St Austell 24 Torquay Athletic 12

An exciting game, played out in front of a large crowd at sun kissed Tregorrick Park, was in the balance until the last ten minutes of the game when the Saints’ finally saw off the Tics with two superb late tries. Saints had dominated the first half but had to survive a thorough examination by the Devonians in the second half before a mixture of superior fitness, commitment and a more flexible all round game saw them finish deservedly on top.

The game kicked off in warm autumnal sunshine with Saints in a buoyant mood and keen to impress their Sponsors and supporters in the stands. Early pressure saw a catch drive from a line out driven a full 10 metres before prop Hugh Noott appeared to have scored. Referee Richard Pryor adjudged that Noott had been held up but from the resulting 5m scrum it was clear that Saints had the edge in the tight. Torquay just survived but their line was under severe pressure and it was dogged defence that was keeping Saints at bay despite a number of close calls. The wall was finally breached in the 17th minute when, after excellent work by the Saints’ pack, centre James Earp fed Ben Chenoweth coming in off his wing. Chenoweth ripped through the Tics back line to finish under the posts leaving scrum half Matthew Shepherd the simple task of converting the try. Five minutes later Saints thought they had scored again when Alex Welland, performing well in an accustomed position as outside centre, bounced off two would be tacklers to crash over the line. The Referee again adjudged the ball was held up but the now dominant Saints’ scrum allowed quick ball to be spread wide for centre James Earp to touch down with Shepherd again adding the extras. Saints continued to monopolise possession and territory and almost scored again when Chenoweth just failed to gather a clever grubber kick by Shepherd. Torquay underlined why they were second in the Western Counties league coming into the match with a well worked score in their first real attack of the match on 34 minutes. A series of forward drives sucked in the Saints’ defence allowing scrum half Alex Jeffrey to kick into the right corner for winger Adam Chadwick to catch and score an unconverted try. Saints’ were nearly caught with the same move right on half time but to the relief of the Cornishmen full back Treve Murley’s smart intervention cancelled out the danger. The whistle blew with the score at 14-5.

Torquay started the second half strongly putting Saints’ under real pressure through a series of aggressive and well-orchestrated forward drives. St Austell were now struggling to get their hands on the ball as the Tics forwards continued to rumble onwards Almost inevitably Saints’ conceded a penalty about 10m out, Jeffrey’s was first to react as he tapped and scampered over under the posts before converting his own try. The hosts’ were now hanging on with Torquay believing they had found a winning formula but they were finding the organised and determined Saints’ defence a tough nut to crack. With the momentum beginning to dissipate from Torquay’s very one dimensional approach the game turned on a classic fluid Saints’ counter attack. Sam Tank prevented a kick for touch from going out and with the Tics pack bearing down on him the lithe winger evaded several tackles without putting a hair out of place before putting out an outrageous long pass to Welland. The centre made several hard yards attracting the two Tics centres before popping the ball out to the supporting Shepherd who sped towards the corner. Torquay were forced to give away a penalty to prevent the score but their relief was short lived. Saints’ opted for the scrum and a series of drives took the home side right to the line before flanker Rob Jeffs crashed over for an unconverted try. Saints’ were now back on top and with the visitors’ losing their discipline skipper Andy Ashwin was able to use the resulting penalties to drive the home side deep into Torquay territory. A catch and drive from a line out brought Saints’ close to the try line before Chenoweth finished brilliantly on the blindside to deliver the bonus point. Shepherd’s missed conversion brought the game to a close.

This was Saints’ best performance of the season in their toughest test to date. Victory takes Saints’ up to second and they remain the league’s highest points scorers. Man of the match was Jack Grigg who epitomises the spirit that runs through the Saints and Sinners of St Austell RFC. Having been edged out from his preferred berth at hooker he started as a late replacement for flu victim Sean Haren at blindside flanker. He turned in an all action performance throughout the 80 minutes full of tenacious tackling and intelligent passing. Saints make the short journey next week to Truro in what is sure to be a keenly contested Cornish derby.

Match Stats:

St Austell: Noott, Hughes, Martin, Pearce, Haley, Grigg, Jeffs, Evans (Swiggs 72), Shepherd, Ashwin (Captain), Chenoweth, Earp, Welland, Tank, Murley Unused Replacements: Durant; Evison

St Austell: Tries – Chenoweth (17, 78); Earp (24); Jeffs (72)
Cons – Shepherd (2)
Pens -

Torquay Athletic: Tries – Chadwick (34); Jeffrey (48)
Cons – Jeffrey (1)
Pens –

Yellow Cards: St Austell: None Torquay Athletic: None
Red Cards St Austell: None Torquay Athletic: None

Referee: Richard Pryor (CRRS)

Saints Man of the Match: Jack Grigg