in time for the visit of Paignton next weekend (KO 2:30pm).
1 Hugh Noott; 2 Miles Davey (Capt.); 3 Peter Rowe; 4 Adam Kellow; 5 Mark Vian; 6 Andy Inch; 7 Ian Venner; 8 George Knowles; 9 Andy Ashwin; 10 Chris Ashwin; 11 Ben Chenoweth; 12 Liam Freeman 13 Shane Johns; 14 Cavan Boyer; 15 CJ Boyce

Reps (All used):
Tony Knight; Mark Martin; Hector Bright

Saints Star Men: Ian Venner Adam Kellow

St Austell:
Tries – Chris Ashwin (4); George Knowles (20); Miles Davey (34); Cavan Boyer (70)
Cons – Liam Freeman (20, 70)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Kingsbridge
Tries – Jon Merrin (44); Jack Evans (57)
Cons – George Banfield (44)
Pens –
Drop Goal –

Referee: Mr A Denham (Cornwall RRS)